Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1844-02-10


u Il VI P.--We copy this week from
the report of the Secretary Of the Navy,
an article upon the culture and manufnc-
ture Of Hemp, submitted by Mr.. Schmidt.
the superintendent of series Of expert.
menis on its culture and manufacture. 1t
will be found to contain much valuable in
formation TO the growers of the article
REPORT ON HEMP.
| Report of the superintendent Of the crpcri
| menf upon the culture and manutaciure
of hemp from the time ofpi0n;jng until
the hemp is fitted for the bake; combining
also remarks upon method tor Tie intro
ductjon Of the culture and manufacture
Of hemp among the hemp groUers in The
United States. so as to prOduce stuff
ciently strong article for nardl purposes.
The Hon. A. p. Upshur. late Secretary
Of the Navy. evinced great interest in the
Introduction of method Of cuItivating
and manufacturing hemp as done in Russia
where the best hemp is obtained for naval
uses.
Such desire having been made known
to me, framed short and condensed me.
mortal. setting forth the method of cult
waiting and manufacturing hemp as done
in Russia, my native country.
The said memorial was submitted to the
honorable Secretary of the Navy by Col
G. L. Thompson, chief engineer of the
great interest therein.
Near the expiration of the last session
of Congress, printed report, containing
two hundred pages, was received from
Odessa, of an examination into the culture
and manufacture Of hemp in all of the
hemp growing countries Of Europe. by
Mr.. Botowsky, an officer Of the Russian
government.
Said report was printed at ST. Peters
burg, by order of the Minister of Finances,
in the year 1912.
The report being in the Russian Ian
guage, | offered m, self as translator to the
Hon. A. p. Upshur. VINO consented. with
the remark that Congress had ordered a
translation, and that bill had been brought
before the Senate for an appropriation 10
meet the expense. but Congress adjourned
without passing the bill. | therefore un-
dertook the translation, with the hope that
Congress would, at their next session. pay
me for my work, which is nearly com
pleled, and only awaits the necessary cor.
rections previously to going TO press.
From the circumstances mentioned, the
Hon. A. 7. Upshur determined to make an
experiment upon small scale, for the pur-
pose of ascertainng the possibility of OBJ
tanning an article similar IN quality to that
of Russia. had the honor to be intruslGd
with the perinrcndence, and am still
!
iment.
Besides being native of Riga, in Russia,
where the best hemp is cultivated and ex-
ported, | have enjoyed the additional adj
vantage of practical experience in the cul-
tore Of this article for many years, upon
my plantation in the valley of the Wabash
IN the State of Indiana; added to winch
Inc information obtained from the tranSla.
lion now before me. of the latest reports
of the principal hemp growing countries of
Europe, enables me To contrast the differ
ent cultures, SO as to draw a result highly
beneficial to the United States, and If
practically pursued must end in the pro-
duction of an article equally strong if not
stronger than the Russian hemp
The mode of cuIiivaring hemp in Russia
is not materially different from that of
other countries, which may be seen by
comparing the memorial made by me with
the translation of The report Of Mr.. Butow-
sky; nor has the process received much al
ieratInn for centuries. improvements have
daily progressed in every branch of busi-
ness, while this most important culture
remains almost entirely neglected, and still
shackled by prejudice and old customs, the
worst enemies of husbandry.
Other means, even in this enlightened
country, must be resorted TO than printed
instructions, which are read by few, and
seldom practised. II is government and
it alone, that can remove the obstacles that
now clog this most important branch ni
farming; and if pursued in proper way
so as to hold out inducements, the effect
will be soon visible; nor will the time be
far distant, when, instead of paying mil
lions Of dollars to foreign countries fnr
supplies necessary for the navy, it will be
found 10 be an article of considerable ex
port.
The several monthly reports, submitted
previously, contain all the details of the
experiment. and shall be comprised in {
general report to the committee that may
be appointed in time to investigate the
comparative strength Of Russian hemp anC
that produced by the experiment. together
with the operation of The newly construct
ed hemp brake. .... ....
Even in the most approved mode o
curing waier-rot,ed hemp, as pracllsed unit
now, il will unayOidably occur that som,