The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-02-10


To the Editor Of tie Pioneer.
Having already attempted to show that
wheat.growing in this State is less profit
able to the farmer than some other crops
which might readily be substituted there
for on account of the excessive cost of
transporting his grain to distant market,
and exhibiting comparison of the expen-
ses for marketing, both wheat and hemp,
the result was evidently in favor of the
latter crop.
On sixty pounds Zone busheD of weat,
the cost of transportation, and sale, in
New York is 81. Leaving tie farmer for
his share what it may bring above or be-
low that price. On sixty pounds of hemp,
the cost we will say is the same, but as
this article is many times more valuable
than wheat in proportion to its weight,
the result is very different The wheat
grower has lost in charges about ! of his
crop, the hemp-grower about one pound
in fifteen. .-.....
I shall now add few considerations
which l find applicable to the growth of
hemp in Northern ATTITUDES. In paper
to the United States Government on this
subject, Mr.. l. J. Bradford of Kentucky
states that "There can be no reasonable
doubt in the minds of those who have CIV.
en- the subject any attention, that in the
production of hemp, Iowa, Minnesota and
Wisconsin, have vast advantages over the
above named States" (viz. Kentucky and
Missouri.) -l.. 20, ,
"The climate he adds, "the best
adapted to hemp-growing, is found far
north of the home of the negro. Hot,
short, quick forcing seasons of growth are
best adapted to this plant. The growth of
this great staple in climate such as the
region referred to actually possesses,
makes the day not far distant when these
will be as noted hemp producing States
as Kentucky or Missouri ever were" All
writer's agree to the axiom that wherever
a crop of corn can be produced, there
hemp may also 5e grown. do not feel
disposed to elaborate this point, consider
ing it entirely superfuous. Most of my
readers have doubtless seen small patches
of hemp growing in different parts of the
State where few seeds have been planted
by the curious, or have fallen by accident.
The growth of such casual planting is
usually enormous-from twelve to fifteen
feet high. Surprising it twelve feet high,
and applying the Kentucky rule of estima-
ton, the crop would yield 1900 pounds
per acre. have no doubt that good new
land would yield at least 1000 pounds per
acre.
Some object to this crop, dreadins its
effect upon the soil. have no facts from
experiment to advance, but will group to-
gether in few words what find in the re-
ports of hemp growers, both in Kentucky
and Missouri .a-
Some writers are SO eXtravagant as to
contend that the crop is by no means ex-
haustive to the soil-that with good cul-
ture it has produced eighteen or twenty
successive crops without diminution in
quantity or value, and find number of
writer's stoutly adhering to this assertion.
Again, others admit wear upon the soil,
but not more detrimental than ordinary
crops.
I have examined the opinions of num-
Der of writer's, the collected testimony of
whom would appear sufficient to dissipate
the apprehension of hemp being more
than ordinarily expensive crop to soil.
Hemp is branching plant and covers
itself freely with foliage, which enables it
to draw support largely from the atmos-
phere, as is done by shrubs and trees, and
this tact may account for its bearing
lightly upon the soil in proportion to its
growth and weight
Yours, &C.. T. T. MANN.
Cottage Grove. January, 1865.