The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1894-11-10
Growth OF Hemp.
Editor Sharkev Tribune.

Editor Shsrkey Tribune.
Slr-ln response 10 = very wide in
qulry as to the possibility of success
fully growing hemp in the Yazoo
Mississippi Delta, send you u sample
letter just rOcsived, and which YOU
are at liberty to publish, aud will
make reply thereto:
lst-Henp seed costs $500 to 81. so
per bushel, and is sown broad cast at
the rate of one bushel per acre.
2d-The seed should be sown as
early as the ground ism condition, and,
preferably, with a grain drill.
Sd-A drill is not a necessity, but
preferable. Costs about S45.
4th-No cultivation is given, any
more than for millei, oats or wheat.
5th-The hemp is cut down when
the male stalks are fully in blossom,
about 80 nays after sowing. II under
10 feet high 1t may be mown like grass
and let lie on the ground until rotled
by the dsws, rains aud the atmosphere.
Ii more than 10 feet high the hemp Is
cut with combined reaper and mower
and laid off in bundles, unbound, and
rotIed. Cost OF machine, $40 or $50.
6th-The Yield is about l50lb fiber
per acre for every foot high, aud il
grows IRON 10 to 20 feet according to
kind Of soil. amount of moisture aud
fertility, from 1900 to 5000 pounds OF
fiber per acre.
7th-Ths character of soil aud time
ofsowing were only in part determined
by the hemp sown the past season
That sown upon stiff clay buckshot in
April, and when the ground was wet,
was failure. There was no rain from
April to July, whom II grew a few feet
high. That sown upon land 40 years
In cotton without ferullzlng was alsc
quite unsstisfactory. The hemp sowu
upon nearly new black loan soil grew
Is to 20 feet. That sown upon new
black buckshot aud light aud dark loan
did well also, As did some sown In July
now IL feet high.
Sth-The crop is prepared for mar
ket by putting 1t through a series OF
fiuted rollers TO take out the boon, OF
woody part, aud is then bsled and
shipped. | shall have such machinery
at q convenient point to handle and
prepare small amounts OF hemp grown
for experimental purposes TO complete
the knowledge ~ to time to SOW
kinds of coil, etc. but for every SOC
acres the planter should have. his owl
machinery, costing, with engine and
boiler, some $1,000.
9th--The cost OF growing hemp, pei
acre here, is about tll, paying $l.S'
per dry wages, this includes ito prepar'
alton aud delivery on board cars, but
not the rent OF the land. This Is fol
the lowest kind of product. The bet
ter qualities coil sl2, SlS, $40 TO 1921
per acre. The value Of product pei
| ton Is S75 to $l00 for low grades, suC
$3.50, 5000 TO $3.50 for the highest.
While there will be several plats o
ten acres each planted next season,
would not recommend planting any
large acreage until thoroughly con
versant with the methods, aud pos
sessins the machinery necessary for thu
work.
Added to my reply to the first inter
ogatory-the seed are grown by seps
rately planting and cultivatlng tb,
hemp as is cotton aud coru, and eacl
planter should grow his own seed.
would not recommend saving boil
seed aud fiber.
shall be ready TO answer sill iuqul
rIes at oil times, and shall be resi-
dent Of the Delta after February th
first. Very truly,
Buckley, III. 5. s. BoYcE.