Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-03-04
FARMER AND PLANTER.
CROPS IN THE SOUTH.
Farmers Advised to Plant Moro Hemp and
Less Cotton.

BY modern processes hemp is made to
take the place of flax, and is spun into
fine threads and fine linens. Linen
manufacture is neglected industry in
the United States. but offers equal
profit with any other when once es-
tablished.
The importation of vegetable ibers
into the United States are some 800, 900
tons, all of which may be produced in
the cotton states when once system
attic effort is made. The growing of
hemp is a success in this country, as it
is in Europe, and we import some 10O,-
600 tons of fine hemp, which the south
can and should produce. The only
thing is the necessity of systematic at
tention TO the work. California has
started the business there, and expert
ments have been made in all the cot
ton states, showing that the climate
and soil are perfectly adapted TO its
growth.
Hemp is native Of southern China
and thrives best in II hot, marshy eli
mate. 1t has no enemies excepting
the occasional drought, such rs pre-
vailed In 1895, when the crop in Missis-
slppi was light. Last year it was 10 to
IL feet high. Hemp grew in Mississip-
pi in 1898, 1894 and 1895 to the height
Of 10 feet in 50 days. yielding 1000
pounds OF fiber per acre, worth Sl75
per ton and costing SIS per acre TO
grow it. The whole southern country
is adapted to hemp in proportion
to the rainfall. 1t never fails from
any other cause. 1t is planted from
February to August and September,
making u crop IN 80 days in warm
weather and in 80 days when planted
in February. The cost OF planting
hemp upon the old cotton lands in 500
TO ., 600 acres is rs follows: Fertilizers
per acre, $3.50; seed, 81; plowing and
sowing, 81. 90; total, 81. No further
attention is given to the crop until in
full blossom, in 50 to 80 days, as it is
sown broadcast The hemp is then
cut with combined reaper and now
er, drawn by three mules, cutting
10 acres per day. When dry, in
some two to four days, the hemp is
stacked or put under cover at cost
for cutting and stacking per acre Of
$3.50. This is double the cost in Cali
fornia at present, where the growth of
hemp is rapid y extending.
There are three ways of rotting the
hemp straw to obtain the lint or
fiber.
First--Spreading it upon the ground
to be rotted, as now done in Ken
tucliy, the time depending upon rain
fall. Uncertain, and crop poor.
Second-Placing the hemp in tanks,
or pools, or streams, for s TO II days, and
then drying it.
Third-Iurning the straw over Ia
the middle man, or breaking out the
fiber before rotting or chemically
treating it.
There is but little difference in the
cost of the three processes, where
once the appliances are prepared.
When rotted tbs hemp is broken by
passing in through breaker of huted
rollers and then baled and shipped.
In Kentucky the breaking is still
done by hand but nowhere else
The machinery to break hemp will
cost $3.50 TO 81, 900 for each 81 acres and
Is run by the same engine rs the gin
about ~ horsepower each. The cost
OF growing hemp when systematically
done upon an extensive scale Is Sl25
to sl5 per acre for each crop. A crop
OF hemp and crop of peas may be
grown in the northern parts and two
crops of hemp further south. Peas
once in two years are ample fertilizers
The product Of II hemp crop system.
atically grown on good soill is 1000 tc
2,3O0 pounds per acre, worth $50 pei
ton rotted and handled as done in Ken
tucky, 1928 to Sl5O por ton us done in
California, and Sl5J TO 500 when chem
ically prepared, or as skillfully done
in Italy aud France. Russian hemp is
worth 500 to Sl2j per ton.
II two crops are grown year tn,
first one will be cut couple of weeks
sooner and gives little less fiber, but
of finer quality, while the second crol
does not generally grow quite as tall
giving rather less yield. The yielt
of one crop, 10 to Is feet high, woult
be 2, 600 TO 2 800 while two crops "A Il
10 feet and the second II to IA feet
would be about 1000 pounds. Thi
would give $50 to Sl2h per acre for on
crop, made in Kentucky style, and SO
for two crops, while water-rotted, .
in California and Italy, the single crc
would be worth Sl2h to Sl75, aud tn
two crops $3.50 to $500.
If handled in finer manner tn
product would be S;75 to 500 for on
crop and $3.50 TO $4OO for two crops
leaving net profit under the poores
and most expensive handling OF al
of S25 per acre per crop at outside
Hemp is now grown in California an
put upon The cars, baled for shipment
at Sl5 to $40 per ton, while labor cos
double and freight TO the east fou
times as much.
This is not theory; there is no guess
work in it, but anyone can prove il
step by step, until satisfied. Hem
has been grown successfully in ever
southern state, nor is there any likeli
hood of the market receiving an over
supply. Hemp can he grown in tn
southern states to compete with all tn
world. Would it not he we'll for som
one to step in and see whether thi
suggestion of another George La
South sea, or marus mul lticaulis ma
not, after all, have something in it?-
Cor. N. o. Pcayune.
: How to Manage the Fail Calf.
r Having for u long time been col
| vinced that u COW coming fresh in I'll
. fall was more profitable to her owne
mud ,yiah N fr IN rnica tnu lac for 90 va