The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-08-27
HEMP CULTURE
GROWING DEMAND FOR FL
BERS FOR CORDAGE.
Great Efforts Are Making to Increase
the Supply in This Countrywide
Easiest Variety to Grow.

There is a rapidly growing demand for
hbres for cordage, and great efforts are
making to increase the supply. One of the
best, and at the same time easiest to grow
is American hemp (Canabis sativa). This
hemp has been grown in a small way for
many years. but with no very earnest
efforts to prepare from 1t a fine fibre until
during the past few years.
This hemp is the most important crop,
commercially and agriculturaly. upon the
continent of Europe, says the North
western Agriculturalist, and there is no
reason why it may not have great i'm
portance here. The best variety OF the
plant in the Northwest Is that now to be
found growing wild all over the country.
There are two kinds of hemp imported
for seed, the China and the Smyrna, but
the seed of the wild hemp is the best, be-
cause 1t has become acclimated, and Is
adapted to the lengths Of the season.
Growing wild, this hemp has become
naturalized by natural selection. until II
is a se~lf-sowing plant, and Is hardy, while
the China hemp does not mature so early.
and is not as hardy. The Smyrna hemp
is of less value as a fbre-bearing plant. be-
cause of not growing as tall, and having
a tendency to branching. The Smyrna
hemp does produce more seed, and il the
hemp were to be grown for seed the
Smyrna would be the best to grow.
This native hemp may be found all over
the West, and the seed should be gathere
in September and October, and planted IN
drills at about one quart of seed per acre.
and cultivated and cared for, that tue
plant become as vigorous as possible. AT
the present price Of seed, 1t will be a
profitable business to save this seed and
make the beginning of a real American
hemp industry.
The culture of hemp is one of the SIM
plest branches Of the fGrmer's labor, The
plant is hardy, AMI may be sown upon
ground plowed the fall previous, and be-
fore any ether crop, excepting rye. spring
wheat and cats. All of these crops are
similar in culture, and mature at about the
same time. Hemp is harvested for hbre
when in blossom, and about the middle OF
JIly in Minnesota.
For ordinary purposes, hemp should be
sown at the rate of tbushel Of seed per
acre. and preferably by n drill. that the
seed be all at the same depth, so that the
germlnnting he at the same time. That
terminating first has a tendency to grow
the fastest, and to make the stand uneveii
II the drill shoes are more than four inches
apart, 1t III necessary to sow half a bushel
one way, and then cross sow the remaining
half bushel No crop needs to be SO even
ly sowr, that the stalks nay be of an even
size and height.
The harvesting of hemp is done by a
self raking machine, which lays off the
stalks in armfuls. WHERE 1t dries. and ie
afterwards stocked and stacked, or put I'M
der cover. The retting and preparing of
the fibre Is best don by the hemp mills
although the farmer. Or several farmers
my& unite and break cut the hemp and
ship the green, unretted fibre to the mills.
The yield of hemp is about i5G pounds
of fibre to every one foot of the growing
hemp in height. The hemp will grow ac-
coTding to fertility, seven to- about nine
feet in height, and the yield of. fibre will
ba about one thousand pounds per acre.
about enc foot of the seed tops being
wasted. This fibre is worth two and a half
to three cents per pound.