The Washington herald., 1910-05-29
HEMP IN AMERICA
About 10000 Acres Planted
Here Every Year.
INDUSTRY NOW INCREASING
Bluegrass Region of Kentucky Chief
Center of Production - Nebraska
and California Have Made Good
Beginnings-Fibcr Il All Used in
American MfIIs-Nature of Hemp.

Readers Of The Washington Herald
probably viii experience some surprise az
the statement contained IN a recent report
from the Department Of Agriculture that
about 1000 acres Of hemp are grown an
nUally in the United States and that the
/ acreage IS increasing quite rapidly each
year.
i appears that most OF the hemp grown
IN this country is produced about Lex
lugtOn, Ky, in the Bluegrass region OF
that state. About Co acres are grown n
the vicinity OF Lincoln. Nebr, and an area
Of about the same acreage in the Sacra-
meuto Valley OF California. Experiments
in growing hemp have been made in sew
eral States with sufficient success 10 as
sure a wide expansion Of the industry
within a few years.
Nature of Hemp.
Hempis "a plant Of the mulberry family,
cultivated for the production Of a soft
bast fiber This fiber. gray II dew-retted,
or light yellow II water-retted. IS also
called hemp. In d strict sense the name
hemp" IS correctly applied only 20 this
plant and its fiber.
Hemp is cultivated commercially for
I fiber production In Russia. italy, Austria,
Hungary. Germany, France. Belgium,
Turkey. China. Japan, and the United
States. Russia produces more for export
than all the other countries.
Hemp requires about ll5 days for its
growth. Il should have a rainfall Of az
| least ten inches during this period. L
has not been grown commercially under
I irrigation. II the level OF free ater in
the soil IS within five 10 ten feet from
the surface. as is often the case IN allE-
vial rIver-bottom lands, and the charac-
ter Of the soil is such that there is good
capillary action % bring the water up.
hemp viii not suffer from drought, even
should there be very little rainfall Hemp
IS uniHjUred by light frosts. Il may
therefore be sown earlier than oats and
/ harvested later than corn.
Practically al OF the hemp produced IN
Kentucky IS dew-retted. Il is spread on
the ground, either from the EaveI. shock.
or stack. In rows with the stalks side by
side and not more than TWO, or al most
three. stalks IN thickness. the butts all
/ even in one direction. u is left IN this
manner from four 20 twelve weeks. or
until the bark. including the fiber. sepa-
rates readily from the woody portion OF
the stalk. The stalks are then raked up
/ and set up in shocks TO dry. As soon as
dried they are ready for breaking
Hand Breaking Going Ont.
Much Of the hemp produced in Ken
lucky is still broken by the old-fashiUned
hand brake, but this method Is not rec
/ commended for introduction into any new
locality because 10 requires q degree oS
skill that would be difficult 10 secure in
Iaborers not accustomed 20 the work.
. Even In Kentucky the newer generation
/ OF laborers do not learn 20 break hemp.
and this IS one Of the principal reasons
/ that the industry IS not carried on there
/ 20 greater extent. At least six differ
/ ent kinds Of machines for breaking hemp
and preparing the fiber have been in use
during the past three years, and some OF
these prepare the fiber very much better
than the hand brake.
The yield Of hemp fiber ranges from 80
/ 10 1900 pounds 10 the acre. The general
/ average yield under ordinary conditions
. is about 90 pounds 10 the acre Yields
/ are sometimes estimated at 80 poun1A
fiber for each foot IN height OF the stalks.
and also at % per cent OF the weight oS
the dry. retted stalks. bur estimates
based on these factors alone may be mis-
4 leading, for slender stalks yield much
more fiber than coarse ones.
All Sold in America.
All OF the hemp fiber produced IN this
country IS used in American mills. and
increasing quantities are being imported.
u is used for making gray twines. com
mercial twines." carpet warp. and ropes
Of small diameter.
The twenty-five mills IN the United
States using hemp fiber are mostly in or
near Boston. New York. Philadelphia,
Cincinnati. and San Francisco.
The average price paid during the last
twenty years by local dealers 10 tho
farmers in Kentucky for the rough fiber
tied up In handmade bales has been about
. cents a pound. The prices during tho
same time for the fiber sorted. pressed in
bales. and delivered al tie mills as or
dered have ranged from $50 10 $50 per
long ton
The market IS occasionally overstocked
with low-grade hemp or tow. but there IS
little danger Of an oversupply OF good,
strong. well-cleaned fiber.