The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-01-19

This crop is not entirely new, even
to this section of the country as it has
been tried a number Of times, and SO
far as production 10 concerned, II mas
proven satisfactory in every respect
The only drawback to this crop has
been the lack Of machinery for hand"
ling 1t.
Hemp is produced entirely for the
fibre which it furnishes, and this
fibre is used largely for the manu-
facture of carpet, cords and twine.
and in some cases doubtless Is useo
in the manufacture of linen.
The principal hemp producing sec.
ton Of the United States is confined
to Kentucky, although there are small
quantities grown in other sections.
The methods used in Kentucky are
very crude, practically all the work
being done by hand. Notwithstand :
ing this handicap the crop has been
a faVorite, and as the price has great
ly increased in the past few years, 1t
is perhaps the most profitable crop
now grown by the Kentucky farm
er.
At the present time the production
of hemp in the United States amounts
to something over 5000 tons per an
mum, while there is more than twice
as much of this kind of fibre import
ed, The price of this fibre at the
present time is between IL and 10
cents, depending on the grade. The
yield amounts to from one thousano
to two thousand pounds per acre. ana
it is expected that the machinery that
is now being developed will make II
possible to produce the hemp hbre
profitably at cents per pound. II
such proves to be true, there is no
reason to doubt that the production
of hemp fibre in the United States
will become a very important indus
try.
It has been definitely determined
that American hemp fibre is suitable
for the production of binder twine.
At the present time the hbre from
which binder Irvine is produced comes
almost exclusively from Yucatan. This
fibre has risen in price very rapidly
in the past few years, and it is esti-
mated that each one cent advance per
pounds in the price OF fibre means an
additional cost Of $3,0OO,0O0 to the
American farmer for binder Irvine.
All the money for this fibre which
is used as binder Irvine in the Uni
ted States, must leave the United
States. Hence it will be readily seen
that if the fibre were produced herG
there would be that much more money
remaining in this country.
American Hemp Production Success
full.
At the agricultural college Of North
Dakota, several years ago, Professor
Boaley grew excellent samples or
hemp. This fibre was broken out by
the ordinary hand methods employed
in Kentucky, and when compared
with their fibre was pronounced very
satisfactory. 1t has also been grown
at the Northwest Experiment farm
at Crookston, Minnesota, and 80 acres
on the International Harvester COM
pany farms at Grand Forks, and the
same amount at Aberdeen, s. D., last
year. There apparently is no question
as to production.
A feature which commends it es-
pecially to this region, is the fact that
it is one of the best known weed
fighters. Hemp planted on well pre-
pared land, if favorable growing con-
ditions prevail, will outgroW quack
grass and other weeds, to the extent
Of completely smothering them out
1t has been stated by Professor Bolley
that, the benefit derived from this
crop for such purposes alone, would
warrant its being grown even II nc
fibre was taken from Ii.
Growing American Hemp.
The hemp plant, when growing,
looks very much like the weed known
as King Head. 1t is planted thicklyi
the same as small grain and the stalks
grow straight, all leaves and branches
falling OF. a good average height