Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-05-03
Iowa Can Crow
Hemp at a Profit

nesota are noted for their variation In
crops as almost any kind of product
can be raised in this climate, as has
been proven. The latest product
which has been found to be lifted To
this climate is hemp, which is used TO
make binder Irvine.
An experiment in raising hemp In
a climate of this kind has been tried
at Grand Forks, North Dakota, on
an experimental farm. The climctes
and soils at Grand Forks are similar
TO that of this section of the country,
and II Is believed that the raising of
hemp In this part>will be taken up by
the farmers as it is a profitable crop
and one which is much needed for
there is a scarcity Of binding Irvine
and by recent processes it has been
found that hemp can be used for the
manufacturing of the Irvine.
Farmers in the vicinity of Austin
and Lyle. Mimi. are becoming inter-
ested in the idea and an expert has
been sent there by the company. In
designations are being made and 1t Is
probable that a crop of hemp will
pt iucIC uSHt sN"'F ~ 80 wv
late to try and raise the new product
this year. Work will be started in
this section of the country soon to in
.terest the farmers in the raising Of
this paying crop.
There are two principle reasons
why hemp should become principle
Iowa and Minnesota crop. First 1t is
a profitable crop and the raising Of
hemp would easily be paying propo-
sition and the work attached to it is
not as great as the raising OF
some other crops. In raising hemp
the farmer is really helping himself
for as soon as more hemp is raised
the price of binding twine will be
lowered as by the new process hemp
can be made into q good binding
Irvine.
The second reason is that hemp kills
quack grass which Is fast becoming an
in some cases this grass has caused
serious loss to the crops. The hemp
also does not kill the undesirable grass,
but the shade which the plants make
causes the death of the grass as it is
impossible for it to thrive in a shady
place.
Would Lower Price.
The price OF binder Irvine would be
affected by the raising Of hemp for
under the present plans the raw pro-
duct would be manufactured into
Irvine and would take the place Of the
Siral fiber which is now used. OF late
years the price Of this fiber. which is
only obtained from tropical countries
has more than doubled. Formerly the
binder Irvine sold for nine cents and
now the same grade sells for twenty
four cents. The price has more than
doubled. If the hemp is raised for the
manufacture Of the Irvine the price
would soon be back to the pre-war
day scale.
At the present time. very little
hemp is used in the manufacture OF
binder Irvine.
Capitalization Points.
The raising of hemp would necessi-
tate the establishment of centralization
points or places where the hemp could
be. shipped by the farmers. At these
places a mill would be built and the
hemp fibers would be separated from
the pulp The fbers would be baled
and then sent to the Irvine mills where
they would be made into Irvine.
II the farmers of this section OF the
country take up the work Mason City
would be an ideal place for the loca-
ton Of one Of the Capitalization points.
For the city it would mean that more
men would be employed and that more
people would be brought to the city by
the new industry. Also a number of
the present laborers in the city who
are now idle would be given a chance
to secure employment.
Siral vs., Hemp.
Siral fiber has been used in the man
ufacture Of binder Irvine for many
years and it is good fiber but at the
present time it is SO hard to obtain and
the supply is so limited that it makes
the prices almost prohibitive. The
strength Of the siral fiber Is good but
the hemp fbers can be manufactured
into as good Irvine and at lower cost.