Arizona republican., 1922-03-16
GIVES DIRECTIONS
FOR HEMP GROWING

For some time past the Phoenix
chamber of commerce has been in
vestigating the possibility of hemp
as a commercial crop for the Salt
River valley. Considerable data has
been obtained. 1t is hoped that a
few farmers will be found who will be
willing to try small plot, say 30 by
so, for the growing of hemp this sea-
son. both for fiber and for seed.
Hemp has been grown more or less
in the United States for $50 years.
In Kentucky it was at one time a
very important crop. In the past few
years hemp has been grown more ex-
tensively in other states. In some
of the northern states, such as Wis
consin and the Dakotas, extensive
acreages have been grown. Improved
machinery for handling these crops
have helped in the economical pro-
Guction. In some of the northern
states where hemp is becoming a
more important crop each year it is
impossible to mature the seed, From
Investigations made by the chamber
OF commerce it seems probable that
seed can be grown here for supply
ing other localities where il will not
nature. Hence the Salt River val
ley growers may find that hemp may
be grown both for fiber and for seed.
Hemp fiber is used for the making
of rope and packing cords where a
coarse, strong fiber is necessary.
Hemp is an annual that grows or
dinarily from 6 to IL feet in height.
The fiber is contained I'm the stock,
which has to go through a process
of "retting," and then is broken by
modern machinery. In Wisconsin the
crop for fiber natures in 1870 days.
There is a possibility that a fiber
crop may be grown here following a
crop Of grain similar to production
of grain sorphums.
The average yield I'm Wisconsin Is
1900 pounds of rough fiber to the
acre. This represents about three
tons of the dry retted stalks and
brings $50 to 500. Yields in Califor-
MIA, where it has been grown to some
extent for the past few years, run
somewhat heavier.
Seeding costs are somewhat greater
than for grain, as the seed is worth
81 to $40 a bushel and bushel is
required TO the acre. AS a seed pro-
duction possibility the matter of price
has more than passing interest
Yields in Kentucky run about 16
bushels of seed to the acre. Heavier
SiriuS hISIl wen De eAptClGu III lD6
Salt River valley. Seed production is
entirely different from fiber produc-
ton. AS for the latter, the seed is
sown broadcast or with a drill. For
seed production the seed is planted
in hills and cultivated.
An improved variety of hemp has
been developed by the United States
department Of agriculture. This new
improved variety produces a plant
that grows to IA feet in height, with
longer spaces between joints than the
ordinary variety Tt should be pos
sible 10 obtain some of this seed for
experimental paintings, particularly
with a view of establishing seed pro-
duction for sections such as Wiscon-
sin. where seed can not he grown.
As a fiber crop, it would he neces-
sary to determine by careful plant
inss in small plots whether the yield
would be sufficient to warrant plant
ing for profitable returns. Then il
would be essential to have several
hundred acres in one locality to JUS
tify the building of a breaking mill,
which would call for an investment
Of $50,000 or more. Special harvest
ers are required which cost some-
what more than grain harvesters, but
one harvester could handle the prod
uct of 100 acres at least.
Hemp should not be expected to
take the place of cotton, but if It is
possible to grow a crop after grain,
as seems probable, it might become a
valuable crop for the salt River val
ley, or for any of the irrigated val
leys of the Southwest.
Any farmers interested in this are
asked to get in touch with the cham
ber Of commerce where further de-
tails may be obtained.