The soils most suited to the
culture of this plant are those of the deep, black, putrid vegetable
kind, that are low, and rather inclined to moisture, and those
of the deep mellow, loamy, or sandy descriptions. The quantity
of produce is generally much greater on the former than on the
latter; but it is said to be greatly inferior in quality. It may,
however, be grown with success on lands of a less rich and fertile
kind by proper care and attention in their culture and preparation.
In order to render the grounds proper for the reception of the
crop, they should be reduced into a fine mellow state of mould,
and be perfectly cleared from weeds, by repeated ploughings. When
it succeeds grain crops, the work is mostly accomplished by three
ploughings, and as many harrowings: the first being given immediately
after the preceding crop is removed, the second early in the spring,
and the last, or seed earth, just before the seed is to be put
in.
In the last ploughing, well rotted manure, in the proportion of
fifteen or twenty, or good compost, in the quantity of twenty-five
or thirty-three horse-cart loads, should be turned into the land;
as without this it is seldom that good crops can be produced.
The surface of the ground being left perfectly flat, and as free
from furrows as possible; as by these means the moisture is more
effectually retained, and the growth of the plants more fully
promoted.
It is of much importance in the cultivation of hemp crops that
the seed be new, and of a good quality, which may in some measure
be known by its feeling heavy in the hand, and being of a bright
shining colour.
The proportion of seed that is most commonly employed, is from
two to three bushels [per acre], according to the quality of the
land; but, as the crops are greatly injured by the plants standing
too closely together, two bushels, or two bushels and a half may
be a more advantageous quantity.
As the hemp plant is extremely tender in its early growth, care
should be taken not to put the seed into the ground at so early
a period, as that it may be liable to be injured by the effects
of frost; nor to protract the sowing to so late a season as that
the quality of the produce may be effected.
The best season, on the drier
sorts of land in the southern districts, is as soon as possible
after the frosts are over in April; and, on the same descriptions
of soil, in the more northern ones, towards the close of the same
month or early in the ensuing one.
The most general method of putting crops of this sort into the
soil is the broadcast, the seed being dispersed over the surface
of the land in as even a manner as possible, and afterwards covered
in by means of a very light harrowing. In many cases, however,
especially when the crops are to stand for seed, the drill method
in rows, at small distances, might be had recourse to with advantage;
as, in this way, the early growth of the plants would be more
effectually promoted, and the land be kept in a more clean and
perfect state of mould, which are circumstances of importance
in such crops. In whatever method the seed is put in, care must
constantly be taken to keep the birds from it for some time afterwards.
This sort of crop is frequently cultivated on the same piece of
ground for a great number of years, without any other kind intervening;
but, in such cases, manure must be applied with almost every crop,
in pretty large proportions, to prevent the exhaustion that must
otherwise take place. It may be sown after most sorts of grain
crops, especially where the land possesses sufficient fertility,
and is in a proper state of tillage.
Thick stands of fibre hemp compete well with weeds.
As hemp, from its tall growth and thick foliage, soon covers the
surface of the land, and prevents the rising of weeds, little
attention is necessary after the seed has been put into the ground,
especially where the broadcast method of sowing is practised;
but, when put in by the drill machine, a hoeing or two may be
had recourse to with advantage in the early growth of the crop.
In the culture of this plant,
it is particularly necessary that the same piece of land grows
both male and female, or what is sometimes denominated simple
hemp. The latter kind
contains the seed.
When the grain is ripe (which
is known by its becoming of a whitish-yellow colour, and a few
of the leaves beginning to drop from the stems); this happens
commonly about thirteen or fourteen weeks from the period of its
being sown, according as the season may be dry or wet (the first
sort being mostly ripe some weeks before the latter), the next
operation is that of taking it from the ground; which is effected
by pulling it up by the roots, in small parcels at a time, by
the hand, taking care to shake off the mould well from them before
the handfuls are laid down.
In some districts, the whole
crop is pulled together, without any distinction being made between
the different kinds of hemp; while, in others, it is the practice
to separate and pull them at different times, according to their
ripeness.
The latter is obviously the
better practice; as by pulling a large proportion of the crop
before it is in a proper state of maturity, the quantity of produce
must not only be considerably lessened, but its quality greatly
injured by being rendered less durable.
After being thus pulled, it is tied up in small parcels, or what
are sometimes termed baits.
Where crops of this kind are intended for seeding, they should
be suffered to stand till the seed becomes in a perfect state
of maturity, which is easily known by the appearance of it on
inspection.
The stems are then pulled and
bound up, as in the other case, the bundles being set up in the
same manner as grain, until the seed becomes so dry and firm as
to shed freely.
It is then either immediately
threshed out upon large cloths for the purpose in the field, or
taken home to have the operation afterwards performed.
The hemp, as soon as pulled, is tied up in small bundles, frequently
at both ends.
It is then conveyed to pits, or ponds of stagnant water, about
six or eight feet in depth, such as have a clayey soil being in
general preferred, and deposited in beds, according to their size,
and depth, the small bundles being laid both in a straight direction
and crosswise of each other, so as to bind perfectly together;
the whole, being loaded with timber, or other materials, so as
to keep the beds of hemp just below the surface of the water.
It is not usual to water more than four or five times in the same
pit, until it has been filled with water. Where the ponds are
not sufficiently large to contain the whole of the produce at
once, it is the practice to pull the hemp only as it can be admitted
into them, it being thought disadvantageous to leave the hemp
upon the ground after being pulled.
It is left in these pits four,
five, or six days, or even more, according to the warmth of the
season and the judgment of the operator, on his examining whether
the hempy material readily separates from the reed or stem; and
then taken up and conveyed to a pasture field which is clean and
even, the bundles being loosened and spread out thinly, stem by
stem, turning it every second or third day, especially in damp
weather, to prevent its being injured by worms or other insects.
It should remain in this situation
for two, three, four, or more weeks, according to circumstances,
and be then collected together when in a perfectly dry state,
tied up into large bundles, and placed in some secure building
until an opportunity is afforded for breaking it, in order to
separate the hemp.
By this means the process of
grassing is not only shortened, but the more expensive ones of
breaking, scutching, and bleaching the yarn, rendered less violent
and troublesome.
After the hemp has been removed from the field it is in a state
to be broken and swingled, operations that are mostly performed
by common labourers, by means of machinery for the purpose, the
produce being tied up in stones.
The refuse collected in the
latter process is denominated sheaves, and is in some districts
employed for the purposes of fuel. After having undergone these
different operations, it is ready for the purposes of the manufacturer.
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