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 eases, manure must be applied, with almost every crop, in pretty large proportions, to prevent the exhaustion that must other wise take place. It may be sown after most sorts of grain crops, especially where the land possesses suffi cient fertility, and is in a proper state of tillage.
After henlp, from its tall growth and thick foliage, soon covers the surface of the land, and prevents the rising or weeds, little attention is neces sary after the seed has been put into the ground, espe cially where the broadcast method of sowing is prac tised ; but, when put in by the drill machine, a hoeing or two may he had recourse to with advantage in the early growth of the crop.
In the culture of this plant, it is particularly neces sary, that the same piece of land contains both male and frnredr, or what is sometimes denominated simf:le hemp. The latter kind contains the seed.
When the crop is ripe, which is known by its becom ing of a whitish yellow colour, and a kw of the leaves beginning to drop front the stems, which happens com monly about thirteen or fourteen weeks from the period ol its being sown, according as the season may be dry or wet, the first sort being mostly ripe sonic weeks be fore 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 halal, taking care to shake off the mould well front them beim.e the handfuls are laid down. In sonic districts, the w hole 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 con siderably lessened, hut its quality greatly injured, by being rendered less durable. The expense of this ope ration vat ies considerably in different districts ; in some it amounts to eighteen or twenty shillings, while in others it is equally well performed for eleven or twelve. After being thus pulled, it is tied up in small parcels, or what are sometimes provincially 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, NVIlidi 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 thrashed out upon large cloths for the purpose in the field, or taken home to have the operation afterwards performed.
The after-management of hemp crops varies greatly in different places, where their culture is encouraged. In some, it is the practice only to, )shat is called, dew ripen, or re', the produce, while in others the general custom is to water-ret it.
In the former method, the hemp, immediately after being pulled, is carefully spread out in a very even, re gular, and thin manner, on a piece of level old pasture, on which) it is to remain for five, six, or more weeks, ac cording to circumstances, being occasionally turned du ring the time. When the weather is shot), ery, this is mostly done three times in the week ; hut in other ea,. twice is commonly sufficient. When the lint' or lump) substance becomes easily separable from the wooC) part, or stein, it 1S taken tip and tied into hundles, either to be stacked Op on the spot, or I arried home and placed in some coot ,. meat situation, when it may re
main until it can be manufactured. In this pro, which is termed grassing, great atn ntion is prevent the texture tit toe hemp from being injured its remaining too long on the grass.
But tile latter pea tic, is much r, and more e:.1),: ditious as \yell as Inure general. In this, tin lump, soon as pull: d, is ved up in small bundles, freiiitentiy both ends. It is 01C11 Cf./11V( yed to pits, or of stag neat water, about six or eight feet in depth, i,tte• a have a clayey soil being in prefen.•d, and de posited in b( ds, according to their size and t1 pub ; th small bundles being laid both in a straight direction and crosswise of each other, so as to bind pet feetly iot:;etl,er the whole being loaded with timber, or other so as to keep tic beds of hemp just below tae surface u. the water : the quantity of an acre, or three ag on-loads, being in some instances piled in one bed. But as the action of toe atmospheric air is es•ntiaily necessary to produce twat degree ed putrfac; ion, whicn is requisite tor destroying tile small fibres and vegetable gluten, by which the bark or hempy substance adheres to the bun, or stem, it may be more advantageous to build them in much smaller beds ; as by such means the busi ness may not only be more expeditiously accomplished, but the danger ol rotting the hemp too much pre) ented. Oil the same principle, the di pth of the ponds should not exceed the dimensions gi) co above. It is lint usual to water more than lour or live times in the same pit, till it has been filled NV ith tee Sh Water. Where the ponds are not sufficiently large to contain the whole of the pro duce at once, it is the practice to pull the hemp only as it can be admitted into them, it being thought diasdvay tageous to leave the hemp upon the ground, after being pulled. It is left iu thus,. pits, lour, five, or six days, or even more, according to the warmth of the season, and the judgment of the operator, on his ex amining ),) hether the hempy material renethy separates from the reed or stem ; and then taken 01) and conveyed to a pasture held, which is clean and even, the bundles being loosed, and spread out thinly stein stein, 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 win n in a perfectly dry state, tied up into large bunclies, and placed in sonic secure building until an opportunity is afforded for breaking it in order to separate the hemp. By this means, the process of grassing is 1101, only shortened, but the MOM expensive ones of breaking, seutching, and bleaching the yarn, rendered less violent and troalescmc. Besides, the hemp managed in this way, sells much dearer than when the former method is adopted. Afar the hemp has been removed from the field, and the business of gra.s sing. properly performed, it is in a state to be broken and swingled, operations that are mostly performed by com mon labourers, by means of machinery for the purpose, the produce being tied up in stones. The refuse, col lected in the latter processes, is denominated sheaves, and is in some districts employed for the purposes of fuel, being sold at too pent( tile stone. Alter having under gone these different operations, it is ready fur the pur pose., of the manufacturer.