Ä Area: FidoNet - Marijuana Chat ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ Msg#: 1687 Date: 06-09-93 22:24 From: Northcoast OH NORML Read: Yes Replied: No To: All Mark: Subj: Fairbanks Comp. #3 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ [...continued from previous posting] [FROM THE BURLINGTON FREE PRESS.] Experience has already we believe quieted the fears entertained by some that hemp was so exhausting a crop that nothing could be advantageously grown on the land after it. Among other testimonies on this subject we select from the Bellows Falls' Intelligencer the following statement of Mr. Amos Parker, a practical and experienced farmer of Springfield in this State. Springfield, Oct. 10. Sir -- In answer to the questions you have been pleased to ask in relation to the culture of hemp, &c. I can briefly remark, that during the years 1813, 14 and 15, I sowed upon my farm about one acre of hemp; it was sowed upon what is termed meadow land, upon the Connecticut river, and was continued upon the same piece of land, three years successively. -- There appeared to be no essential difference in the several crops, either as to quality or quantity. It may be proper to remark, that during this time no manure was put upon the land. The great labor then required to water rot it in the stem, rendered the growing of hemp, both expensive and burthensome, and finally induced me to relinquish it altogether. From my own experience on the subject. I am fully satisfied that a hemp crop, is not what would be called an exhausting crop, but may be successfully and profitably cultivated on good land, with the same attention that we usually bestow upon our grain and other crops. Under this conviction, and the additional inducement of obtaining a market for hemp without the process of the water rotting, which I superseded by a newly invented machine for cleaning, I have engaged to plant a part of my land the ensuing season for the purpose of raising a crop of seed, in order to be in preparation to raise the lint the following season. I am, Sir &c. AMOS PARKER. -!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!- Letter from the Hon. Samuel Lathrop to the Editor of the New England Farmer. Mr. J.B.Russel. -- I embrace the first moment of leisure, to give you, in compliance with your request, an account of the method pursued by our farmers, in the cultivation of hemp. It has been raised in my neighborhood for more than twenty years. It is considered as a sure crop; and the price which it has borne for a few years past, affords a reasonable remuneration to the cultivator. In the account which I shall give, there will probably be nothing new or instructive to those already acquainted with the prosesss. If you think it will be useful to others you will make such use of it as you think proper. Hemp requires a deep and rich soil. -- Any attempt to raise it upon a light soil, or upon land worn out and exhausted, until it is recruited by manure, and a fertilizing course of husbandry, will result only in disappointment. Nor can it long be continued upon the piece of ground, without an annual supply of manure. But upon a good soil, with an annual sprinkling of manure, at the rate of eight to ten loads to the acre, it may be continued for a succession of years, without any material diminution in the value of the crop. The ground must be prepared for the seed, much in the same manner as for flax. It must be ploughed and harrowed sufficiently to break the clods, and to render the soil fine and mellow. As different degrees of labor produce this effect, it must be left to the judgment of the cultivator to determine when his ground is in a proper state to receive the seed. I can safely say, that few farmers err, in ploughing and harrowing too much. The time for sowing is about the 10th of May. A few days earlier or later will make no difference. It must not be so early as to expose the tender plant to severe frosts, and if sown late in May, it will produce a light crop -- the stalks will have a thin coat. The quantity of seed varies with the strength and condition of the ground. Two bushels is the usual quantity sown upon an acre -- and this is generally sufficient. Some have used more, and upon very strong land have gone as high as three bushels. But I believe that few of our farmers have found their account in using a greater quantity than that first named. When it exceeds that quantity, the land must not only be strong but it must be reduced to a very fine tilth.. Otherwise, when it comes to grow, there will be a great deal of under-brush; that is, short spindling, coatless stalks, of no value, and which will only be in the way, at the time of pulling. The seed is sown broad cast, and bushed or harrowed in, like flax. No further attention to the crop is required until the season for pulling and cutting. Although the latter mode of gathering is attended with less labor, our farmers almost universally adopt the former, as the most profitable. This commences about the 10th of August. The time of pulling is determined by the appearance of the hemp. There are two kinds of hemp in every field, distinguished by the names of the male and the female. The latter produces the seed, the former the blossom and the farina. the male hemp has but a few slender branches. when this has turned white, or a pale yellow, has shed its leaves, and the farina has chiefly fallen off, then it is time to pull it. The female hemp has more and stronger branches, and continues fresh and green until the seed is ripe. It is common to leave patches or narrow strips, where the seed hemp is most abundant, until the seed has ripened, which will be about a month after the time of pulling; in which case, the economical farmer will pull out the male hemp as far as it is practicable; for the fibres of the hemp that stands in the field until the seed is ripe, are always stiff and harsh, and will bring less in the market, than that which has been pulled at the proper season. The pulling is a heavy job. One-fourth of an acre is considered as a day's work, though expert hands will pull a third of an acre. No precaution is necessary except to guard against breaking the stalks. The laborer gathers a few stalks in his hands and pulls them up, and having repeated this three or four times, he strikes the roots once or twice with his foot, in order to kick off the dirt, then holding the whole loose in his hands, lets the roots drop on the ground, for the purpose of making that end of his handful even. And in spreading his hemp on the ground, he is careful to lay the butts straight and true. This will greatly facilitate the labor of binding. Rain upon hemp after it is pulled, produces the same effect as upon mown grass. It discolors it and injures its quality. It must therefore be suffered to lie upon the ground no longer than it is necessary for its preservation. As soon as it is sufficiently dried, which, in warm and drying weather, will be after two days sun, it must be bound up in small bundles or sheaves. A little rye straw is the cheapest and best thing for bands. Let the band be put on towards the middle, otherwise it would be difficult to bind close enough to hold together, through all the subsequent handlings. Set up 15 to 20 bundles together, well braced at the roots to admit a free circulation of air, and to prevent from blowing over, and let it remain in this situation, until it is cured sufficiently to put into a stack or under cover. This may be done, in good weather, after two or three days. In the construction of the stack, great pains must be taken, lest the rain should find a passage into it. It is safest to put it under cover, either under sheds about the barn, or by erecting one for the purpose. [Continued on next posting...] Help Fight Back - Support Your Local NORML Chapter! Northcoast Ohio NORML Chapter Contact: John Hartman Phone: +[1]-216-521-WEED -!- ! Origin: Amiga University +[1]-216-637-6647 [Cortland, OH] (1:237/533.0)