59. URTICA canadensis. CANADIAN HEMP NETTLE.—During the late war, when, from unfortunate circumstances and misunderstandings amongst the potentates of Europe, the commercial intercourse was checked, great speculations were made among the people to discover substitutes for such articles as were of certain demand; and one of the principal was of course the article Hemp, which, although it can be partially cultivated in this country, is a plant of that nature that we should find the article at a most enormous price were we dependent on our own supply alone. The great growth that supplies all the markets in the world is Russia, where land is not only cheap, but of better quality than here; but with which country we were once unhappily deprived of the advantage of trade. This caused persons to seek for substitutes: and I once saw one that was made from bean-stalks, not to be despised; but it is probable that none has reached so high in perfection as that produced from the plant above named. A person has grown and manufactured this article in Canada, and has exhibited some samples in London, which it is said have obtained the sanction of government, and that the same person is now engaged in growing in North America a considerable quantity of this article. As this, therefore, is a subject of great interest to us as a maritime nation, I shall insert the following account that is given of this plant. I am, however, quite unacquainted with its culture or manufacture, and cannot pledge myself for the accuracy of the detail.
"PERENNIAL HEMP. Cultivation.—Affects wet mellow land, but may be cultivated with advantage on upland black mould or loam, if moist and of middling good quality. Manure will assist the produce. It may be planted from the beginning of October to the latter end of March, in drills about fifteen inches asunder and nine inches distance in the drills.
"Propagation.—Sow the seeds in a bed in the month of March, and transplant the roots next autumn twelvemonth, as above directed; or divide the old roots, which is the quickest way of obtaining a crop.
"Time of Harvesting.—If a fine quality of Hemp is desired, mow the crop when it is in full bloom; but should a greater produce of inferior quality be more desirable, it should stand until the seeds are nearly ripe. It should remain in the field about a week after it is mown, and when sufficiently dry gathered in bundles and stacked as Hemp.
"Separation of Hemp from the Pulps.—Rot it in water, as practised with
Hemp.
"The Perennial Hemp grows to the height of from four to six feet.
"The root inclines horizontally with numerous fleshy fibres at the extremity.
"The buds many, and resembling the buds of the Lily of the Valley.
"It is the Urtica canadensis of Kalm, one of which was brought over and planted by the side of this plant, and we could not find any difference."
60. LAPSANA communis. NIPPLE-WORT.—This plant is considered by the country people as a sovereign remedy for the piles. The plant is immersed in boiling water, and the cure is effected by applying the steam arising therefrom to the seat of the disease; and this, with cooling medicine and proper regimen, is seldom known to fail in curing this troublesome disease.