OF SCOTLAND.

595

cd by frequently turning and shifting the handfuls under thebrake.

§ 9. Produce and price .—The produce of an acre of hempwhen it grows well, is stated to be about 40 stones But thereporter does not discriminate cither the acre or the stone towhich he alludes. Supposing the Scotch acre, and the tron-stonc of five to the hundred weight to be implied, and thatthe reporter means hemp so far dressed as to be fit for mar-ket, this will give a produce of about Jive cwt. to the statuteacre. Assuming L. 120 the ton as the present war-price ofclean undressed hemp, that is merely broken, switched, andbunched, the value of the produce of an acre of hemp willamount to L. 30. The expence of cultivating an acre ofhemp, and preparing it for market, is stated at L. 16, 13 s.leaving a clear produce, to meet rent, taxes, and profit to thegrower, of L-13, 7 s. an acre.

§ 10. Concluding observations .—As it is well ascertained,that in Ireland, Russia, Poland, Canada , and the north ofFrance , hemp has been commonly grown for twelve or twen-ty years successively on the same spot, without any percepti-ble degeneracy, it is perfectly obvious, that this plant can inno degree be reckoned a scourger of the soil. Yet, it is ob-vious, as hemp requires to have the soil manured every se-cond year, that this article can never become extensively cul-tivated, unless in the neighbourhood of large towns, wheremuck can be purchased, or in situations where abundance ofscu-wecd can be procured. These observations apply to thecultivation of hemp even under the present enormous pricesof imported hemp; but were hemp to revert to the peace-priceof L. 28 per ton, it is easy to perceive that the expences at-tending its cultivation would much exceed the value of'itsproduce. Even at L. 68 per ton, it would merely cover ex-pences, leaving nothing whatever to indemnify the grower forhis risk and trouble, or to pay rent.

Argyle Report, p. 116.