The HEMP PLANT contains the drug marihuana. Any farmer planning to grow hemp must comply with certain regulations of the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937. This involves registration with the farmer's nearest Internal Revenue Collector and the payment of a fee of $1. Although the fee is small, the registration is mandatory and should not be neglected, as the penalty provisions for not complying with the regulations are very severe. The registration must be renewed each year beginning July 1. This so-called "license" permits a farmer to obtain viable hempseed from a registered firm dealing in hemp, to plant and grow the crop, and to deliver mature, retted hemp stalks to a hemp mill. Washington, D. C. Issued January 1943 Slightly Revised April 1952 _HEMP_ By B. B. Robinson, _Senior Agrononmist_ _Division of Cotton and Other Fiber Crops and Diseases Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils, and Agricultural Engineering Agricultural Research Administration_ HEMP is a fiber used in making twines and light cordage. It is also used as an extender for imported cordage fibers, particularly abaca, sisal, and henequen, when supplies of these are not adequate to meet domestic demands. The size of the hemp industry, therefore, is greatly influenced by the availability of imported cordage fibers. Hemp is not a hard crop to grow. It should be planted on the most productive land on the farm--land that would make 50 to 70 bushels of corn per acre. The crop is planted with a grain drill and harvested with special machinery rented from hemp mills. It is allowed to lie on the ground until the outer part of the stalks has rotted, freeing the fibers. This process is called dew retting. The most important step in hemp farming is to stop the retting process at the proper time. (See pp. 12 and 13.) This bulletin tells how to grow and harvest hemp. For more information write to the Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils, and Agricultural Engineering, United States Department of Agriculture, or to your State experiment station, or consult your county agent. _What it is_ Hemp is an annual plant that grows from seed each year, and therefore it can be brought readily into production. It produces twice as much fiber per acre as flax, the only other fiber that is its equal in strength and durability and that is known to be suitable for culture and preparation on machinery in this country.