Hemp for Victory (Reel 2, 1942)

In Wisconsin, hemp is harvested in September. Here, the hemp harvester with automatic spreader is standard equipment. Note how smoothly the rotating apron lays the swath preparatory to ring. Here, it is a common and essential practice to leave headlands around hemp fields. These strips may be planted to other crops, preferably small grain. Thus, the harvester has room to make its first round without preparatory hand cutting. Here, the machine is running over corn stubble. When the cutter bar is much shorter than the hemp is tall, overlapping occurs, not so good for ring. The standard cut is 8 to 9 ft. The length of time hemp is left on the ground to r depends on the weather. [Music] The swalls must be turned to get a uniform [Music] red. When the woody core breaks away readily like this, the hemp is about ready to take up and bind into bundles. [Music] Well- retted hemp is light to dark gray. The fiber tends to pull away from the stalk. The presence of stalks in the bow string stage indicates that rtting is well [Music] underway. When hemp is short or tangled, or when the ground is too wet for machines, it is bound by hand. A wooden buck is used. Twine will do for tying, but the hemp itself makes a good [Music] band. When conditions are favorable, the pickup bander is commonly used. The swath should last smooth and even with stalks parallel. The picker won't work well in tangled hemp. [Music] After binding, hemp is shocked as soon as possible to stop further rating. In 1942, 14,000 acres of fiber hemp were harvested in the United States. The goal for 1943 is 300,000 acres. Thus, hemp cannabis ata the old standby cordage fiber is staging a strong comeback. This is Kentucky hemp going into the dryer of a mill at [Music] Versailles. In the old days, breaking was done by hand. One of the hardest jobs known to [Music] man. Now the power breaker makes quick work of it. [Music] Spinning American hemp into rope yarn or twine in the old Kentucky River Mill at Frankfurt, Kentucky. Another pioneer plant that has been making cordage for more than a century. [Music] All such plants will presently be turning out products spun from American grown hemp. Twine of various kinds for tying winding arometers and upholsterers work. Rope for marine rigging and towing for hay forks, derks and heavy duty tackle. Light duty fire [Music] hose. Thread for shoes for millions of American soldiers and parachute webbing for our paratroopers. [Music] As for the United States Navy, every battleship requires 34,000 ft of road and other craft accordingly. So, here in the Boston Navyyard, where cables for frigots were made long ago, crews are now working night and day making cordage for the fleet. In the old days, rope yarn was spun by hand. [Music] Today even the rope walk is mechanized. 160 fathoms to [Music] go. The rope yarn feeds through holes in an iron plate. This is Manila hemp from the Navy's rapidly dwindling reserve. When that is gone, American hemp will go on duty again. Hemp for moing ships, hemp for toll lines. Hemp for tackle and gear. Hemp for countless naval uses both on ship and shore. Just as in the days when old Ironside sailed the seas victorious with her hempen shrouds and hemp [Music] sails. Hemp for victory. [Music]