First crop grown, 1775. From 1840 to 1860, Ky's production largest in U.S. Peak in 1850 was 40,000 tons, with value of $5,000,000. Scores of factories made twine, rope, gunny sacks, bags for cotton picking and marketing. State's largest cash crop until 1915. Market lost to imported jute, freed of tariff. As war measure, hemp grown again during World War II. See over.
Photograph courtesy of the Student Technology Leadership Program students of George Rogers Clark High School (March, 1997)
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