Industry
3
Hemp was first grown in Kentucky in 1775. From 1840 to 1860, Kentucky's production was the largest in the U.S. Its peak in 1850 was 40,000 tons, valued at $5,000,000. Scores of factories made twine, rope, oakum to caulk sailing ships, and cotton bagging. Hemp remained the state's largest cash crop until 1915, then lost its market to imported jute freed of tariff. As a war measure, hemp was grown again during World War II.
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Kentucky · United States
