New Brunswick Historical Tidbits

New Brunswick's Hemp Farms

By Mitch Biggar

In 1801 the British government communicated with the governor of all British colonies in north America to take measures to encourage the cultivation of hemp for the use of the Royal Navy. Governor Carleton informed the Secretary of State that hemp would grow well in the province but farmers would have to be enticed to grow it. Carleton suggested a bounty be given to entice the farmers to grow hemp.

The cultivation of hemp in New Brunswick had been suggested by Brook Watson in 1785. Major Studholme had engaged in growing hemp on his farm at Studville but did not have much success. In July 1803 Colonel James Peters wrote to Edward Winslow and said that there was not much doubt that hemp crops would succeed well on the rich lands of New Brunswick.

In 1808 George Leonard and Ward Chipman wrote London and told an agent that hemp wold grow very well in New Brunswick but the colony lacked the skilled laborers to cultivate it. Leonard and Chipman also suggested that a number of settlers from north Germany who were acquainted with the best manner of raising, curing, and dressing hemp be brought to New Brunswick to start hemp farms.

The suggestions were not acted upon by London and as a result hemp has never been extensively cultivated in New Brunswick.

This page was designed by Irene Doyle September 1999