www.bull-electrical.com/cannabis/cannabis_seeds.htm
The emporium Cannabis was one of the first plants cultivated by humans. Its fibers and seeds have been found in excavations of sites of human communities that are over 6000 years old The plant has many uses and helped societies advance time and time again. The symbiotic relationship humans have had with cannabis probably began when a hunter-gatherer discovered the plant's seed- laden branches. The seeds are still used as a grain and are easily gathered from varieties which hold them on the colas (branches laden with buds). The fiber sheath around the stem is one of the strongest and longest fibers in the plant world It is easily removed from the core after it has been retted, or left to soak for a while. The fiber was probably discovered after lying in a pool or puddle. Hemp fiber allowed many human communities to make their first rope and netting (both revolutionary developments) and then to make the move from animal hides to plant fiber clothing Humans discovered the psychoactive qualities of the plant thousands of years ago. The practices were described by Herodotus, a Roman, who is considered by Westerners to be the world's first historian. The tribe had not yet discovered the efficiencies of the smoking pipe. For instance, people gathering seeds for food would tend to propagate large-seeded plants whose seeds stayed on the stem. Cannabis usually developed into hemp in areas above the 30th parallel and contained small but variable amounts of the psychoactive substance, THC. Hemp does contain large amounts of a nearly non-psychoactive precursor of THC, cannabidiol, or CBD. The ratio of CBD to THC in cannabis increases with increasing latitudes of adapted plants. A very hardy semi-weedy variety of cannabis, ruderalis, is found in the northern Steppes and is still used as a animal food grain. This variety also has a variable amount of THC Marijuana can be defined as the varieties of the cannabis plant cultivated for the psychoactive substance THC and its analogs. Marijuana is one of the most widely distributed plants in the world It is grown in every county of the United States. Traditionally it has been grown in areas from the 30th parallel N to the Equator and then to the 30th parallel S. Since the 1960's it's range has been increased to the 60th parallel. Marijuana and hemp are varieties of the same species cannabis, and are sometimes interbred to develop new varieties. Most of the chemical and morphological differences and the extremely diverse gene-pool are artifacts of cannabis's symbiotic relationship with humans. Humans carried seeds all over the world, and bred the plant to meet particular needs. Modern marijuana growers are following in a great tradition. The plant has been re-discovered many times for one of its products after having been forgotten by previous generations. Americans are growing the plant today only for its psychoactive qualities. Cannabis fiber is not only the longest and one of the strongest in the plant kingdom, but depending on the variety, methods of cultivation, curing and processing the fiber can be used for anything from ship rope to the finest linen-like material. Virtually no scientific experimentation has been done on modifying the fiber for various uses. Yet in countries where its cultivation is permitted, including France, Italy, and Yugoslavia, it is one of the most profitable crops grown. In these countries hemp is grown primarily for its fiber, which is used to make paper including very high quality non-deteriorating stock Cannabis pulp could be used in bio-mass operations, for paper making and as a substitute ingredient in place of wood fiber. It would be much more profitable to use cannabis rather than softwood for by-products. Since cannabis takes only one season to grow, farmers could better adjust plans according to market conditions. Cannabis actually yields more mass per acre than most forests. Cannabis seed can be used as a high protein animal feed and also for its oil, which has many industrial uses. A high protein animal feed can be made from the mash after it is pressed for its oil. Cannabis is still intimately involved in a symbiotic relationship with humans. This special relationship will help both species evolve and will continue to alter both of their destinies. The most important lactor in producing high yielding potent marijuana is the plant's genes. The goal of the grower is to cultivate a garden of healthy, vigorous, fast-growing plants which are induced to flower while they are still short. To succeed they must be used as efficiently as possible. To get the highest yield gardeners grow many small plants rather than a few large ones. Smaller plants yield more per square foot of space, mature faster, and are easier to care for than large ones. People used to think that size or age were important, but they soon found out that maturity or ripeness is the important factor. As the buds on the plant ripen, their potency increases. Depending on how intensive the technique and the variety being grown, plants are forced to flower when they are between 8-15 inches tall. Plants forced when they are small have little chance to develop side shoots. This means that each plant uses not only a smaller vertical space, but has a smaller radius. Plants which are flowered when they are very small can be placed very close together. Short plants use much less vertical space so gardeners often find it convenient to divide the growing area into several levels of shelves or bunks. Setting up and maintaining a successlul indoor garden requires a bit of work and some hands-on experience. No one gets the garden running at full potential the first time out. Any farmer will say: Don't count your chickens before they're hatched" Rather than setting up a gigantic sophisticated garden with little experience, the best growers start off with a less ambitious project which has more chance of success. They take less time, but more importantly, they do not have the problems of energy consumption, ventilation and heat that large gardens have. With a small system, the energy consumption does not go up that much. A large system using several large wattage lamps spins the meter. The heat created in a small system is easily dissipated into the surrounding environment, especially during cool months. A large system requires a more sophisticated heat-exchange system. First it grows vegetatively, then it goes into flowering During the vegetative cycle the plants receive lighting continuously or for a minimum of 18 hours a day. During the flowering cycle they receive fewer hours of light. For this reason it is convenient to separate any garden into two separate units, one for vegetative growth and one for flowering The vegetative growth unit need not necessarily be large since it is used mostly for starting seeds and clones. In the most efficient growing system, plants are grown in the vegetative section until they are 8-12 inches high and then are placed in the flowering area. The vegetative section requires about the space of the flowering section. Years ago people grew seeds from their best stash, mostly sativas, originating in Colombia and Mexico. These plants grow in a classic conical shape, with long spreading limbs at the bottom and a single main stem on the top. They have different potential yields, highs, flower size, bud structure, ripening time, height, leaf shape, color, bushiness, and amount of light required for adequate growth. In much the same way that the environment affects the yield and flavor of grapes, it also affects the genetic potential of marijuana. The taste, quality of the high' yield, and color are all subject to modification by the environment Some of the factors include amount and quality of light, water, temperature, amount, Tatios and kinds of fertilizers or nutrients, and cultivation practices. Each spring the plants germinate and begin a period of rapid growth. As fall approaches, the plants' growth changes from vegetative to flowering or reproductive. To produce seeds, pollen from male plants must fertilize the female flowers. When the male plants are removed from the garden, the...
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