a Filroui Substance from Bean Slalks, 181 



all around, the one at each of the four corners hc\r\grather 

 thicker and stronger than the rest. It is also certiiin that, 

 next to Chinese, or sea-grass, in other words, the material 

 \vith which hooks are sometimes fixed to the end of fishing 

 lines, the filaments or hempen particles oF the hcan plant 

 arc among the strongest yet discovered. These with a little 

 beating, rubbing and shaking, are easily separated from the 

 strawy part, when the plant has been steeped 10 or 12 days 

 in water; oris damp, and in a state approaching to fermen- 

 tation, or what is commonly called rotting. Washing and 

 pulling it through hackles, or iron combs, first coarse and 

 then finer, is necessary to the dressing of bean hemp ; and, 

 so far as I have yet discovered, the easiest way of separating 

 the filaments from the thin membrane that surrounds them. 



From carefully observing the medium number of bean- 

 plants in a square yard, in a variety of fields on both sides 

 the Tweed, as well as in Ireland, and multiplying them by 

 4840, the number of square yards in an acre, and then 

 weighing the hemp or filaments of a certain number of 

 these slalks, I find that there are at a mediimi about 2cwt. 

 of hemp, or these filaments, in every acre, admirably cal- 

 culated for being converted into a thousand articles, where 

 strength and durability is of importance, as well as, with a 

 little preparation, into paper of all kinds ; even that of the 

 most delicate texture. 



Now since there are at least 200,000 acres of ticks, horse 

 and other beans, planted in Great Britain and Ireland, and 

 since, where there is not machinery for the purpose, the poor, 

 both young and old, feniales as well as males, belonging to 

 each of the 9700 parishes in England, &c. where beans are 

 raised, might (hemp having risen of late from 60 to 120 

 pounds per ton) be advantageously employed in peeling, or 

 otherwise separating these filaments from the strawy part of 

 the plant, after the beans have been thrashed out ; I leave 

 it to the feelings of the Society for the Eucouragement of 

 Arts, &c. to judge of the importance of the idea held out 

 here, not only to the poor, but to the land-holders and the 

 community at large. 



It is nearly twelve months since, by analysing its com- 

 ponent parts, I discovered hemp in the bean plant. 1 would 

 have written to you then. Sir, on the subject, and sent a 

 specimen, but that I was trying experiments with other 

 plants, as I am during my leisure hours doing at present ; 

 and \ wished to a><ccrtain in what degree this species of 

 hemp is liable to injury from different situations, and the 

 changes of the atmosphere. With a view to this, I exposed 



M 3 ,one 



