HORACES 281 



25 per cent, of an oil, which is sometimes extracted and used 

 as a substitute for Unseed oil. The drug Cannabis indica 

 is derived from the stems and leaves of common hemp, which 

 under the hot climatic conditions of India, chiefly, develop a 

 volatile oil and a strong narcotic resin (cannabin). These 

 substances are secreted by the glandular hairs on stems and 

 leaves. They are not produced to any extent in cold climates. 

 Hemp-seed oil is used for making soft soaps, as a paint oil, 

 and low grades are utilized for certain varnishes. Recent 

 tests show that a fair quaHty of paper can be made from 

 hemp "hurds." 



The chief fiber competing with hemp is jute. Jute is 

 produced in India from two species of plants, Corchorus 

 capsularis and Corchorus olitorius. It is used extensively 

 for the manufacture of sugar sacks, gunny sacks, burlaps, 

 grain sacks, and wool sacking. It is about two-thirds as 

 strong as hemp fiber of the same weight, and is not as durable. 

 Although hemp has been used to some extent in the manu- 

 facture of binder twine, most of the binder twine now is made 

 from the fibers of sisal and abaca. 



Sisal Hemp. — The main center of production for Agave 

 fibers is Yucatan in Mexico. On the low limestone plains of 

 this country, Agava sisalana thrives. It belongs to a differ- 

 ent family (Amaryllidaceae) than that to which common 

 hemp belongs. This plant yields the well-known "sisal 

 hemp" or "hennequin." The plant is cultivated. This 

 country now imports large quantities of sisal hemp, all of 

 which is from Yucatan. It is used mainly in the manufac- 

 ture of binder twine. About 200,000,000 pounds of binder 

 twine are required annually to harvest the grain, corn, and 

 flax crops of the United States. Practically all of the fiber 

 from which this twine is made comes from the Agave^plant 

 of Yucatan. 



