210 0;z Italian Hemp and Flax. 



(Bagni di Casciana) in the territory of Pisa, where thev 

 macerjite the Genista^ in the course of a single day, in 

 the remains of the mineral water of said baths. Very 

 fine and white thread is made from the rind of the Urtica 

 fiivea, a native of China, but this plant does not thrive 

 well amongst us, on account of the heat and drous^ht 

 that we s^renerallv have in summer; the Urtica nivea likinc; 

 better a damp soil. 



[Italian hemp as imported for sale, is from six to nine feet 

 long. The manufacturers agree that the fibre is softer and 

 stronger than that from Russia, but is more difficult to spin, 

 owing to the greater abundance of gum in it. The difference in 

 time required to spin the two articles, is one-fifth. They add, 

 that it hecke.ls with less ease than the northern or American 

 production. Three men are required to prepare Italian hemp, 

 for the same number of spinners, which can be kept at work by 

 two men when heckling American or Russian hemp- Cordage 

 made from Italian hemp, absorbs more tar, and becomes much 

 stiffer in cold weather, than the other kinds. Hence it is con- 

 cluded to be peculiarly suitable for a warm climate. 



Whether the greater abundance of gum in the Italian hemp 

 is connected with the nature of the vegetable, or depends upon 

 being imperfectly watered, and broken, cannot be ascertained 

 at present. The latter conjecture is probably the correct one, 

 as the article bears strong marks of being prepared with little 

 care. The fact does not therefore militate against the cultiva- 

 tion of Italian hemp, although it forms one objection to the 

 working up of the article as imported. If the gumminess 

 should be found to be natural to the Italian species, the differ- 

 ence of our climate and soil will be likely to cause its disap- 

 pearance : a little additional care in water-rotting it would 

 certainly remove the objection to its growth, arising from that 

 circumstance. An experiment shall be made with the produce 

 of the seed sown last spring, to determine the point. M.] 



