GATHERING- TUB CROP. 135 



slightly ; for which purpose it is sometimes even wetted 

 a little, after thrashing, and subjected to the same granary 

 treatment as is practised on rape and colza seeds, to cause 

 them to mature their oil. The different degrees of ripe- 

 ness of the seeds which are found on the same plant of 

 hemp, and consequently upon all the plants in the same 

 field, render it more difficult to hit the exact moment 

 which is best suited for the extraction of the oil, than is 

 the case with poppy, colza, and linseed. If it is taken 

 to the mill too soon, there is a loss of profit, because 

 the mucilage has not had time to become converted into 

 oil ; if it is kept too long before being carried there, the oil 

 is apt to be rancid and of inferior quality. Sometimes 

 the heads of the shocks of hemp are covered with straw, 

 to preserve them from the rain and the attacks of birds. 

 The seed thus completes its ripening. If the weather 

 turns out damp, the shocks ought to be opened the first 

 sunshiny day, to dry the bundles ; for any tendency to 

 nouldiness, and still more the rotting of the leaves, 

 affects the quality of the seed. In some districts, a large 

 circular hole about a foot deep is dug in the ground ; the 

 bundles of hemp are put together into it upright, and 

 their roots are covered with earth. This method is pre- 

 ferable to the former one, because the moisture is better 

 retained around the bottom of the stems, and the seed 

 is ripened more gradually, and consequently more com- 

 pletely. This fact is so incontestable as to forbid the 

 adoption of the advice of those persons who would hastily 

 dry the hemp-stalks in the sun, or cut off the heads as 

 30011 as the plant is pulled. There are many ways of 

 thrashing the seed, or rather of removing it from off the 

 stalk. In some places, large cloths are spread in the 

 field, and the heads are laid on a bench standing on the 

 cloth, and are beaten with sticks ; in others, the heads 

 are beaten over a tub with its head staved in. Some- 

 times the thrashing of the best and ripest seed is simply 

 performed by knocking two heads together violently, one 

 being held in each hand, as is done in getting the seed 

 out of poppy-heads. This first yield of seed is used for 



