142 HEMP. 



that acrid and irritating dust wiiicli is so injurious when 

 hemp is beaten in the mill or finished off with the 

 comb. 



Kozier justly remarks that all still waters are not 

 suited to the purpose ; some may be soft, although 

 muddy, whilst others may be limpid and yet prove hard. 

 Soft water may contain chalk and infusions of vegetable 

 detritus ; such are ponds and ditches near dung-heaps. 



In those, hemp is steeped to perfection; they contain a. 

 natural leaven, which accelerates the fermentation. On 

 the contrary, in hard waters, charged with selenite, 

 steeping goes on but slowly. These latter increase the 

 weight of the fibre from three to five per cent, more than 

 running water ; they act upon it like alum, and are pre- 

 ferred for the preparation both of cloth and thread 

 intended to be dyed ; but as they communicate a 

 mordant which retains the colouring portion of whatever 

 infusions or solutions they are laden with at the time the 

 steeping is going on, the fibre, thus naturally dyed 

 or dirtied, is bleached with greater difficulty. Sea-water, 

 the water of salt-marshes, the borders of lakes and large 

 pools, and low spots near the coast, are also used with 

 advantage for steeping hemp. In Ireland, Scotland, and 

 Holland, it is found that sea-salt, although more anti- 

 septic than refined salt,does not hinder the requisite degree 

 of fermentation. It is certain that the operation of 

 steeping hemp would be more quickly performed, and in 

 greater perfection, if the water were always alkaline. 

 Such are the drainings of the dung-heap and the poultry- 

 court; but liquid manure of this kind is always too 

 scarce, and is wanted for other purposes, though in 

 England we too often allow it to be wasted. Moreover, 

 such water is always coloured, and would cause a de- 

 preciation of the fibre on account of the tinge which it- 

 has thereby received. 



E/ozier states that he found upon trial that he reaped 

 considerable advantage by steeping hemp in an abundant 

 spring of mineral water, which was alkaline and gaseous 

 in its nature. "Why not make use of these local. 



