FIBER-PRODUCING PLANTS 



347 



Chapter 22. Hemp for fiber does best in a mild humid climate 

 and a rich moist soil, maturing its fiber in about four months. 



Hemp fiber, like flax, occurs in strands 

 beneath the bark. Its extreme length — three 

 to nine feet — and its great strength and dur- 

 ability, are responsible for its value. The 

 cellulose of the cell walls is impregnated with 

 a stiffening substance, lignin, which prevents 

 the fiber from having the elasticity and flexi- 

 bility of flax. In the harvesting of hemp, the 

 plants are cut and dried, after which the 

 fibers are separated by the same methods 

 empolyed in separating flax fibers. On account 

 of its great strength, hemp was formerly much 

 used for ropes and ship riggings, but is no 

 longer so widely used in this capacity, being 

 replaced by manila. It is used in the manu- 

 facture of coarse textiles, sailcloth, webbing, 

 bags, and tarpaulins, where its dark color is 

 not objectionable. The short fibers, or tow, 

 are used for packing pumps and engines, 

 caulking seams in boats, and to a slight extent 

 as an upholstery stuffing. In recent years the 

 use of hemp has fallen off considerably due to 

 increasing use of cheaper fibers such as jute, manila, and sisal. 



Fig. 232.— 



Hemp plants are 

 tall annuals with 

 inconspicuous 

 flowers. 



Jute fiber is obtained from several woody annual plants 

 belonging to the Basswood Family. Most important is India jute, 

 a plant reaching heights of ten to twelve feet. It is grown mostly 

 in rich, river bottom soils that are often overflowed at high water, 

 in the warm humid climate of India. Plants are harvested by 

 cutting or pulling about four months after planting, while the 

 yellow flowers are still in blossom. The softer stem tissues are 

 rotted out in pools or running water, and the fibers are then 

 loosened from the bark by whipping on the waters' surface. After 

 several rinses, the fiber is wrung out of the water and allowed to 

 ;dry on bushes or poles. The fibers have considerably more lignin 



