DICOTYLEDONS URTICACE^E DIAGRAM 15. 187 



nothing remarkable about the flowers, which have generally 

 separate sexes. These sometimes grow together on the same 

 plant, and sometimes grow ( n different plants as is the case, as 

 we have mentioned before, with the hemp. The fruit of the 

 Urticaceae varies much. 



In the Nettle, the male and female flowers grow on different 

 plants. The leaves are studded with very stiff hairs, which 

 pierce the skin, and inject a very active venom with which they 

 are filled ; and it is on this account that the sting is so painful. 

 The nettle may, however, be handled with impunity if suddenly 

 and firmly grasped, as the hairs will then be bent or broken. 

 The stalk of the nettle is fibrous like that of the hemp, and it has 

 sometimes been proposed to use it for manufacturing purposes. 



The Hemp has the male and female flowers on different 

 plants. We have already said that the male plant is smaller than 

 the female. The male flowers have five stamens, and the females 

 have a pistil which becomes the hemp-seed used for feeding caged 

 birds. 



The hemp possesses very stimulating properties, and an allied 

 plant, the so-called Indian hemp, is used in some countries to 

 produce a pleasurable intoxication. It is sometimes used in 

 medicine. 



Hemp is generally sown in spring, and when the time has come 

 to harvest it, the plants are pulled up, tied in bundles, and allowed 

 to decay either in the ground or in water. This is done to rot 

 away all parts of the plant which cannot be used for making 

 cordage. The hemp then undergoes two other operations 

 stripping and combing. In the first, the central part of the stalk 

 which is not fibrous is broken off, and in the second, all the refuse 

 is removed; and the tow remains, which is first transformed into 

 thread, and then into canvas and cordage. 



The Hop has leaves divided like the hemp, and is a climbing 

 plant which grows in hedges, and is also largely cultivated in the 

 south of England to be used in making beer. Beer is made of 

 barley, but is then sweetish, and hops are added to it to give it its 



