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HEMP. 



is now made into the heaviest as well as the most delicate fabrics ; 

 and nothing seems so well calculated, from its strength, beauty, and 

 cheapness, for universal use as cotton cloth. 



G. Herbaceum; leaves 5-lobed, glaucous, pointed; stem smooth, 

 bushy, branched, zigzag ; flowers yellow or purple ; capsule size of 

 walnut in calyx like filbert E. I. & A. 



HEMP, Cannabis saliva, C. 22, O. 5. 

 Urticea sp. 1, A. Dh. 5-8 ft. This is an 

 important plant, from the great use made 

 of the fibrous parts of the stalk in the man- 

 ufacture of cloth and ropes, especially 

 sail cloth. It grows wild in the East Indies, 

 but has long been naturalized and cultivat- 

 ed in Europe and this country. Russia is 

 particularly distinguished for its growth and 

 manufacture into canvass and cordage, 

 whence most maritime nations import it in 

 large quantities. 



A moist, loose, or new soil, or black 

 mould near water, is best for this plant. 

 The seed is sown early in spring, and the 

 stalk is pulled in four months. The male 

 plant, orfimble hemp, matures and is pulled 

 before the female, which is the seed hemp. 



Hemp, when pulled, is tied in bundles 

 and set up for 10 days to dry. These are 

 then loosened at the top, and held upon a Rundle, and the seed beaten 

 out with a flail, or otherwise, without bruising them. These seeds 

 are valuable for their oil in painting and for burning, and also for 

 birds and fowls, which arc said thereby to lay more eggs, though some 

 are said to change their plumage by eating them. The oil is much 

 used in Russia and China for culinary purposes. The seeds are spread 

 and turned to prevent fermentation. When grown for seed, the plant 

 is said to be exhausting, but when pulled green it is a cleaner of the 

 soil. The plant has a strong odor with narcotic and intoxicating pro- 

 perties, and hence is used in India, mixed with tobacco, for smoking, 

 and also in making an intoxicating drink, banga or gunjah, and this is 

 likewise much in use in Egypt. The seeds preserve their vegetative 

 properties only one season, on account of their oil. If this be rancid 

 the seeds will not germinate, or if they be white or pale. The seeds 

 are sown broad cast, more or less thick, according to the use intended. 

 If thick, the fibres are fine, have a better lustre, are more easily 

 bleached, and make a finer cloth. When sown thinly, it is coarser 

 and better for cordage. It should be thinned and cleared of weeds. 

 Some remarkable properties are said to belong to hemp. Besides 



