il 



hemp intended for cords has been treated with little at- 

 tention, and but little fcoured, or bleached, the fhorts 

 wliich co:rje from it in drelTmg may be fcoured over again, 

 to render them more ufeabic. The hackle, and even the 

 hemp itfelf, may be a little oiled in the drelling, which 

 will mach facilitate that bufinefs, and inftead ot touiing, 

 will rather a ffi ft in bleaching the threads, when they come 

 to be waQied, 



Both the dreffing and fpinning of hemp are bed carried 

 on in a damp place. Hemp is naturally inclined to twill 

 too. much in fpinning. 



The grcatpil injury that can befal hemp, is that of futi 

 baking. But after ail, the greatefl injuries that can be 

 done to hemp, the new operation may be performed on it ; 

 though with little fuccels, yet fufficient to render it bet- 

 ter than that xvhich is procured by any other operation^ 

 whereof I have, at this moment, the proof under my eye. 

 The grcciteH whitenefs can never be procured but by 

 working it green. If flored, the greener it is got in, the 

 whiter it will be. The more the colour is changed, the 

 worfe will be the colour of the thread. 



Fifteen pounds of male hemp may be gotten ofF in a 

 day, by one perfon ; only feven pounds, of female. It is 

 neceiTary to pick the hemp plants over at feveral different 

 periods, in order to avoid having any bad flems among the 

 good, which might fpoii a.wbole parcel, efpecially if in- 

 tended for fine linen, ^n.nr,..,: 



There is great reafon, from a flight attempt that has 

 been made, to think that a dye might be procured from 

 the water in which the hemp js fcoured, after that it is 

 gotten off from the reed. 



It is likewife thought that an inflrument may be imag^ 

 ined for drav/ing the reeds from the threads or rind, or 

 elfe the rind or threads from the reed, more expedi- 

 tioufly. A few bundles have been cleaned with a common 

 rake. 



In France it is common, at the time of pulling the fe^ 

 male hemp, to fcatter turnip feeds in among the Items of 

 the male hemp, which are left (landing, and thefe turnips 

 frequently produce a good deal of feed for fheep or caitle 

 after the male hemp is taken off. It is obvious that what« 



ever 



