3^ iftXICULTURAL MUSEUiJ 



ty. The hemp is then scparafred from the sfalk, an^ 

 produces that quality with which the Russians make 

 ooarse cloths. This kind of hemp they do not put nu- 

 ^er water. 



The female hemp Is pulled about three weeks after the 

 male, as already obse 'ved. WThen pulled it is bound- 

 up in sheaves from five to six inches in diameter. 

 These are placed standing against poles fixed in the 

 grountf. Thus they remain at least two days ; after 

 which they beat or thresh the sheaves to extract the 

 «eed, and beat the roots to clear them of the soil- 

 hemp in this state is called in Russia, Molatchanka, vi2^ 

 hemp beaten or threshed. In the Ukraine where the 

 Best hemp is produced, tbfj used to cut off from the 

 top of the stalk between seven and ten inches, and 

 the same from the root This they catl Sittchka, or cut 

 iiemp. Of late years however, the rieh proprietors 

 only continue this mode of preparing hemp ; which is 

 thus prepared in the other provinces^ 



Four days after the seed is taken from the stalk, it 

 is put in soak in either still or running water,. immaterial 

 which. The sheaves are placed in order by eaclz other^ 

 and immersed under water of from seven to twelve 

 feet depth, and confined in a fixed state by pieces of 

 wood and by stones suflicicnt to secure them. In this 

 situation they remain about three weeks, if the rt ater is 

 fvarm ; if cold, they continue five weeks. At the 

 C2id of that time a small portion is taken and dri- 

 ed upon an oven, or in some other way. It is then bro- 

 ken by hand. If the hemp separates with ease, then 

 the residue is taken from the water. If it does not se- 

 parate, it is suft'ered to remain until it does. When ta- 

 Jcen from the water it is placed upon heated stones, or 

 ovens to dry. The more dry, the better; because it 

 is then more easily detached from the pulp of the 

 ^talk. 



Every year great quantities of the sheaves remaiQ, 

 tm^ the epring inwiie«ed jiji TTjitcr^ ewing t© the scTtT; 



