130 HEMP. 



When sown as early as above directed, it will be fit for 

 pulling or emitting' about the first of August, the exact 

 time being- indicated b}' the falling of tke flowers and 

 withering of the leaves. 



Hemp must be pulled, the earth shook from the roots, 

 or it can be cut, tied into bundles,' and without delay put 

 into the water to rot. The water^-in which it is rotted, 

 (or retted as some wTiters express it,) should not run 

 rapidly, as such will wash away the coat. Let the 

 sheaves be laid lengthwise across the stream, and sunk 

 completely under. Standing water is good for rotting ; 

 but unless the hemp be once turned, that which lies up- 

 permost will be rotted most, owing to the water near 

 the surface being warmer than that below. When suf- 

 ficiently rotted, which Avill generally be in about five 

 days, a small handful may be pulled asunder with a lit- 

 tle exertion ; and then it must be taken out very care- 

 fully, so as not to injure the coat, spread and dried as 

 soon as possible. 



If there is not a sufficiency of w^ater at this season of 

 the year, the hemp can be spread on the ground as pull- 

 ed, and left till dry ; which in good weather will require 

 about a week. When dried it can be gathered in bun- 

 dles, bound with straw, and carefully stacked, or housed 

 till there is a supply of water. Or hemp can be dew 

 rotted. 



When sufficiently dry, it is to be broken with a coarse 

 break, (and if very long may be cut in two,) then again 

 broken with the common flax-break, and then dressed 

 in the manner of flax, but more gently, as it will waste 

 with hard beating. An expert hand will swingle clean 

 about 100 pounds per da3^ 



The male plants of hemp bear the flowers, and the 

 female plants the seed. A sufficiency of the latter are 

 to be left for seed ; and these will require about sis 

 weeks further time to ripen; the ripeness being known 

 by the seed turning brown. The seeds may be gently 

 beat off the stalks when dried; or they may be taken 

 off by a coarse kind of comb made for the purpose. 

 The female hemp, which has stood to ripen the seeds, 

 requires a longer time to rot than the male, and when 

 dressed is harsher. The better way is to sow some 



