HEMP. 75 



spikes, while the female hemp is surmounted by tufts 

 of leaves of a considerable size. The male and female 

 plants are therefore readily distinguishable at a con- 

 siderable distance. The flowers of the former grow 

 near the summit of the stem ; they are disposed in 

 clusters, two of which generally hang at the insertion 

 of each of the upper leaves on the stalk : a cluster 

 bears nine or ten flowers. 



The fruit grows in great abundance on the stem 

 of the female hemp. This seed is not preceded by 

 any corolla; a membranaceous hairy calyx, terminating 

 in long points, encloses the pistil, the base of which 

 becomes the seed. 



The male is quicker in its growth than the female, 

 and generally rises half a foot higher, by which 

 provision of nature the farina from the stamina, or 

 the fecundating dust which conveys fertility to the 

 seed, is readily shed on the lower plant. 



Either kind are produced indiscriminately from 

 the seeds which grow on the same stalk, and the 

 difference cannot be known until the plants are some- 

 what advanced in growth. When the seed is put 

 into the ground it is therefore quite uncertain what 

 proportion there will be of each. 



Most soils may be made fit by good manuring for 

 the cultivation of hemp, but rich moist earth is con- 

 sidered the most favourable to its growth. It seldom 

 thrives on a stiff clay soil. A poor land will yield 

 but a scanty crop, the quality, however, will be pro- 

 portionably finer; while a strong rich land produces 

 a greater quantity, but this will be coarse. Cultiva- 

 tors are therefore regulated in their choice of soil by 

 the description of hemp which they wish to raise. 



Sir Joseph Banks remarks on this subject, that 

 " coarse hemp, such as is required for the manufac- 

 ture of cables, hawsers, and other heavy rigging, 

 requires every where an abundance of manure and 



