78 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



reeds, that rose considerably above the head of a man 

 on horseback. The sowing of hemp was found to 

 be by far the most efficacious means. After hemp, 

 Indian corn was very successfully sown in some of 

 the fields. 



It is said that this plant has likewise the peculiar 

 property of destroying caterpillars and other insects 

 which prey upon vegetables; it is therefore very 

 usual, in those countries where hemp is much culti- 

 vated, for the peasantry to secure their vegetable 

 gardens from insects, by encircling the beds with a 

 border of hemp, which in this manner proves a most 

 efficient barrier against all such depredators. 



The male hemp comes to maturity three weeks or 

 a month earlier than the female. It is known to be 

 ripe by the flowers fading, the farina falling, and the 

 stems turning partially yellow. This period is usu- 

 ally about thirteen or fourteen weeks after sowing. 



It is the frequent practice to pull these before they 

 are quite ripe, for after having arrived at their full 

 maturity, the fibres adhere so tenaciously to the reed 

 as not to be readily separated without injury. The 

 Suffolk cultivators gather both male and female 

 plants at the same time, reserving a small part for 

 seed. In Lincolnshire and on the Continent they 

 gather the male plant a month earlier than the 

 female, and therefore small paths are made at inter- 

 vals through the field, in order that the persons em- 

 ployed may pluck the plants which are ripe without 

 trampling down those which are to remain. 



The ripeness of the female hemp is known by the 

 same indications as that of the male, and also by the 

 calyx partially opening and its seed beginning to 

 change colour. They are both less injured by pulling 

 too soon than too late, but when very young, though 

 ,the fibres are more flexile and fine, the ropes which 

 are made with them are found not to be so lasting as 



