HEMP. 79 



when the plants are gathered in a more matured 

 state. 



Hemp is never suffered to remain unfathered till 

 the seed is perfectly ripe, as at this period the bark 

 becomes woody, and so coarse that no subsequent 

 process can reduce its fibres to a proper degree of 

 fineness. Some plants should therefore be preserved 

 for seed. These require no particular cultivation, 

 but the male hemp is likewise left rather longer than 

 usual that it may attain to maturity and shed its 

 farina upon the seed-bearing plant. The most care- 

 ful cultivators, however, generally plant out a piece 

 of ground for the purpose of raising seed, as it proves 

 much more prolific when the plants are set at a 

 greater distance from each other. 



This has been fully ascertained by the experiments 

 of M. Aimen, who found that forty plants raised in 

 the common way yielded only a pound and a half of 

 seed, whereas from a single plant which grew by 

 itself seven pounds and a half were obtained. 



When the hemp is pulled it is taken up by the 

 roots, and before the plants are taken from the field, 

 the leaves and flowers, and sometimes the roots, are 

 taken off with a wooden sword ; these are left on the 

 ground, as they greatly contribute to enrich it for the 

 succeeding crop. The stalks are then arranged as 

 nearly as possible in equal lengths, the root-ends 

 being laid all on the same side of each handful or 

 bundle, which is then tied round with one of the 

 .stalks. 



When the hemp is gathered from which seed is to 

 be preserved, it is exposed eight or ten days to the 

 air, after which the heads are cut off and the seed is 

 thrashed and separated in the same manner as 

 linseed. 



The processes to which the hemp is subjected 

 before it is rendered marketable and in a state fit 



