83 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



a different mode of cultivation than that practised by 

 the natives. They sow it very thin, and the young- 

 plants are afterwards transplanted to about nine or 

 ten feet distance from each other. The plant, in 

 consequence of this kind of culture, grows to a great 

 size, and the fibres become too harsh and ligneous 

 to be prepared for cordage. It was supposed that 

 with due encouragement the Ryots might be induced 

 to cultivate this or some other of their native plants 

 according to the European manner; but their invete- 

 rate prejudices render the task of introducing any 

 thing new a work of almost hopeless difficulty, while 

 few of the plants themselves are perhaps of a nature 

 to be improved by our modes of preparation. Some 

 hemp is annually imported into this country from 

 India, but whether produced from other native plants, 

 or from the cannabis sativa itself, it is of a very infe- 

 rior quality, and does not command half the price of 

 the best Russian hemp. 



There are, however, numerous productions to be 

 found in India which might form materials for cord- 

 age. Dr. Roxburgh made many interesting experi- 

 ments as to the relative strength of different fibres ; 

 but although he pointed out and described many 

 valuable substitutes for hemp, the result of his inqui- 

 ries sufficiently shows that none are superior or even 

 equal to our European plant. 



; 



Sunn, or Crotalaria juncea, approaches nearest to 

 hemp in the manner of its growth and cultivation, 

 and is in most general use in the hotter parts of 

 Asia. It produces a material so similar to hemp, as 

 to be often confounded with it ; and the plant itself 

 has in consequence been frequently considered of the 

 same species. It is, however, quite distinct in its 

 botanical characteristics from the cannabis sativa. 



This plant is so easy of culture and so productive, 



