142 farmers' and mechanics' journal- 



matter of doubt whether cordage made of American hemp, stacked 

 one year, and then exposed to dews, was not equal to cordage 

 made of Russia hemp, when used as rigging. 



In the year 1825, an experiment was made as to the relative 

 strength of twelve yarns taken from a piece of cordage of Russia 

 hemp, and the same number of yarns taken from cordage made of 

 hemp broke by a machine, without having been either water or 

 dew-rotted, and the following was the result : 



1,478 1-2 1,686 



Thus, the average weight sustained by the American yarns was 

 140, while that of the Russia yarns was only 123 ; proving, incon- 

 testibly, that the American was superior in point of strength, when 

 newly made. 



The same pieces of cordage (10 inch) were then directed to be 

 immersed in water and mud, with a view to test their relative du- 

 rability in that exposed state. After remaining thus immersed for 

 nearly twelve months, they were taken up, examined, and tried ; 

 and the following was the result : 



'^- 16 3-4 fathoms of the American rope were stretched unHl the 

 outer yarns began to give way ; remaining two and a half hours in 

 that state, the purchase was increased until it parted, having 

 stretched 3 fathoms 5 1-2 feet, lost S-8ths of an inch in circumfe- 

 rence, and sustained 5 tons, 3 qrs. 6 lbs. 



The same length of the Russia rope similiarly tested, stretched 

 3 fathoms 3 1-2 feet, lost in circumference 5-8ths of an inch, and 

 sustained 6 tons, 2 qrs. 12 lbs. 



After these tests, the two remaining pieces of equal lengths were 

 bent together, and hove until the American parted, sustaining 6 

 tons, 2 qrs. 4 lbs. 



Two pieces of 12-inch cordage, hawser laid, one made of dew- 

 rotted American hemp, prepared with pyroligneous acid, the other 

 made of^^merican hemp, broke by a machine, without any process 

 of rotting!, were tested on board the North Carolina, on her late 

 cruise to the Mediterranean. They were found, when new, to be 

 as strong or stronger than cordage made of Russia hemp usually is ; 

 but, after a lapse of eighteen months, they were found to have lost 

 their strength in an extraordinary degree. Their appearance then 



