86 



ELEMENTS OF APPLIED MICROSCOPY. 



5. Hemp. — The true hemp-fibre, to be distinguished 

 from Manila hemp and Sisal hemp, which will be con- 

 sidered later, is derived from Cannabis sativa, an herb 

 with much the same range as the flax-plant, grown most 

 extensively, perhaps, in Russia and Italy. It is a strong 

 fibre, though Ifess pliable than flax, and is used for cordage, 

 sail-making, and the manufacture of certain other tex- 

 tiles. The Cannabis plant also yields the drug hashish. 



Fig. 34. — ^The Hemp-pibre. (After Hassack.) 200 diameters. 



The hemp-fibre cell very closely resembles that of flax 

 in its microscopic appearance, being of the same size and 

 general shape and showing the same knots and swellings. 

 It may be distinguished by two characteristics. First, 

 the canal, like the cell, is elliptical in cross-section, so that 

 while the cell on its narrow surface cannot be distin- 



