H E)M P. 
bun, it is taken up from the ground, ‘and tied up into ra- 
ther large bundles, ia order to be carried home and ftacked 
up, or placed in fome ‘covered building till it is wanted for 
This procefs is denominated graffing, and in its execution 
requires great nicety and attention, in order to prevent the 
texture of the hemp from being deteriorated by too long a 
continuance on the {ward, or by removing it at too early a 
period before the hempy fubftance has been rendered fuffi- 
ciently feparable. 
- In the water-retting method, which is much more common 
and fpeedy, the hemp, after being wholly taken up, and 
bound into rather {mall bundles, by means of bands at each 
_ end, is carried in 
ays or 
more, according to the nature of the pond and the ot 
it is taken out and conveyed to a piece of mown grafs, or 
other fward-land, that is perfeétly clean and free from all 
orts of animals. ‘There the bundles are untied, and the 
mp-{talks are fpread out thin, ftem by ftem. While i 
this ftate, efpecially in moift weather, it muft be carefully 
turned every ,fecond day, to prevent being injured by the 
worm ¢afts. It is continued in this way for five or fix 
weeks or more, when it is gathered up, tied in large bundles, 
and apt perfeétly dry ina houfe or {mall ftack, tiil wanted 
for ufe. 
In fome of the northern parts of Scotland, where, after 
the hemp is pulled, and the leaves, feeds, and branches re- 
twelve handful: 
r=) 
ing by the reed being readily capable of parting from the 
bark. But it is favourable that it fhould rather have too 
much than.too little time. The moft {lender hemp ftands 
in need of the Fi Acauis length of time in the water.. Where 
o 
the quantity of hemp is only fmall, the hempy part may be 
feparated from the reed by han ur 3 but where it. is 
large, drying and breaking it in the manner of flax is the 
beft method. e FLAX. 
. The hemp, after bein 
taken out of the water, is not 
here {pread out upon fr -ground in the way of flax, but 
dried as quickly as poflible, by fetting it in an inclining po- 
ition, againft c ened up for the purpofe, or in any 
other way that will afford it the full benefit of the air, until it 
is completely dry, and rifes in lifters from the boon. A 
foon as it has been reeded, it fhould be cleared from the mu- 
cilaginous material which it contains, by pouring water upon 
it and repeatedly fqueezing it, being careful not to let the 
fibres be entangled together, as by that means watfte is in- 
curres 
es) 
different me to any of thefe, for the purpofe of 
Sesping hens: the advantages of which, it is aflerted, have 
ally proved by n procefs confifts 
im heating water in a veffel or vat to the temperature of from 
ving in it a quantity of 
ofthe hemp. ‘The 
_ recourfe to a coarfe, and then a finer brake. 
Mont, Brealle on the continent, has however fuggefted a 
the hemp fhould be thrown into it, in a manner fo as to float 
upon the furface, the veflel being immediately covered, and 
the fire put out. The hemp fhould continue in this ftate for 
about two hours, when it will be found to be’ full 
fleeped. eae 
The principal fuperiority of this method is fuppofed to 
confift, befides a great faving of time and expence, in the 
fame quantity of hemp affording more tow. The value of 
the fuel as well as the time employed in the procefs, fhould 
however be well confidered in fuch cafes. It is likewife 
believed to promote the cultivation of hemp crops, by the 
uc 
prove hurtful to cattle that drink of them 
Where 
. lal 
about January or in the following month. 
be executed during the period of a fnow, the hemp comes 
much more readily to a good colour, and forms ftrong coarle 
cloths, but is far inferior to that pulled in due featon, and 
which undergoes the water-retting operation as noticed 
bove. > 
Various contrivances have been made, in the form of 
but one which feems to 
out wetting his feet ; this is flid down 
object to fixteen feet of water. means of this bie | 
ufeful contrivance he can put in a waggon load in an hour. 
The fheaves are taken out one by one in the ufval manners 
but it is fuggefted that fome more expeditious and fimple 
contrivance is here requifite for effeCting the purpole, either 
‘on the principle of the lever or fome othe 
Te 
In preparing hemp for the tool denominated the heck, the 
work is'chiefly executed by the Jeetle, and by firit having 
But the labour. 
is capable of being more expeditioufly performed by the. 
rollers of alint-mill. In either mode fhaking the handfuls, 
frequently with {martnefs is particularly neceflary. rae 
i hemp has not been fufficient!y 
large heavy ftone in the form o 
fmallend cut off, Thus fhaped, it readily moves round in 4 
circle, when paffing u It is impelled Me 
