I 



18 ON HEMP. 



they have different degrees of force and adhesion. This first super- 

 ficial gum serves only to keep the fibres of the Hemp close together, 

 and as a kind of mastick, to cover, strengthen, and protect them 

 against the inclemency of the air, the dust, and the rain. It dis- 

 solves, exfoliates, and breaks, when the bark is watered. 



The inside of the bark, which touches the stem, is smooth, 

 soft, and white ; the fibres are very distinct from each other, and 

 appear perfect in all their dimensions, by means of the watering just 

 mentioned. It was not observed in former times, that the thread 

 had its existence in the plant, without any dependence on the opera- 

 tions of art ; that the labour is confined to cleaning, dividing, and 

 separating the soft fibres of which the bark is composed ; and that 

 this bark is a kind of natural ribband or scarf, the threads whereof 

 are applied and joined together, lengthways only, by a dirty gluti- 

 nous humour, which must absolutely be dissolved and separated, be- 

 cause it is equally hurtful to the workmen and the work. The 

 threads themselves also consist merely of a gum, but of one which 

 is of a different quality from the superficial gum ; they are supple, 

 strong, and resist the impressions to which the former give way. 

 Every fibre is composed of gummy globules, that are very fine, 

 transparent, and bright, when sufficiently cleared from the super- 

 ficial gum that surrounds them, and which the microscope shews to 

 be of a different sort. All this will appear plain, if you take a few 

 fibres from a thread that is thoroughly bleached. The fibres of 

 Hemp in this state are nothing different from those of cotton and 



silk, 



