ON HEMP. 67 



weight, its colour, and its gloss. If it is heavy, bright, and of an 

 oily-like glossiness, there is no doubt of its goodness, provided that 

 no mixture is found amongst it. What is most to be apprehended is 

 from a mixture of immature seed, which has all the appearance of 

 good seed, but has never been properly impregnated : for, as Hemp 

 is male and female, one bearing the farina, the other the seed ; and 

 as the male is ripe much sooner than the other, it frequently hap- 

 pens, that the male is pulled, before the seed of the female is proper- 

 ly fecundated ; in which case, though the seed is in appearance 

 perfect, yet it is only a mere husk without any prolific powers. The 

 seed, however, that comes from the Baltic, provided it is fresh, is 

 generally good : but the dealers are very apt to mix it, or to push 

 off their old seed upon those by whom they cannot be detected. 



Complete English Farmer. 



To have good seed, you must use the produce of the last crop, 

 and the grain must be clean and full grown. Seed of two years' 

 growth will not be so good ; that of three years' standing will be still 

 less valuable, and oftentimes will not spring up at all. 



Marcandier. 



The seed to be sown should be new 



K 2 



Abbe Brulles. 



The 



