112 



ON HEMP. 



bear seed (by some improperly termed Female Hemp, but which 

 we shall call the Male) begin to turn yellow at top, and whitish at 

 the bottom of the stem. As soon as these indications of ripeness 

 are perceived, the women enter the Hemp-ground, and pull all the 

 male stalks, which they arrange in handfuls along the border of the 

 field. In doing this, care must be taken to injure the female Hemp 

 as little as possible, as it must remain on the ground some time long- 

 er, for the purpose of ripening the seed. 



In making up the Hemp, care must be taken that the stalks, 

 which form each handful should be as nearly as possible of an equal 

 length ; and the roots, in particular, should be placed as even as 

 possible : this done, each handful is to be bound with a stalk of Hemp. 



If - the female Hemp is suffered to stand too long, the rind be- 

 comes too woody ; the consequence of which is, that the fibres ob- 

 tained from it are coarser and harder than those from the male. 

 When the Hemp-growers perceive that the seed is properly formed, 

 they pull up the female Hemp, and arrange it in handfuls in the 

 same manner as the male. On the other hand, Hemp must not be 

 pulled too green. When this is the practice, the fibres are, it is 

 true, more supple, but the ropes made therefrom are not so lasting 

 as when obtained from riper plants. 



Du HameL 



\ 



