118 



HEMP, 



METHOD OF OBTAINING THE SEED. 



When the female Hemp is gathered, they let it stand eight or 

 ten days in the air, that the seed may dry and ripen ; after which 

 they cut off the heads, or beat out or thresh them to get the seed. 

 The seed which falls out the easiest is the ripest and best, and should 

 therefore be reserved for sowing in the next spring ; and as to that 

 which remains in the heads after this operation, it is got out by 

 combing the heads on the teeth of a ripple, which pulls off the 

 leaves and husks of the seeds, and the seeds themselves, altogether. 

 These are gathered in a heap, and left in that condition for a few 

 days, in order to their heating a little, after which they are spread 

 out to dry : then they are threshed, and the seeds are separated by 

 winnowing and sifting. This second seed is much inferior to the 

 first, and accordingly it is used only for extracting the oil from it, or 

 feeding of poultry. Chambers's Dictionary. 



The leaves are to be stript off with a wooden sword, as are 

 likewise the seed, the branches which grow laterally, and even the 

 tuft bearing the seed at the top : but if this latter should not come 



off 



