ON HEMP. 



159 



before it is put into water : but to remedy even that inconveniency, 

 the seed-pods may be cut off and dried upon frames. 



M ( Donald's Essay. 



After pulling up the stalks of the Male Hemp, they are laid 

 in the sun to dry the leaves and flowers, which, when well dried, are 

 beat off by striking each handful against a tree or wall. Several of 

 these handfuls are then put together, so as to form pretty large bun- 

 dles ; and in this condition they carry them to the watering-place. 



Bu Ham el. 



Notwithstanding what Du Hamel has related, regarding the 

 drying of Hemp before watering, I must observe, that it is a matter 

 of doubt, whether this plant should be dried before it is steeped. Those 

 who are for drying it first say, that the Hemp becomes thereby 

 stronger than when it is steeped without having been previously dried. 

 For my part, I confess, that this drying seems to me to be a need- 

 less trouble; for, as it is necessary, in the steeping of Hemp, that a 

 certain degree of putrefaction should arise, sufficient to destroy the 

 texture of that glutinous substance which connects the fibres to the 

 woody part of the Hemp, it certainly is more adviseable to lay the 

 Hemp in the water as soon as can be after it is pulled ; because, the 

 more there is of the natural moisture left in this glutinous substance, 

 the sooner the putrefaction will begin. If, either by design or acci- 

 dent, the Hemp has been dried, the putrefaction comes on more 



slowly 



