172 



HEMP, 



WATERING, or, as it is sometimes termed, RETTING, 



In the watering of Hemp, Mr. Rainbeard, of Norfolk, has a 

 contrivance, by means of which it is deposited in the pit without the 

 necessity of a single person being wet. The pond is an old marl 

 pit, with a regular slope from one side (where the Hemp is prepared) 

 to the depth of about eight feet from the other side in the slope 

 above the water. The Hemp is built in a square stack, upon a frame 

 of timber, of such a height as will float and bear a man without 

 wetting his feet: this is slid down upon the frame into the water,, 

 and when floating drawn away; a person on the opposite bank 

 drawing the floating stack to the spot where it is to be sunk, and on 

 which it is built to the requisite weight. He finds it does soonest at 

 the bottom, and would not object to sixteen feet of water. By 

 this contrivance he can put in a waggon-load in an hour. The 

 sheaves are taken out in the common manner, sheaf by sheaf : but 

 here a further improvement is wanted, which may probably be 

 effected by some simple contrivance, on the principle of the lever^ 

 or some other mode equally easy in the application. 



Arthur Young. 



After 



