1 



ON HEMP. 1Y3 



and covered during the winter, and is spread upon meadow-land in 

 January or February. If the season suits (particularly if covered 

 with snow) it will come to a good colour, and make strong coarse 

 cloths. It is much inferior to Hemp pulled in proper time and 

 water-retted. 



The custom of many places is to dew-rett their Hemp, that is, 

 to spread it on meadow-land as soon as pulled, and turn it frequently ; 

 but this is a very bad method of retting it, as the bark will not come 

 off completely : it therefore requires more violent means of bleach- 

 ing the yarn, and consequently diminishes the strength. It is like- 

 wise much sooner injured in rainy seasons than Hemp water-retted. 

 Water-retting is performed by binding the Hemp in small bundles 

 with the under Hemp when pulled, and, as soon as may be, placed 

 in rows crossing each other in the water, and immersed. Standing 

 water is deemed the best. It requires four, five, or six days' steep- 

 ing, till the outside coat easily rubs off, and is then spread on mea- 

 dow-land, and turned frequently until finished. The same water 

 will not be proper for receiving Hemp more than three times in a 

 season ; and the first water always produces the best colour in the 

 least time. 



A Stowmarket Manufacturer. Suffolk Report. 



Hemp, when pulled and bound, is conveyed to a pond of 

 standing water ( if a clay-pit the better), where it is laid bundle 



upon 



