176 ON HEME 



upon bundle, direct and across. This is termed a bed of Hemp ; 

 and after it is piled to such a thickness as to answer the depth of 

 water, which cannot be too deep,* it is loaded with blocks and logs 

 of wood, until all of it is totally immersed. After remaining in 

 this stale four or five days, as the weather shall direct, it is taken 

 out and carried to a field of aftermath or any other grass for drying. 



Rev. Mr. Mills.— Suffolk Report, 



Any water will do for retting. If the weather is warm, they 

 leave it two weeks ; some longer : and when, on examination, they 

 find it retted enough, they load it on slades and carry it for grass- 

 ing. 



At Haxey, after immersion it lies in the water for two or three 

 weeks, according to the weather. Running water is very bad for it. 



Lincoln Report. 



As soon as the seed has been gained, the Hemp is immediately 

 put into the steep, and so carefully sunk, that no part of it may 

 remain above the surface of the water, and there left until the 

 rind of the stalks begins to scale or break up, and disjoin itself 

 from the harle. 



If 



* This deserves experimental inquiry. Watering Hemp is a partial rotting 

 through fermentation : the vicinity of the atmosphere must for that purpose be 

 necessary. The best Hemp-ponds I have seen have not exceeded the depth of five 

 feet. A. Young. 



