ON HEMP. 



191 



and we shall see,., in the sequel, that these are very great defects in 

 Hemp intended for the manufacture of good ropes. 



I must grant, however, that Hemp intended for fine works 

 may be rotted rather more than other Hemp : but it is vain to hope 

 greatly to improve by this process fibres which are naturally coarse : 

 they would indeed perish by putrefaction, if left too long in the 

 water. A fine fibre cannot be obtained without the concurrence of 

 several circumstances. 



1st, The soil; for, as we have already remarked, too 

 strong or too dry soils never produce fibres of superior softness or 

 fineness : on the contrary, they are too woody, and consequently 

 harsh and brittle. But if the Hemp-ground be too wet, the bark of 

 the Hemp produced on it will be herbaceous, lender, and easily 

 broken, so that there will be too great a proportion of tow and 

 waste when dressing it. It is soft, rich, and moderately wet soils, 

 which produce a smooth, flexible, and strong fibre — the most de- 

 sirable qualities in Hemp. 



2d, The seasons ; for in hot, dry seasons, the fibres are harsh : 

 on the contrary, they are supple, and sometimes tender, in cold, 

 wet seasons. 



3dly, The degree of ripeness. If the Hemp have been left too 

 long standing on the ground, the longitudinal fibres of the bark 

 adhere too strongly together, so that it comes off the reed like a 

 ribbon, and is very difficult to divide. This defect is generally 

 found in all the female Hemp, which has stood too long on the 

 ground, for the purpose of ripening the seed. On the contrary, if 



the 



