202 



0N HEMP; 



The Resident thinks, that strength will be obtained if the 

 Riotts follow the prescribed directions with regard to the steeping : 

 but in so extensive a district, it will be impossible to see that they 

 all do this in the way directed, as some may steep the plant longer, 

 for the sake of the parts dividing with more ease. An effectual way 

 of seeing that the preparation is properly conducted, will be to en- 

 gage with the Riotts for the plant, as they do for Indigo, delivera- 

 ble at the different Cooties ; and that the operation of Steeping, 

 Scutching, and Heckling, be performed at the Cooties. When the 

 plant is well dried, it can be kept any length ©f time without detri- 

 ment, and the process would be the same as if it were fresh gather- 

 ed. — The Board fear this mode would injure the plant by drying : 

 but desire he will try the experiment, and report the result. 



Soonamooky. — The rain has destroyed all the plants; but if 

 it had not, the Riotts would not have prepared it in the way re» 

 quired. From the result of some experiments made by himself, 

 the Resident thinks the strength depends on the previous drying, and 

 that it is immaterial whether it is watered for forty or sixty hours, as 

 this is only required to prepare it for peeling, as soon as the separa- 

 tion readily takes place, which in some cases may be forty hours or 

 longer, as the state of the weather or the plant may happen to be. 



Board of Trade Cons. 8th Sept. 1801. 



It has been already observed, under the Head of Drying be- 

 fore Watering, (page 165), that Mr. Frushard was decidedly 

 adverse to the mode of preparing Sunn, as laid down by Mr. 

 Fleming. 



With 



