ON HEMP. 



219 



their ovens to dry ; and in that case there is no danger of burning 

 the house ; but the Hemp frequently takes fire, nor is it possible to 

 dry a large quantity in this manner. The drying-place is a kind of 

 cavern, which is generally six or seven feet high, five or six feet 

 wide, and nine or ten feet long. A hollow under a rock is often 

 made use of for this purpose ; but as that cannot always be met 

 with, it is frequently necessary to have recourse to art. In this case, 

 some form the top of the drying-place with stones; others only close 

 it with pieces of wood, over which they lay a quantity of earth. 

 But, whichever of these methods is taken, the drying-places should 

 be so situated as to be sheltered from the north and north-east winds, 

 and open to the south, that it may receive the benefit of the sun ; 

 because the usual season for braking of Hemp is in clear frosty 

 weather, when the business of the field is suspended. 



At about four feet above the floor of this drying-place, and two 

 feet from its mouth or entrance, three bars of wood, about an inch 

 thick, are placed across the cavern, from side to side, and there 

 fixed. On these bars is laid, about six inches thick, the Hemp 

 that is to be dried. 



A careful person, which generally is a woman, then keeps 

 constantly burning, under the Hemp so laid, a small fire, made of 

 fragments of the reeds of Hemp that has already been braked or 

 peeled. The person thus employed must be extremely watchful, as 

 this kind of fuel is soon consumed, and must of course, be frequent- 

 ly replenished, in order to keep a constant and regular fire all over 

 the hearth, which is absolutely necessary. Very great care must 



F f 2 likewise 



