222 



ON HEMP. 



Gollagore, — As it appears, that, after steeping and drying, 

 the fibre sustains no injury from being left on the stem, the Resident 

 proposes to erect buildings on the banks of the River, to contract for 

 the plants being delivered after being steeped and dried, and that 

 the process of stripping from the stem and dressing be performed by 

 the Convicts, under the superintendance of the Europeans that are 

 coming from Europe. 



The Board do not approve of employing Convicts. 



Board of Trade Cons. 25 th Sept. J80J. 



This also is one of the points on which Mr. Frushard combats 

 the propriety of Mr. Fleming's Instructions. 



Mr. Fleming, he observes, lays down three or four hours only 

 for the time of drying when out of the basons, and to be dried 

 gently in the sun ; but in France, in Holland, in Switzerland, and 

 in Russia, the plant is most thoroughly dried before it is put under 

 the brakers ; indeed, so thoroughly, that recourse is almost invaria- 

 bly had to fire-kilns and ovens.* But this excessive drying is merely 

 to get rid of the reedy part w r ith the greater facility ; and I am per- 

 suaded it must be rather prejudicial to the strength of the fibre, since 

 Mr. Du Hamel says that Hemp exposed to the excessive heat of the 

 weather for any length of time will make it perish-f-. 



The 



It appears, that, at Soonamooky, the hand-brake failed altogether. The 

 Sunn was so brittle after the drying, that the fibre broke with the boon in the teeth ; 

 and by afterwards damping the Sunn the boon would not separate from the fibre in 

 the heckle. Beetling with a smooth mallet was not more successful. 



f This is an undoubted fact. The sun will have an effect on thejHemp even 



