230 ON HEMP, 



reed of this plant, must render the Dutch brake a very tedious ope- 

 ration, especially when large quantities of Hemp are raised, as must 

 be the case wherever a sufficiency of it is cultivated to answer the 

 purposes of the great and important manufactures in which it is em- 

 ployed in this nation. 



The Moravian Hemp-mill, used in America, is also a good in- 

 strument. It consists of a large heavy stone, shaped like a sugar- 

 loaf, with the small end cut off. A body of that form will go round 

 in a circle if it be moved on a plane. This is moved by a water- 

 mill, and the Hemp being laid on the floor in its way, is bruised by 

 the weight of the stone passing over it. Mills's Husbandly. 



When the Hemp is dried and housed, it may be braked at 

 leisure. This is done on a brake of wood, whose preparation is so 

 ordinary, that every one almost knows it : then brake and beat out 

 the dry bun of the Hemp from the rind which covers it. This ought 

 to be done in dry and fair weather. Let your Hemp be spread out 

 thin in the sun, in order to render it as dry as tinder, before it 

 comes to the brake ; for if either in the lying close together it shall 

 give again or sweat, or through the moistness of the air or place 

 where it lies it imbibes any damp, you must necessarily have it dried 

 again, or else it will never brake well, nor the bun fall from the rind 

 as it should : but if the weather be not seasonable, and you have 

 occasion to use your Hemp, you should then spread it on a kiln, and 

 making a soft fire under it, dry it upon the same. But because this 

 is oftentimes dangerous, and much hurt hath been received thereby 



through 



