ON HEM?. 



231 



through casualty of fire, I advise the sticking four stakes into the 

 earth, at least five feet above the ground, and laying over them 

 small overliers of wood and open flakes or hurdles : upon the same 

 spread the Hemp, and also rear some about it, but leave one open 

 side ; then with straw, small shavings, or other light dry wood, 

 make a soft fire under it, and so dry it and brake it. This will be 

 done without any danger : and as you brake it, open your Hemp 

 which you hold by handfuls, and look into it, beginning always to 

 break the root-ends first ; and when you see the bun is sufficiently 

 crushed, fallen away ; or at most hangeth by very small shivers 

 within the Hemp, then it is braked enough ; and then that which 

 before was called a bait or bundle is now called a strike. Lay them 

 together and so house them. 



The drying is best done in a large oven, because it is most 

 discoloured by the smoke. 



That the Hemp may be braked with the more facility, two dis- 

 tinct brakes are used : one must be an open and wide-toothed or 

 nicked brake, and the other a close straight-toothed brake ; the first 



being to crush the bun and the latter to beat it forth. 



England's Improvement. 



The brake resembles a bench made of a plank five or six inches 

 square, and seven or eight feet long. In this plank two large morti- 

 ces are cut, extending its whole length, and a full inch in width. 

 The three divisions, which were formed by the two large grooves or 

 mortices, are sharpened on the edges. 



Over 



