232 



ON HEMP 



Over this piece of wood another is fitted ; one end of it being 

 made fast by means of a hinge, and the other shaped into a handle. 

 It has two longitudinal sharp edges or swords, which enter into the 

 corresponding grooves of the under part of the machine. 



The person who performs the operation of braking takes a 

 large handful of Hemp in his left hand, and with the right lays 

 hold of the handle of the upper jaw of the brake. He then places 

 the Hemp between the two jaws of the machine, and by repeatedly 

 lifting up and forcing down the upper jaw, bruises the reed ; and 

 by pulling the Hemp between the two jaws, separates the bruised 

 particles of the reed from the fibres. When one half of the hand- 

 ful of the Hemp has been thus sufficiently braked, the workman 

 turns it, that the part he before held in his hand may undergo the 

 same operation. 



When he has obtained about two pounds of well-braked Hemp 

 he folds it in two, and twists the two ends slightly together : these 

 parcels are called heads of rough Hemp. Bu Hamel 



Hemp being so very long, no lint-mill hitherto invented can 

 dress it properly, without cutting it : no ; nor the stock and hand 

 without much difficulty. 



Therefore the method used for that purpose^ in countries where 

 it is raised to great extent, is by coarse and fine brakes, and peeling- 

 it from the boon with the hand. Those employed in peeling it are 

 old men, women, and children. M l Donal<Ts Essay. 



After 



