264 



ON HEMP. 



We have indeed seen Hemp which broke under the scutch; but 

 finding that the operation of scutching did not break and tear every 

 sort of Hemp, we endeavoured to discover from what cause this 

 difference arose. The following are the observations made relative 

 to this subject. 



It sometimes happens, that Hemp, even in an advanced stage 

 of its growth, will of a sudden be checked in its progress, and become 

 weak and sickly. The roots, in such case, are thick and bulky, but 

 the upper stalk becomes at once slender. In this case it is certainly 

 true, that the scutch meeting with a great resistance at the root-ends, 

 detaches them by cutting asunder the stalk, which is very slender 

 and weak. This is indeed a waste ; but a waste that is over-balanced 

 by the advantages resulting from the operation, as it is essentially 

 necessary to remove these hard root-ends ; and the Hemp, which 

 breaks, is certainly of a bad quality. 



It is true, that some Hemp resists the action of the scutch at 

 the root-ends, but breaks towards the tops. If these sorts of Hemp 

 be carefully examined, it will undoubtedly be discovered, that they 

 have been watered too much, so that the tops have perished ; and 

 that being the case, is it not advantageous to cut off this defective 

 part, which is very unfit to enter into the composition of good 

 cordage ? 



At any rate, nothing would be gained by refraining from 

 scutching such defective Hemp, as the same waste would happen in 

 heckling it. Finally, I am convinced from experience, that good 

 Hemp does not break in scutching; but that this operation only 



renders 



