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ON HEMP. 269 



In some places, instead of beating the Hemp, they pass it 

 under a millstone, in a mill constructed like those that are used for 

 making oil of nuts or Hemp-seed. This operation, which is com- 

 monly called pounding the Hemp, consists in pressing it every way, 

 and by this action forces the fibres to separate and divide, by the 

 exfoliation of that part of the gum which joined them together. 

 They shake the Hemp and toss it different ways, that it may receive 

 the various impressions of the mallet or the mill, during the first 

 preparation ; but still this is not sufficient to qualify it for making 

 ropes, even of the coarsest sort. Marcandkr. 



Before the Hemp is heckled, it usually undergoes a third 

 operation, called Beetling, the design of which is to loosen, and 

 thereby more thoroughly separate its fibres. The beetles used for 

 this purpose are moved either by hand or by water. 



Mills's Husbandry. 



The strength of the longitudinal fibres of Hemp is, without 

 doubt, far superior to that of the small fibres, by which they are 

 joined together ; or, in other words, it requires a greater force to 

 break them than to separate them from one another ; therefore, by 

 rubbing, beetling, and striking the Hemp with reiterated blows, 

 the workmen force the longitudinal fibres to separate from one 

 another ; and in proportion to the greater or less degree of that se- 

 paration, the Hemp becomes more or less fine, elastic, and soft to 

 the touch. DuHumel. 



