270 



HEMP, 



METHOD OF RECKLING, 



The business of a heckler consists in separating throughout 

 their whole length the fibres of the Hemp, which the mill or the 

 mallet have only divided in part. The teeth of the heckle carry 

 off a part of the gum, which is thereby reduced to dust; and by 

 dressing and dividing over again the filaments into which they 

 enter, separate them entirely. The oftener this operation is repeated 

 with different sorts of heckles, coarse, middling, and fine, the 

 more the Hemp acquires of softness and fineness, whether it is 

 intended for ropes, or to be worked into cloth. 



It was in this manner the Ancients prepared Hemp*. Thus 

 some prepare it to this day; and thus customs, good or bad, are 

 continued to perpetuity. In this manner, the Hemp prepared for 

 cordage still retains a hardness and a gum, that render the ropes 

 stiff, coarse, and not so fit for use. What is intended to be made 

 into cloth, produces an ill-coloured thread, coarse, loaded with 

 gum, and such that it cannot be used without passing it through 

 several leys. The cloth made of it is very hard to be bleached, 



and 



* The heckles used by the Ancients had their teeth bent in the form of 

 hooks, whereas ours are straight, and stand perpendicular to the instrument. 



