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of the hold, or too long confinement in clofe warm air, which 
brings thefe animals to life, which foon begin to prey on the infide 
of the feeds, and thofe feeds that are oily turn rancid. This pu- 
trid penetrating fleam, that flrikes every one upon opening the 
hatches of a full loaded fhip’s hold after a long voyage, it is this 
that does the mifehief to feeds. This vapour, as the excellent 
Doflor Hales obferves, without frequent ventilating, will become 
fatal to vegetable fubflances, as well as animals. 
When the cavalry of our army in Germany was under the ne- 
ceflity of being fupplied with hay from England, the difference 
was too manifefl between the hay that had been but a month 
board, and frefh hay, that had never been confined in the hold of 
a fhip. 
Experiments have been made on the befl hemp from Ruffia, 
and hemp of Englifh growth, by perfbns belonging to the navy, 
of great credit and honour, and the difference in the flrength was 
amazing; the length of the voyage from Ruffia, with the very 
clofe package that is neceflary to flow that article on board of a 
fhip, raifes fuch a heat, as to fhew evident figns of putrefaflion 
begun, which mufl weaken the flrongefl vegetable fibres*. 
Toilluflrate this farther in an inflance of the different manner 
of packing and flowing feeds for a long voyage, which has lately 
come to my knowledge and may be of ufe, as it not only points 
out the error, but in fome manner how to avoid it. 
A gentleman, going to Rencoulen in the ifland of Sumatra, had 
a mind to furnifh himfelf with an affortmentof feeds for a kitchen 
* This hint may be worthy of the confideration of the linen as well as the hempen manu- 
fafturers, both in Great-Britain and Ireland, as it will lhew them the neceffity of railing 
both hemp and flax, the firfl principles of thefe moil ufeful and necefTary manufactures, at 
home ; by convincing them, from experiment, of the great difference they will find between 
the comparative ftrength of what we raifeat home, and what we bring from beyond fea. 
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