[ 46 ] 
V. Experiments with Chinefe Hemp Seed. In a Letter from 
Keane Fitzgerald, Ffq. to Sir. Jofeph Banks, Bait. F.R. S. 
Read January 17, 1782. 
s 1 it, 
Poland Street, 
Dec. 17 y ^ / 6 2^ 
E VERY thing extraordinary in art or nature falls, in fome 
meafure, within the views of the Royal Society ; hut 
how far the following account of what appeared to me an ex- 
traordinary produ&ion may be worthy of being communicated 
to that learned body, is fuhmitted entirely to your confideration. 
A few grains of Chinefe hemp-feed had been given to me by 
the late Mr. Elliot, brother to General elliot, who had 
formerly refided for fome time in China. He told me, the 
hemp in that country was deemed fuperiorto that of any other, 
both for finenefs and flrength, and wilhed I would try whe- 
ther it would come to maturity in this kingdom. He gave me 
between thirty and forty grains of feed for the purpofe, which 
1 laid by, as 1 thought, carefully, with intent of lowing them 
the Spring following, which is the ufual time of lowing hemp 
in this country ; but 1 had unluckily forgotten where I laid 
them, and did not find them till the beginning of laft June, 
by which time I imagined them to be very unfit for vegetation; 
hut -s | concluded they would be Hill rnoic fo by keeping 
.> rrn till the fucceeding April, I had them fowed the 4th d,.y of 
I mon th, and was much furprifed to find that thirty-two 
«■ y. t 
k.Ult. 
of 
