48 Mr. Fitzgerald’s Experiments 
like handfome young poles. They are perforated in the mid- 
dle, but the perforation is not larger than that of a goofe quill, 
in a ftem of more than two inches diameter. The woody part 
deems pretty fubdantial, and if they fliould be found of any 
duration, might be applied to many ul'eful purpofes ; or if not, 
I lhouid imagine they would produce plenty of good allies by 
burning. 
The rough hemp that has been pealed from the thirty-two 
plants, when thoroughly dried, weighed three pounds and a 
quarter ; but 1 do not think it had come to full maturity, 
though i can hardly doubt but the plants would have come to 
perfection if the feed had been fowm in the proper feafon. The 
bummer was remarkably dry, notwithdanding which, although 
the fituation they were placed in was very warm, and the 
ground not rich, 1 found, on meafuring the plants at dif- 
ferent times, that they had grown nearly eleven inches per 
week. 
As the culture of fo valuable a kind of hemp as this pro- 
mifes to produce appears to be of confequence to a maritime 
and commercial kingdom, I have applied to the Directors of 
the Eaft India Company, to give proper orders to their factors 
and lu per- cargoes in China, to procure fome of the bed; feed 
that can be obtained ; and fend, even a fmall parcel, by each 
of their returning Chips, which they have very obligingly pro- 
mifed ; and from what has already appeared, there can be no 
doubt of its continuing in a date fit for vegetation for a much 
longer time than is ufuaily required for that voyage. 
If the feed fhould arrive in fafety, 1 can hardly doubt of ob- 
taining the abidance of the Society edablifhed for the Encou- 
ragement of Arts, Maim fad u res, and Commerce ; and fhould 
expeid, from their wonted affiduity and liberal difpofition of 
proper 
