HEMP. The fibres of the cannabis sativa ; a plant grown extensively in this country, but mostly in Kentucky and Missouri. It is a native of India and Persia, and was thence introduced into Europe. Though much grown here, yet more is imported from Russia. It grows wild in many waste places. It grows well on strong soils, and hence on newly cleared lands. Soon after flowering, the male plants are pulled, and the female plants let to remain some weeks longerto mature the seed. These do not preserve their vitality longer than a year, owing to the large quantity of oil in them. The males should be tied immediately in bun dles, the roots cut off while fresh, the upper leaves also beaten off, and it is the most eligible practice to immerse them in water without delaying for rotting. The females, which are three times more numerous than males, should be pulled very carefully, without shaking or inclin ing the summits, and the flail should not be used, as it bruises the seed. This, when separated, should be spread out and turned at intervals, and exposed to a current of air; otherwise they ferment. The process of rotting consists in the decomposition of the substance which envelopes and unites the fibres, and takes place much more rapidly in stagnant pools than in running water or extensive lakes, in warm weather than the re verse. The time requisite varies from five to fifteen days, even in stagnant water. The water in which hemp has been rotted has a disagreeable odor and taste, proving fatal to fishes, and should be distant from any inhabited place, lest it engender pestilential diseases. When water is not at hand, hemp is rotted in the open air, by spreading it at night upon the green-sward, and heaping it together in the morning, before the son's rays have much power. In wet weather it may be left on tne ground during the whole day ; and should the nights be very dry, it is better to water it. This process is called dew-rotting, and is very tedious, requiring three, six, or even eight weeks. Another method again, is by lacing it in a pit, and covering it over with about one foot of earth, after having watered it abundantly a single time ; but even this method requires double the time of water. After being rotted and rapidly
dried, it is ready for canting, beating, (430., but these subsequent manipulations are found by experience to be very un healthy, probably from the fine dust created and flying about.
J. T. Crook & Co., Maysville, Ohio, have sent into the markets cordage manu factured by them, of rotted hemp, so ky anized by the use of antiseptic substances as to render it indestructible when ex posed to the weather. Cordage, pre pared like this, has been buried in a fun gous heap, filled with decaying vegetable matter, for five years, without showing the least sign of decay. In respect to the preparing of this cordage in this coun try, they were compelled to use the un rotted hemp, since it is an established fact that antiseptics will not prevent the de cay of vegetable matter, when decay has actually commenced, as is the case of dew and water-rotted hemp. The Russia hemp, in not being carried to the fer menting point in rotting, is not, like our water-rotted hemp, affected by decay, and is capable of being kyanized like the un rotted hemp, as has been successfully done in England, by the use of suitable ,antiseptics.
The comparative value of different sorts of hemp, as it regards durability, is easily and speedly tested by any one, since nearly all kinds are very short lived when exposed to causes favorable to decay. The Manilla will last some four or five months as used in the sum mer season upon our steamboats—the Sisal, which is often sold in the west as manilla, will not last much more than half as long—the Russian hemp, when 'kept moist and warm,will lose its strength in about three weeks—the American water-rotted iu two weeks, and the dew rotted in from five to ten days. The un rotted hemp, without being kyanized, will not last longer than the dew-rotted, and will even show more signs of putre ;action before losing its strength: The color and appearance of this cord age is similar to the Russia or water-rot ted hemp. The strength is greater than either, while it is not "frayed down" like Manilla, by friction.