See Cannabis, Botany Index.—It does not appear that the ancients were acquainted with the use of hemp, in respect of the thread it affords. Pliny, who speaks of the plant in his natural history, lib. xx. cap. 23, says not a word of this; contenting himself with extolling the virtues of its stem, leaves, and root. In effect, what some writers of the Roman antiquities remark, viz. that the hemp necessary for the use of war was all stored up into two cities of the western empire, viz. at Ravenna and Vienne, under the direction of two procurators, called procuratores linifici, must be understood of linum or flax.

The use of hemp is so extensive and important, that vast quantities of it are annually imported into this and other kingdoms from those countries where it grows in greatest plenty, of which Russia is one. In the year 1763, the quantity imported into England alone amounted to 11,000 tons. Sir John Sinclair informs us, Annals of Agriculture, vol. xiii. p. 598, that in the year 1785, the quantity exported from Petersburg in British ships was as follows.

<table> <tr> <th>Poods.</th> <th></th> </tr> <tr> <td>Clean Hemp</td> <td>1,038,791</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Outshot</td> <td>37,382</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Half-clean</td> <td>18,374</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Hemp-codille</td> <td>19,251</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">1,113,798</td> </tr> </table>

Now, allowing 63 poods to a ton, the quantity just mentioned will amount to 17,695 tons; and supposing it to take five acres to produce a ton of hemp, the whole quantity of ground requisite for this purpose would amount to 88,475 acres.

By other accounts, the annual export of hemp to England is valued at 400,000l.; but by a computation of the whole imported into Britain and Ireland in 1788, it would seem that a considerably greater quantity must fall to the share of England. In that year the quantity amounted to no less than 58,464 tons; which at 20l. per ton amounted to 1,269,280l. We cannot wonder at this vast consumpt, when it is considered that the sails and cordage of a first-rate man of war require 180,000 lb. of rough hemp for their construction; but even this will scarce account for the enormous consumpt in France, which in the year 1783 is said to have amounted to upwards of 400 millions of pounds, or 200,000 tons; of which more than one-third was imported.

Only the coarser kinds of hemp are employed in making cordage, the better sorts being used for linen, which, though it can never be made so fine as that from flax, is yet incomparably stronger, and equally susceptible of bleaching both in the old and new way. Cloths made of hemp have also this property, that their colour improves by wearing, while that of linen decays. The prices of hemp linen are various; from 10d. to 4s. 6d. per yard. The low-priced kinds are very generally worn in Suffolk, where hemp is cultivated, by husbandmen, farmers, &c.; those from 18. 6d. to 2s. by farmers and tradesmen; and those from 2s. 6d. to 4s. 6d. are frequently preferred by gentlemen to flaxen, Hemp linen, on account of their strength and warmth. The English hemp is much superior in strength to that which grows in any other country. Next to it is the Russian, from which packing is usually made, as it is sometimes also from the offal of the English kind; but none of the Suffolk hemp is ever made into cordage, on account of its fineness. A considerable quantity of Russian sheeting is imported into England merely on account of its strength, and is much coarser at the price than any other foreign linen.

Besides these uses of hemp, it is said to possess a property as a plant which renders it almost invaluable; viz. that of driving away almost all insects that feed upon other vegetables. Hence in some places of the continent they secure their crops from these mischievous attacks, by sowing a belt of hemp round their gardens, or any particular spot which they wish to preserve.

The important uses of hemp, and the superiority of that produced in Britain to other kinds, have rendered the culture of it an object of attention to government. Accordingly, in the year 1787, a bounty of threepence per stone was allowed on all the hemp raised in England; and probably with a view to encourage the growth of English hemp, duties have been laid on that which comes from abroad. Dressed hemp in a British ship pays 2l. 4s. per cwt. import duty; in a foreign one 2l. 6s. 9d.; and in both cases a drawback of 1l. 19s. is allowed. Undressed hemp in a British ship pays 3s. 8d.; and in a foreign one 3s. 11d. In both cases the drawback is 3s. 4d. The export of British hemp is free.

The usual height of the plant when growing is from five to six feet, but this varies very considerably according to circumstances. That which is cultivated near Bischoffsheim in Alsace is sometimes more than 12 feet high, and upwards of three inches in circumference, the stalks being so deeply rooted that a very strong man can scarce pull them up. Mr Arthur Young, in a tour through Catalonia in Spain, says, that where the country is well watered, the crops of hemp are extraordinary; and that the plants generally rise to the height of seven feet. In Italy hemp is generally cultivated, though the Bolognese only can pretend to any superiority in the management of it. It is there sown upon their best lands, which are rich strong loams; and on which they are at all possible pains to procure a fine friable surface. For manure they use dung, pieces of rotten cloth, feathers, and horns brought from Dalmatia. The plant, however, may be cultivated upon ground of every kind; the poorer land producing that which is finer in quality though in smaller quantity; whereas strong and rich land produces a great quantity, but coarser. It does not exhaust the land on which it grows like flax; whence it is probable, that if properly managed, and care taken in the cultivation, it might be found to supercede flax entirely. A Suffolk manufacturer, who writes on this subject in the Annals of Agriculture, informs us, that it may be raised for many years successively on the same ground, provided it be well manured. An acre requires from nine to twelve pecks, according to the nature of the soil; the latter being the most usual, though a variation in the quality of the soil makes an alteration both in the quantity and quality of the hemp. An acre produces on an average 36 or 38 stone. The abbé Brulle, in a treatise upon the Cultivation and Management of Hemp, printed by order of the lords of the committee of council for trade and foreign plantations, informs us, that the season for sowing it extends from the 25th of March to the 15th of June. The seed ought always to be sown thin, not exceeding two bushels to an acre; and if you have the advantage of a drill plough, still less will answer. As there are two kinds of hemp, the male and female, of which the former only produces seed, some regard must be had to this circumstance. In Suffolk the male and female are pulled together about 13 weeks after the sowing, but in the fens they are frequently separated. This last method is recommended by the abbé Brulle, who, for the more easy accomplishment of it, directs that little paths should be made lengthwise through the field at about seven feet distance from each other, to allow a passage for the person who pulls up the female hemp from among the other; the latter requiring to stand more than a month after for the purpose of ripening the seeds. The female hemp is known to be ripe by the fading of the flowers, the falling of the farina secundans, and some of the stalks turning yellow. After the whole of this kind is pulled, it must be manufactured according to the directions to be afterwards given, and ought to be worked if possible while green; the hemp thus produced being much finer than that which is previously dried. The reason of this is, that the plant contains a great quantity of glutinous matter; which being once dried, agglutinates the fibres in such a manner that they can never be afterwards perfectly separated. The female hemp, however, is always in smaller quantity than the male; and therefore where the crop is large, it will be impossible to work the whole as fast as it is pulled or cut. It is known to be ripe by the stems becoming pale; but it must be remembered, that hemp of any kind will be much less injured by pulling the plants before they are ripe, than by letting them stand too long.

The male hemp being stripped of its leaves, &c., as afterwards directed, will soon be dry for storing by the heat of the atmosphere, though sometimes it may be necessary to use artificial means; but where these are used, the utmost care must be taken, hemp, when dry, being exceedingly inflammable. The stored or dried hemp must be steeped and treated in every other respect as though it had been green; whence it is evident that this operation ought never to be used but in cases of necessity. It is likewise impossible to make hemp which has been dried previous to its being steeped so white as that which has been worked green.

With regard to the perfecting of hemp-feed for a mill's subsequent season, it would seem proper to set apart a piece of ground for this purpose: for M. Amion, from 40 plants raised in the common way, had only a pound and a half of seed, though the plants from which it was taken might be deemed fine; whereas, from a single plant which grew by itself, he had seven pounds and a half. Some are of opinion, that by putting the clutters which contain the hemp-feed to heat and sweat, the quality is improved; as many of those feeds which would otherwise wither and die may thus arrive at perfection. This, however, seems to be very problematical; as there are no experiments which show that feeds, Hemp, when separated from the vegetable producing them, have any power of meliorating themselves.

After the hemp is pulled, it must be taken in large handfuls, cutting off the roots (though this is not absolutely necessary), the leaves, seeds, and lateral branches, being dressed off with a wooden sword or ripple. It is then to be made up into bundles of twelve handfuls each, in order to be steeped, like flax, in water. This, or something similar, is absolutely necessary, in order to separate the bark; which is properly the hemp, from the reed or woody part. In Suffolk this operation is called water-retting; but sometimes a mere exposure to the air is substituted in its place, turning the hemp frequently during the time it is exposed. This is called dew-retting; but the former method is universally deemed preferable. Such hemp as is designed for seed is seldom water-retted, though in the opinion of the manufacturer already quoted, it would be better if it were so. Dew-retted hemp is generally flacked and covered during the winter; in January and February it is spread upon meadow land, and whitens with the frost and snow; though it is always much inferior to the other, and proper for coarser yarns only.

The length of time required for steeping hemp is various, and a complete knowledge of it can only be attained by practice. In Suffolk it is usual to continue the immersion four, five, or six days; standing water is preferred, and the same water will steep hemp three times during the season, but the first has always the best colour. The abbé Brulle prefers clear and running water, especially if overhung with trees. The bundles are to be laid croswise upon each other, taking particular notice of the manner in which they lie when put in, that they may be taken out without difficulty. His time of steeping is from fix to 11 days; and here we must observe, that it is much better to let it remain too long in the water than too short a time. The flenderest hemp requires the most soaking. The operation is known to be finished by the reed separating easily from the bark.

After the hemp is thoroughly steeped, the next operation is to separate the bark from the reed or woody part; and this may be done in two ways, viz. either pulling out the reed from every stalk with the hand, or drying and breaking it like flax. The abbé Brulle is very particular in his directions for this last operation, which he calls reeding, and which may be performed either in a trough under water or upon a table. The whole, however, may be reduced to the following, viz. pressing down the bundles either in the trough or on a table by proper weights, to keep the hemp steady in the middle and top end. Then beginning at the upper parts of the bundle, pull out the reeds one by one. As you proceed, the rind which remains will press closely upon the remaining unreeded hemp, and keep it more steady; so that you may take two, four, or even fix stalks, at a time. The weight is then to be removed from the top, and all the pieces of reed which remain there having broken off in the former operation, are to be taken out. Lastly, the middle weight is to be taken off, and any small pieces which remain there taken out. If the reeding is performed on a table, the bundle must be weeded frequently, though slightly; a continual dropping of water would perhaps be the best method.

After the hemp is reeded, it must next be freed from the mucilaginous matter with which it still abounds. This is done by pouring water through it, squeezing out the liquid after every affusion, but taking care not to let the threads twist or entangle each other, which they will be very apt to do. The abbé is of opinion, that soft soap should be diffused in the last water, in the proportion of an ounce to three pounds of dry hemp; which though not absolutely necessary, contributes much to the softening and rendering the hemp easy and pleasant to dress.

Hemp is broken by machinery, after being steeped, in a manner similar to flax; but the instruments used for this purpose in Suffolk are all worked by the hand. That which breaks in the operation is called flours, and is about half the value of the long hemp. The best water-retted hemp sells for about 8s. 6d. per stone; the other kind from one to two shillings lower.

Beating of hemp is the next operation, which formerly was performed entirely by hand, but now in most places by a water-mill, which raises three heavy beaters that fall upon it alternately; the hemp being turned all the while by a boy in order to receive the strokes equally. The finer it is required to make the tow, the more beating is necessary. It is then dressed or combed by drawing it through heckles formed like the combs of wool manufacturers, only fixed. Sometimes it is divided into two or three sorts of tow, and sometimes the whole is worked together into one sort; the prices varying from 6d. to 1s. per pound.

The hemp thus manufactured is sold to spinners, who reel their yarn as follows.

<table> <tr> <th>2 yards make</th> <th>1 thread.</th> </tr> <tr> <td>40 threads</td> <td>1 lea.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>20 leas</td> <td>1 skain.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>3 skains</td> <td>1 clue of 4800 yards.</td> </tr> </table>

It is next delivered to the bleachers, who return it bleached on receiving 20 or 21 clues for every 120 bleached. The prices of the hemp-yarn are as follow:

<table> <tr> <th>1 clue from a pound</th> <th>7d. or 6 1/2d.</th> </tr> <tr> <td>1 1/2 from do.</td> <td>8 1/2d. or 8d.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>2 from do.</td> <td>9 1/2d. or 9d.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>2 1/2 from do.</td> <td>10 1/2d. or 10d.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>3 from do.</td> <td>12d.</td> </tr> </table>

Chinese HEMP, a species of cannabis, of which an account is given in the 72d volume of the Philosophical Transactions, p. 46. In that paper Mr Fitzgerald, vice-president of the society for encouraging arts, mentions his having received the seeds from the late Mr Elliot; which being sown, according to his directions, produced plants 14 feet high, and nearly seven inches in circumference. These being pulled up in November, and steeped for a fortnight in water, were placed against a southern wall to dry. After this the hemp was found to separate easily from the woody part; and so great was the produce, that 32 plants yielded three pounds and a quarter. In consequence of this success, Mr Fitzgerald applied to the directors of the India Company to procure some of the seeds from China; which being complied with, the society were furnished, in 1785, with some more of the seeds, which were distrib- but to several of the members; but, notwithstanding their endeavours, few of the plants appear to have ripened their seeds in this country. Two of the species of hemp, tried by the duke of Northumberland, rose to the height of 14 feet seven inches, and would have been much larger, had they not been hurt by a high wind: another kind arose only to that of three feet and a half, the stem about the size of a common wheat straw; but though it flowered well, did not produce any seed. These kinds were sown in a hot-bed where the heat was very strong, on the 14th of April. They appeared above ground in four days, and were transplanted into pots on the 25th. They were then put under a hot-bed frame where the heat had been gone off, to harden them for the natural ground, in which they were planted on the 30th, by turning them whole out of the pots; letting them, three together, be planted at two feet distance every way; covering them at times for about ten days, until they were supposed to be rooted. Only a few seeds were preserved from plants which had been kept constantly in a stove.

Other trials were attended with little better success; but, in 1786, the Rev. Dr Hinton of Northwold near Brandon, made a successful experiment with some seeds he received from the secretary of the society. They were sown on the 17th of May, and appeared on the 6th of June. The plants were few and sickly; and notwithstanding some fine showers, they continued to languish so much that the experiment was entirely abandoned, and buckwheat was harrowed into the ground for a fallow crop. In the beginning of October, however, the persons employed in cutting the buckwheat discovered some seed in the heads of a few straggling hemp plants which had been suffered to grow in the crop; which being carefully threshed, afforded three pints of seed tolerably bright and heavy. These seeds were sown on the 10th of May 1787. On the 19th they appeared above the ground numerous and healthy. The male hemp was drawn on the 13th of August, but the female not till the 9th of October; the spot on which the plants were sown measured only 322 square yards, and produced of marketable hemp no less than 9.5 stone 7 pounds 12 ounces; being upwards of one-third more than the best crops of English hemp are ever known to produce. Thus it appeared, that the seeds of the Chinese hemp had retained their superiority over those of the English; though how long they would continue to do so cannot be determined but by experience. From this experiment Dr Hinton received a silver medal from the society. Few of the seeds either of Chinese, or any other hemp, will vegetate if two years old at the time of sowing; and to this circumstance the doctor attributes the failure of other trials of Chinese hemp.

HEMP-Agrimony, a species of eupatorium. See EUPATORIUM, BOTANY Index.