Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 09.djvu/814

* HEMP. 752 HEMP. times it is only three or four feet, sometimea fifteen or twenty feet. Notwithstanding the net- tle-like coarseness of its leaves, it is an elegant plant, and is sometimes utilized in shrubberies and large flower borders. The stem is erect, more or less branched; the leaves are five to nine- fingered, the flowers yellowish-green, small, and numerous. It is hollow or filled with only a soft pith, surrounded by a tender brittle substance, consisting chiefly of cellular tissue, with some woody fibre, which is called the 'reed,' "boon,' or 'shive' of hemp. Over this is the thin bark, com- posed chiefly of fibres extending parallel with the stalk, with an outer membrane or cuticle. The female plants are taller and stronger than the male. Hemp is cultivated for its fibre in almost all countries in Eurojic; most extensively in the centre and south of European Russia, which is the chief hemp-exporting district. French hemp is much esteemed in the market, as is also that of England and Ireland, of which, however, the quantity is comparatively inconsiderable. Hemp is cultivated to some extent in the United States ; especially Kentucky, Missouri, and Illinois. The production has been greatly reduced in the last quarter century, owing to the introduction of Manila hemp and jute. Limestone soils and al- luvial soils are best adapted to this plant. It is very necessary to have the soil so rich, and to sow the seed at such a season, that the plants shall grow rapidly at first, as they thus form long fibres. Hemp sown thinly produces a coarser fibre than that sown thickly. It is not consid- ered an exhaustive crop when the leaves of the plant and the shive or boon are returned to the land. As with flax, a thorough preparation of the soil is necessary. With the ground well prepared there is little trouble with weeds, as hemp occupies the entire ground. The crop is ready to cut when the first seeds are ripe, or about 100 days from planting. Cutting is done by a knife or by a heavy mower. The treatment of hemp by 'retting,' etc., is similar to that of flax (q.v. ). It is usually dew-retted by spread- ing evenly over the ground to rot out the gums that hold the filaments together. The hemp- stalks are afterwards decorticated by hand beat- ing or machinery and cleaned from the fibre by 'hackling.' The "fibre is tied up into 'hands' and baled. The average yield of hemp-fibre is about 1000 pounds per "acre. The fibre of hemp is generally used for coarser purposes than that of flax, particularly for sail-cloth, pack-sheet, ropes, and the calking of ships. The seed of hemp is produced in great abun- dance. It is commonly sold as food for cage- birds: and birds are so fond of it that not only the ripening fields, but the newly sown ground, must be carefully guarded against their depre- dations. Hemp is cultivated in warm countries for a resinous secretion which has narcotic or intoxicating qualities. In India the resin is com- monly known as churrus or charras. See Hash- ish. While strictly speaking the name hemp belongs to the plant Cannabis sniira. by common usage it is now applied to other fibre-plants that in a great measure supply the uses once filled by common hemp alone. These are designated as bowstring, Manila, Sisal, and Sunn hemp (see below). Many lesser known fibre-plants pass under the general name of hemp, though they vary widely in their botanical aspects and rela- tions. HEMP, BowSTBiXG. The fibre produced by iianscvieria spp., a genus of Liliaceoe with repre- sentatives in tropical regions of both hemispheres. The employment of the fibre for making bow- strings led to this name. The plants are stem- less perennials which grow wild in the jungles and increase by runners. The leaves, which yield readily to treatment in the fresh state, are thick and fleshy, sword or lance-shaped, and rich in fine lustrous fibre which ranges from two and one-half to seven feet in length, does not rot read- ily in water, and by experiment has been found to be the strongest and best-fitted fibre for deep-sea sounding. The plant, which is propagated readily from cuttings, requires a good rich soil in which, under favorable conditions, it will reach its full groxrth in one year. Ordinarily, however, it does not acquire its full size until the second season, and some species do not yield a crop until the third year. When once the land is stocked with it a full crop may be expected from the roots within twelve months after cutting. It does not appear to exhaust the soil materially, and will continue to make vigorous growth for a number of years in the same place. The yield is about 50 pounds of fibre per ton of green leaves. The total yield per acre has been reported by ex- periments to be nearly two and a-half tons of fibre annually. HEMP, Indian. See Hashish. HEMP, Manila, or Abaca. The fibre of a species of plantain or banana (Musa textilis), a native of the Philippine Islands, where it is ex- tensively cultivated. It is most widely grown in the southern part of Luzon, and less exten- sively on the islands of Samar, Leyte, Cebu, and Mindanao. The fibre is white, easily separated, and very tenacious. The harder and stronger outer fibre is used for cordage, the finer inner fibres for weaving delicate fabrics, and the inter- mediate layers for manufacture of web-cloths and gauzes. From the finer sorts of the fibre, veils, crapes, robes, and women's hats of great beauty are made; also various articles of men's wear, as shirts and suitings of remarkable durability. Manila hemp is largely used in the United States for making binding twine and cordage. Manila cordage is now used for every purpose for whieii rope is employed. The best conditions for the growth of abaca are shade and abundant moisture, with good drainage. The finest growth is obtained on the slopes of the volcanic moun- tains. A new plantation is generally made of young shoots, which very quickly throw out suckers. Occasionally the plants are raised from seed. The cultivation of the plant is simple. 'eeds and undergrowth must be kept down dur- ing the first season, but after that the plants will exterminate other growths. Plants raised from year-old seedlings need at least two years, while those raised from suckers require four years before they will produce fibre of value. The abaca is cut just before flowering, near the roots, split open longitudinally, and the cen- tral peduncle separated from the sheathing layers of fibre. The fibrous coats are dried two or three days in the shade, and are then scraped until only the fibres remain. Two men will cut and scrape about twenty-five pounds of the fibre in a day. It takes about 3200 plants to produce a