SECT. V.—MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES. 31

Sect. V .—MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES.

94. CANNABIS saliva. Hemp. —This plant is cultivated in some partsof this country. It is usually sown in March, and is fit to harvest inOctober. It is then pulled up and immersed in water ; when thewoody parts of the stalks separating from the bark, which sloughs offand undergoes a decomposition by which the fibres are divided, it isthen combed [hackled), dried, and reduced to different fineness of tex-ture, and spun for various purposes. It requires good land, and theseed is usually two bushels and a half per acre.

The seed, which ripens about the time the hemp is pulled, is usefulfor feeding birds and poultry, and very nourishing.

95. DIPSACUS Fidlomim. Fuller's TYa'.le.— The beads of thisplant are used for combing kerseymeres and the liner broad cloths. Thebeads are generally tit to cut about the latter end of August, and arethen separated and made up into bundles, and sold to the clothiers.The large heads are called Kngs; the next size Middlings; and theSmaller Minikins. The reason they are separated before sending tomarket is, that the large and small will not fit together on the framein which they are fixed to the water-wheel, so that it is'usual for theproprietor of the fulling-mills to purchase all of either one or the othersize. The crop is considered very valuable, but the culture is confinedto a small district in Somersetshire. The plant is biennial, and is usuallysown in May, and the crop kept hoed during that season. In the fol-lowing spring the plants bloom, and when the seeds are ripe the headsare fit for cutting ; when they are assorted as above for the dealers.Three pounds of seed are used to an acre, and the plants at the laststirring are left from two feet to two feet and a half apart.

96. HUMULUS Lupulus. The Hop.— The Hop is cultivated forbrewing, being the most wholesome bitter we have, though the brewersare in the habit of using other vegetable bitters, which are broughtfrom abroad and sold at a much cheaper rate. There is, however, asevere penalty on using any other than Hops for such purpose.

The Hops are distinguished by several varieties grown in Kent,Worcestershire, and at Farnham. The last place produces the bestkind. For its culture more at length see Agriculture of Surry, by Mr.Stevenson.

97. ISATtS tincloria. Wojd. —Is cultivated in fha county ofSomersetshire. It is used, after being prepared, for dyeing &c. It isSaid to be the mordant used for a fine blue on woollen. The foliage,w bieh is like Spinach, is gathered during the summer months, andsteeped in vats of water. After some time a green fecula is deposited'n the bottom of the water, which is washed, and made into cakes andsold for use.