Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1829-07-08

Some years ago q machiue was invented
in England, for breaking and dressing
fax and hemp, without rotting, and there
by preserving the strength of the fibre,
and saving labor, as well as part Of the
material. This machine was introduced
into this country soon after its invention,
and several notifications of it were, as is
usual in all such cases, Immediately de-
vised, for the purpose of improving it.
Great expectations were entertained that
it would have a favorable influence upon
our manufactures, and especially upon the
agricultural interests ofthe northern states,
by creating an extensive demand for flax
and hemp. These expectations however,
have not been realised; the machine it APP
pears did not succeed, for what reason we
do not know, but think it probable that it
was owing to the difficulty of separating
the fibre from It's outer covering and the
gummy substance attached to it.
A machine has been invented, which is
now in advantageous operation, IN Ken
lucky, for cleaning hemp, when half rotted;
by which means the advantage of preserv-
ing the strength of the fibre is retained,
together with other advantages expected
from the former machines, and It appears
to have perfectly succeeded. The follow
ing extract from a communication to the
Editor of the Tiller, by Mr.. Amos Stout,
of Woodland county. Kentucky. gives
some information of the result Of his expe-
rieRce in the use of the machine.
"The method of watering and cleaning
hemp for market seems to be less under
stood than the growing of it, for which lat
ter purpose, rich, light, clay soil is the best.
Reclaimed sod land IS preferable to fresh
cleared land, its growth being more rapid
on such soil than on reclaimed lands. The
lint of such as is raised on the latter; Is
thinner, haf3her, and yet is darker in It's
complexion than that grown on sod land;
experience has taught me this. The hemp
must be cut with hooks, before the male
stalks die, otherwise the hemp will be dark
colored. When cut it should not lie ex-
posed to the sun longer than two days.
Great care should be taken to keep it Of a
bright color, as it is the complexion Of the
article that fixes its value. The season
in which it is spread has great influence
on the color; that which is spread out early
is uniformly dark; that which Is rotted in
the months of December, January, and
February, is uniformly bright: the water
rotted suits the navy and the Eastern mark
cts. but in consequence Of the unhealthy
and laborious process of water rOtting, It Is
not 10 be expected there Will be much done
in this way of preparing our hemp for
market, and it is liable 10 get watored too
much in the warm season Of the year,
therefore the public are as liable 70 be de-
ceiyed in the cUrdage made OF water roaed,
as that made of dew rotted, as the one is
uniformly bright and the other uniformly
dark. For these reasons I would propose.
as most profitable for the farmer, 10 half
dew rot his hemp, or rot II until the gum
Is extracted; at this stage It IS Of bright
color and in the best state for manuiactur-
ine it; by this mode OF rottiDg, the public
cannot be deceived In the strength Of their
cordage, for even lift should be a shade
darker there can be no doubt O! its strength.
From these facts It must have the prefer
ence over all other American hemp. and
will compete with the first quality CT Rus
sian hemp. have had the opinions Of
experienced manufacturers ofcOrdage, and
those ofthe seaboarj, who have been IN The
habit of working Russian hemp, to which
they unhesitaiingly pronounced II equal,
# not superior. The quality was similar
to the sample left with you. To produce
this quality Of hemp It requires care in rot I
ting and cleaning; it should not be more
than half rottedio clean on The hand brake.
] broke a part Of my crop which vas what