, 1890-10-04

lIclemency OF the weather or during long
rainy seasons. 1t must, at this time. be
hung III tue drying house upon poles and
these ON tiers so arranged dis TO reach to
the rO' |, that the house may take in Il good
quantity, allowing sufficient space from
one tier TO another and between the poles
for the free Grcul LtiOm of air, the house
must then be warmed by the fire with rs
little smoke as possible to such Il TEN perA-
ture as to prevent the fibre taking in
moisture this must Ue kept up day and
night until the fibre loses It's moisture
and becomes dry, which will take some
time or until the first return of sunshine,
when it may be finished up in the sun. If
the cultivatOr however thinks this trouble.
some and wishes to avoid it, be may Sus-
pend work until the return of fair weather.
Fibre that remains for any time after ex-
traction without being exposed il the sun
or hung up in the dry house becomes dark
and spotted.
BleGching.-The color of the fibre. after
being dried in the sun, is of a light straw or
cream, but where the planter desires to inn
prove this and to put his hemp in the market
purely white, in order to gain fame, he may.
adopt the course of bleaching. This is done
by first having the fibre perfectly sun { led
and then allowing it to remain on the stand
all night to get the dew on it, and during the
next day, until it gets entirely dry and free
OF all dew by means of the sun, not emitting
to turn constantly requires particular care
and attention. This profess causes a shrink
age. making it weigh less than it does when
cured in the ordinary manner.
Bdting-This is conducted in the follow
ing manner The exact weight of fibre for
one bale, according to the capacity of press,
Is first weighed off this is lone with each
successive bale to have uniformity of weight.
One or two hands get inside the press and
the fibre is handed to them by one or two
others, laying it out smoothly and straightly
and then doubling over about one-third of its
length to form a smooth head, which must
be put flush to the head of the press, the long
portion going the length way, the packers
standing on each layer in succession until
finished, making it of one bulk throughout
it IS then screwed down, corded across tight
ly with small cords made from tile samehemp,
Ind ultimately thrown out. The baling
must not be done by simply finging in the
fibre, making hills and holes, but neatly
packed in order that the bale may have a
smooth and heat appearance when turned
out, which makes it pass for what it really
Is, hemp of first quality, as badly put zip
bales turned out rough and full of fringes,
through their ugly show, although a hemp of
first quality, is put dow second Class. In
stead OF a screw press q hydraulic pl1ss may
be used, which will be to advantage. Any
hemp which by way of accident may be
damaged either by the leaves remaining
too long after cutting to be cleaned,
or the fibre getting wet, or otherwise,
the consequence Of over-ripe leaves, all
Of which will give it spots and totally dis
color it, must on no account be- packed with
in the bale of white hemp, neither must it
be made into cordage to cord up the bale, as
it will in the first place destroy the fame it
ought to have, and in the second injure the
appearance of it. If the planter be wishful
of exporting the damaged fibre he may put
it up in bales and ship it as d End quality
this is done on the Peninsula. It is by the
strict observance of this point of the business
in Yucatan that the fibre is SO we'll received
and readily purchased for what it is shipped,
in the markets of Europe and the United
States of America. In the carriage Of the
bales of hemp from the plantations to the
port of shipment and on their embarkation
they ought to be secured in q manner water
proof, as rain on the hemp will totally dis 6
color it.
BGg0SSe.-The bagasse or refuse from the
leaves must be taken away by cart to some
distance west of the works and should not
be thrown around trees nor near plants
which are OF service, as it very soon kills
them; no grass or any thing else grows
where this refuse is put, it destroys for a
long time all veoetation. until it's mower Cets