W While the fibers we have already discussed—Manila and Sisal—comprise by far the greater part of the raw material of cordage, we wish to mention in this chapter a fiber which, while now of comparatively slight importance, has the interesting feature of being a home product, and the cultivation of which at one time formed an industry of considerable magnitude in this country. This is the American or Kentucky hemp.
Most of the cordage fibers are commonly known as hemp, but strictly speaking this name applies only to the fiber of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa), of which the American hemp is an example. This hemp plant, while a native of Asia, has for many years been grown in the different countries of Europe as well as in America. Its fiber in commerce takes the name of the country from which it comes, as Russian hemp, Italian hemp, etc.
The character of the plant and of its fiber varies considerably, depending upon the conditions of climate and soil in the various sections where it is produced. The fiber is also more or less affected by the varying methods of preparation used in different places. The Italian hemp, particularly, is finer, lighter colored and stronger than American or Russian, and commands a higher price in the market.
Hemp differs from Manila and Sisal by being what is known as a bast fiber, being obtained from the bark of the plant, which necessitates altogether different methods of treatment in extracting the fiber.
The pictures below and opposite, which are from photographs secured through the courtesy of Messrs. T. P. Curry & Son, Danville, Ky., give an interesting glimpse of the Kentucky hemp industry. The plants are cut and spread out to dry, after which they are gathered together in bundles and carefully stacked. Later the stacks are opened and the hemp again spread out for exposure to the action of the dew, frost and sun during the retting process which rots the gums holding the filaments together. The inner, woody part of the stem also becomes dry and brittle by this treatment so that it breaks and falls away during the “breaking” which follows. This process of breaking leaves the fibrous strips or bands in such shape that they can be readily hackled, thus cleaning out any remaining fragments of wood, short fibers and dirt, leaving the long, smooth fiber ready to be bunched together and pressed into bales.
American hemp differs from Manila by being much softer and of a dark gray color, and is sometimes known as black hemp. Like the Russian and Italian varieties, it is used by cordage manufacturers principally for making various tarred goods, such as ratline, marline, houseline and other products. Before the Manila fiber was so largely used in this country for rope-making, the Kentucky hemp business was of considerable importance, but it has of late years declined very greatly and is now of interest chiefly as representing that class of industries which have been robbed of their former importance by changing conditions. Years ago the American hemp went into the rigging of many a famous vessel, both merchantman and man-of-war, and was a source of pride to its patriotic producers and users. But the substitution of steam vessels for sail and the use of other fibers and of wire for rigging have taken away the great field of usefulness once open to this home product.
Besides the hemps—-American, Russian and Italian—another cordage fiber used to some extent in this country is known as New Zealand hemp or flax, taking its name from the country where it is produced. This is not strictly a hemp, although so called like many other fibers. It is obtained from the leaves of a plant belonging to the lily family, the cultivation of which forms an important New Zealand industry. The extracting of the fiber is done by special machinery and, contrary to the former practice, much attention is now given to properly grading and packing the product, these matters being subject to government inspection.
New Zealand hemp in general appearance resembles Manila more closely than does any other cordage fiber, and, although it is far inferior in strength and other practical qualities, it is sometimes used as an adulterant in making the cheaper grades of so-called Manila rope. Its presence in a rope sold for Manila is sometimes difficult to detect, which emphasizes the necessity of care on the part of the buyer in getting positive assurance of the purity of the goods offered him.
The only other cordage fibers of much consequence are the so-called African and Java hemps—the first named a product of German East Africa and of British East Africa, the Java hemp a product of the island of the same name.