07 How can hemp be used for cloth?
Description
This article is from the Hemp / Cannabis / Marijuana FAQ, by Brian S. Julin verdant@twain.ucs.umass.edu with numerous contributions by others.
07 How can hemp be used for cloth?
The stalk of the hemp plant has two parts, called the
bast and the hurd. The fiber (bast) of the hemp plant can
be woven into almost any kind of cloth. It is very durable.
In fact, the first Levi's blue jeans were made out of hemp
for just this reason. Compared to all the other natural
fibers available, hemp is more suitable for a large number
of applications.
Here is how hemp is harvested for fiber: A field of closely
spaced hemp is allowed to grow until the leaves fall off.
The hemp is then cut down and it lies in the field for some
time washed by the rain. It is turned over once to expose
both sides of the stalk evenly. During this time, the hurd
softens up and many minerals are returned to the soil. This
is called `retting,' and after this step is complete, the
stalks are brought to a machine which separates the bast and
the hurd. We are lucky to have machines today -- men used
to do this last part by hand with hours of back-breaking
labor.
``Hemp, Flax, Jute, Ramie, Kenaf and Other Industrial Fibers a
Comparison of Properties and Applications '' by Gerald X. Diamond in
``Cannabis Hemp Information Kit'' pub Washington Citizens for Drug
Policy Reform.
``Hemp'' by Lyster H. Dewey pp. 283-346. pub. United States Department
of Agriculture, 1913.
``The Emperor Wears No Clothes The Authoritative Historical Record of
the Cannabis Plant, Marijuana Prohibition, & How Hemp Can Still Save
the World'' by Jack Herer pub. Queen of Clubs HEMP Publishing, 1993.
``The Marijuana Farmers'' by Jack Frazier pub. Solar Age Press New
Orleans, 1972.
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