CLASSIFICATION OF FIBRES
Cordage fibres which are used at the present time are naturally of
greater variety than those which were utilized for similar purposes in
the early periods of history, for records of those used in such early
periods appear to indicate only hemp and flax. As already stated, wool
would not be used to any great extent, but, after methods had been
evolved for spinning a continuous thread from fibres such as hemp and
flax, it is highly probable that the cotton fibre would also be used in
the making of cords and ropes.
Authentic records point to the fact that the cultivation of flax plants
for fibre was practised in Egypt from 5,000 to 6,000 years ago, and
hence it is quite possible that hemp plants would be grown under similar
conditions and for suitable purposes; moreover, if the hemp fibre were
proved to be suitable for cordage purposes, it is not difficult to
believe that the cultivation of this important plant in suitable
districts would become as universal as that of flax.
Another reason which suggests the early use of hemp as a cordage fibre
is the universality of its presence in most eastern countries as a
vegetable product. It is at present cultivated in most European
countries, and especially in Russia, Italy, Austria-Hungary, Serbia,
France and Germany. It is also found on the East and West coasts of
Africa, in many of the States of America--particularly in Kentucky--as
well as in India, China and Japan.
If the climate is comparatively moist, with a period of mild temperature
and a suitable soil, the hemp plant can be successfully cultivated for
fibre; it is cultivated in India and in most of the tropical countries
for the production of a liquor which the natives consume in much the
same way as intoxicating liquors are consumed in temperate countries.
True hemp is a plant which grows wild in Central Asia, but must be
cultivated in practically all other areas. It is an annual, and requires
a rich soil with a subsoil capable of retaining sufficient moisture to
promote the growth during periods of dry weather. If otherwise, the
growth of the plants would be checked during this dry period with a
consequent deficient yield of fibre.
With the gradual development of trade, and the introduction of new kinds
of fibre to be used for cordage, an extended meaning has been applied to
the word hemp, but, unfortunately, the word has been applied rather
loosely to many types of fibre which are used for rope-making. Thus, one
frequently hears the following names in reference to different fibres--
Manila Hemp,
Sisal Hemp,
New Zealand Hemp,
Mauritius Hemp,
Bowstring Hemp, etc.;
whereas the real hemp is usually designated as--
Russian Hemp,
Italian Hemp,
Indian Hemp,
Sunn Hemp, etc.
To differentiate between these different fibres, and so provide a better
classification and conception of the terms, it should be clearly
understood that the proper hemp fibres, _e.g._, Russian, Italian and
Indian, are obtained from the plant _Cannabis Sativa_, and that the
fibres are located in the bast layers of the plant stems as exemplified
in Fig. 7. The fibres are extracted from these layers in the same way as
the fibres of flax and jute are extracted from similar layers, that is,
by a process technically termed “retting.” Such fibres are called soft
fibres in contradistinction to hard fibres to which class Manila, Sisal,
New Zealand, Mauritius and Bowstring fibres belong. The hard fibres are
located in the leaves or in the leaf stalks of plants; typical examples
of the general appearance of such plants and the internal
characteristics are illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5.