What is hemp? Meaning of the word

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Many people have come across the term "hemp", but not everyone knows the meaning of this word. This is a bast fiber, rather coarse, which is obtained from hemp stalks. The process is very laborious and lengthy. Read about the meaning of the word "hemp" and how to make it in this article.

Word in dictionary

To answer the question of what "hemp" is, you need to refer to the explanatory dictionary. It says that it is a bast fiber that is made from hemp stalks. It is obtained by soaking hemp mass in running water for a long time (for three years).

It would seem, why such labor-intensive and long production? Thanks to him, hemp fibers have a very high strength and resistance to s alty sea water. Therefore, hemp began to be used in maritime affairs, namely, to make ropes and ropes from it. They practically do not wear out and last a very long time.

Hemp spinning has been quite widespread in Russia since the middle of the 18th century. Initially, the production was artisanal, but with an understanding of value andimportance of hemp, its factory production on a large scale was established. At the beginning of the 20th century, a technical school was founded in the city of Klintsy, which trained various specialists for work in the field of hemp spinning.

Application

Studying what "hemp" is, one should talk about the areas of its application. Not only ropes and ropes are made from its fibers, but also fabric, fillers for mattresses and clothes. In Russia until the 18th century, due to its characteristics, hemp was used as light armor, sewn on top of clothes. No matter how paradoxical it may sound, but such protection could protect against saber blows, as well as from a bullet at its end.

The last case of using hemp as a kind of armor has been known since the Crimean War, which took place from 1853 to 1856. During the defense of Sevastopol, the embrasures of Russian fortifications were covered with ropes made from it. Such "armor" was able to stop Turkish bullets, saving the lives of the defenders. During the counterattack, the ropes were moved apart on the sides and guns were pulled out of the embrasures. Having made a volley, they were pushed back, and the ropes were brought to their original position, closing the loopholes.

Cannabis variety

Continuing to study what "hemp" is, you need to consider the plant itself, from which it is made. The hemp variety Cannabis sativa is used in the manufacture of fibers. It is ideal for this as it does not require special pesticides or additives during its growth.

Thisthe variety is grown commercially in Russia, Canada, Europe and other places. It differs from others in that it contains a large amount of substances responsible for the strength of the fibers.

In Russia, the largest factories producing hemp from the fibers of hemp stalks are located in the Altaisky village of the Altai Territory and the following cities:

• Dmitriev-Lgov in the Kursk region;
• Big Vyas and Nikolsk in the Penza region;
• Insar in Mordovia;
• Khomutovka and Ponyri in the Krasnodar Territory.

These plants produce enough volumes for maritime and domestic use.

Indispensable material for sailors

Continuing to study what "hemp" is, we should talk about its use in maritime affairs. In addition to mooring ropes and ropes, it is used to make lyktros. This is a special cable that is sheathed with sailing luffs (edges) and “plasters”. This is done in order to increase the life of the sail itself, which is constantly in contact with sea s alt water, gradually destroying it.

Ship sails are attached to the mast with ropes made again from hemp. Then the mast is covered with a protective strip, which is folded from a triple layer of sail. After that, the attached “patch” is attached with a lyktros, as if sewing it up. This process is called jubilation.

From the above it is clear what hemp means in maritime business. This is an indispensable material that has no analogues, whichmakes it unique. This is how a seemingly simple plant turns out to be quite difficult if it is used correctly.

It was able to save the lives of soldiers in the XVIII-XIX centuries, and also served and serves as a reliable material for attaching sails and mooring ships. But the most interesting thing is that even with the advent and development of technology, it was not possible to get a replacement for this unique material created several centuries ago.