American Hemp.
Among the fibers employed in rope making that of the hemp plant long held the supremacy, though in recent years it has been largely supplemented by other and stronger fibers. This plant is a native of Asia, but is now grown largely in other continents, taking its name from the country in which it is raised, as Russian hemp, Italian hemp, and American, or Kentucky, hemp, it having long found a home in the soil of Kentucky. It differs from the Manila fiber, which has now very largely supplanted it, by being much softer, though of less strength. In the old days of the sailing vessel hempen rope was largely used for the rigging of merchant and war ships, but the use of other fibers and of wire for rigging has greatly reduced the market for Kentucky hemp. There are various other fibers known under the name of hemp, the New Zealand, African, Java, etc., but the Manila and Sisal fibers, since the middle of the last century, have largely taken their place.
| How Pine Tar is Made in the South Atlantic States | |
| 1. Building the kiln. | |
| 2. Starting fire. | 3. Racking back coals. |
| 4. Tar coming from kiln. | |
| 5. Dipping and barreling. | 6. Working around kiln. |
| 7. After hard day and night. | |
| 8. Tar makers at home. | 9. Burning completed. |