Antique copperplate engraving of Cannabis Sativa or chanvre

"The real homeland of Hemp is Persia. When planted in good, well-fertilized soil, it grows a stem 8 to 9 feet high and the size of a finger, and like flax, it is only a plant with us. It does not carry on the same stem the different parts of the generation. The secondary or male plant (fig. 2.) which has slightly wider leaves, and which bears male flowers, but no fruit, is called hemp thâlè'l the plant on the contrary, (fig. 3.) which produces the grayish seeds, known as Chenevist (fig c.) is called Female Hemp. When the male hemp has entirely dissipated its dust and seceded the fruits, which usually happens at the beginning of August, it begins to wither and then it must be pulled up and preserved. Hemp sole only ripens a month or six weeks later. The two species of plants give the rest the same bark, which is divided into long and tenacious silamens, of which we know principally twine, ropes, cables, canvas for sails and for tents, etc. For Russia, Germany, and many other countries of Europe, hemp forms a most important article of commerce."