Hemp – The Rise and Fall of the Hemp Plant
Hemp – The Rise and Fall of the Hemp Plant follows the history of the hemp plant throughout history .
Tracing hemp’s place in the pages of history, this article discusses the benefits the hemp plant has brought to civilizations over the centuries and also the reasons and issues that lead to the decline in it’s use.
For thousands of years, hemp (Cannabis Sativa) has been one of the most useful plants known to man. It’s strong, stringy fibers make durable rope and can be woven into anything from sails to shirts; it’s pithy centers, or “Hurds,” make excellent paper; it’s seeds, high in protein and oil, have been pressed into lighting or lubricating oils and pulped into animal feed; and extracts of it’s leaves have provided a wide range of medicines and tonics.
After the Civil War, however, hemp production in the States declined steeply. Without slave labor, hemp became too expensive to process, besides, cotton produced by machines was cheaper. Still, hemp fabric remained the second most common cloth in America.
Playing such a prominent part of history it’s hard to understand why hemp is not used widely today. Hemp – The Rise and Fall of the Hemp Plant details not only the history of the hemp plant but also the reasons as to why it’s use was restricted and what were the “interests” behind it .
A thought provoking read about a plant that is so much more than just a plant.
