Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 February 1919 — Wild Hemp Growing in Canada May Be Used for Making Binder Twine [ARTICLE]

Wild Hemp Growing in Canada May Be Used for Making Binder Twine

Wild Ijemp has possibilities for the manufacture of binding twine and its cultivation may become a part of Can* ada’s post-war industrial program. The Indians of the coast and interior of.central British Columbia have long been famous as carvers, weavers and boat-builders, but It was only recently that attention was attracted to the fine rope which they make from wild hemp. At Awiligate in, the Bulkley valley near New Hazelton there is a village of Indians who display remarkable skill in making rope from the abundant wild hemp which covers the surrounding country. They have been making this rope for centuries by a method of their own, and it is so strong that they use it for towing their heavily laden canoes up the currents of swift rivers. This is convincing proof of its stoutness. They also make twine and thread from the hemp, but not in such quantities as In ihe days before they were able to funchase these articles cheaply from traders. The wild hemp closely resembles the common fire weed of the United States.