[Retting]

‘Some experienced hemp producers use the peeling test for determining the degree of retting . This is accomplished by peeling the fiber away from the butt ends of the stems. If properly retted the fiber should peel freely from the woody core of the stem. If the hemp is not sufficiently retted, the fiber will break after a few inche have been peeled. This free-peeling stage is desirable for breaking hemp on hand breaks. Where hemp is to be processed by machinery, the retting need not progress quite so far as is necessary for hand breaking.’

In: Robinson, B. B. (1943). Hemp (Vol. 1935). Washington, D.C: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, p.12