These are the Hemp-Mill stones from the Landis Valley Farm Museum. They were used to break the outer bark from the hemp so that the inner or bast fiber could be removed. Some of the mills were water driven...and were also used to crush flax and hemp seed for oil, as well as apples for cider. I have posted a slide show of the field trip that I took last week...there are many photos of spinning wheels and other equipment. The photos were taken at the Landis Valley Farm Museum and some were taken at The Mannings Handweaving School and Supply Center.
7 comments:
Now that you know how to spin flax you will have to teach me so that I can spin what I bought at NY S&W two years ago! As neither of us has spare time until about Oct or Nov. remember that for me will you!?!?!
How interesting! That flax and hemp are beautiful with their glistening colors.
Thats one I have never spun before.
Hey, you were in my neck of the woods! Hope you enjoyed Landis Valley. I never knew what those stone things were. I'm always there for plant sales and don't pay much attention to the other exhibits. Very interesting.
What a wonderful way to spin several days! How do you like spinning flax?
Thanks for sharing the field trip, Cyndy. Do you know just how the hemp stones were used? There's always something new! :D
Hi Marcy-
The story behind the hemp mills is interesting. It is possible that they were a Lancaster County concept...adopted from the Chilean mill grinders....but even those had cylindrical wheels instead of conical ones. The best explanation I have found for the conical shape of the stone has to do with the distribution of weight. The stones were made conical so that they would roll over but not injure or powder the hemp fibers.
From what I understand...the hemp would first be harvested (much like the flax) and then swingled and THEN taken to the mill to break apart the fibers that hold together ~ or to break down the lignin. The farmer would roll the hemp stones (by means of water or horse...much like the grain mills) over the hemp, and pay for use of the mill. The stones rolled over an oak floor
Thank you for such an informative post! Glad you had a great time at Mannings; sounds like a wonderful get-away.
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