|
What was the historical significance of hemp?
Plant Responses to Stimuli
Read more from
|
|
During the early years of colonial America, hemp (Agave sisalana)—a fabric that looks and feels like linen—was as common as cotton is now. It was an easy crop to grow, requiring little water, no fertilizers, and no pesticides. It was used for uniforms of soldiers, paper (the first two drafts of the Declaration of Independence were written on hemp paper), and as an all-purpose fabric—including Betsy Ross’s flag made of red, white, and blue hemp.