In many parts of Asia, the fiber hemp has been in use since
prehistoric times. Ancient records describe the use of hemp in China in
2800B.C. During the early Christian era, production of hemp spread to the
countries of Mediterranean Europe, and since then the fiber has come into
widespread use throughout the world.
Like flax, hemp is a bast fiber. It comes from the plant
Cannabis sativa, an annual of the family Moraceae, which grows to a height of
3m or more.
The hemp plant is now cultivated in almost every European
country, and in many parts of Asia.
Important producing
country including the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, Romania and Hungary.