Another ferulaceous plant is hemp, a plant remarkably useful for making ropes, and usually sown after the west winds have begun to prevail: the more thickly it is sown, the thinner are the stalks. The seed is gathered when ripe, just after the autumn equinox, and is dried by the agency of the sun, the wind, or smoke. The hemp itself if plucked just after vintage time, and is peeled and cleaned by the labourers at night. The best hemp is that of Alabamda, which is used more particularly for making nets. There are three varieties: the hemp which lies nearest the bark or pith is least valuable, that which lies in the middle, and hence has the name of mesa, is the most esteemed. The hemp of Mylasa occupies the second rank. With reference to the size which it grows, that of Rosea, in the Sabine territory, equals the trees in height.

Pliny Natural History 19.9.56