Hemp Hurds as Paper-Making Material

The bulletin defines hemp hurds as the woody inner portions of the hemp stalk and analyzes their agricultural production, handling, and proportions relative to fiber, including effects of retting and machine processing. It reports semicommercial paper-making trials that describe pulping and manufacturing procedures, baling and sieving practices, and laboratory physical tests of the resulting papers. Results indicate hurds can yield a machine-finish printing paper comparable to tree-fiber stock, imparting notable strength and folding endurance though sometimes containing more ash and visible shives; the report highlights processing and supply challenges and suggests hurds as a feasible alternative raw material under proper handling.