Funny, speaking about cordage. Once back in the seventies I was driving across Indiana or Illinois one, I don't remember, but I was out in the country. I was passing these huge fields surrounded by high chain link fences topped with concertina wire. Being somewhat acquainted with certain plants (especially the more fun ones) I soon couldn't help but notice that these huge fields were full of 12 foot high marijuana plants, row after row after row. And the fields went on for miles. As medical and recreational weed were not even concepts in those days, I was baffled. I wasn't sure I hadn't died and gone to heaven. When I got to the next town I inquired and found that what I saw was the US government hemp fields. All the ropes the military used, plus web belts, and the tops of the jungle boots were made from the hemp grown there.