Scaffolding

Victirian Birdcage Scaffold 

Note that the method of extending the Standards was known as Scarfing (from the Scarf Joint). This may explain why the height of the tube that you are Hemping onto (or Topping, if you are a Northener) is known as the Scarf.

The term Hemping may come from the material that was often used for lashing the wooden poles together: Hemp Rope.
Other ropes that were used were Manilla and Sisal, until eventually Wire Bonds were used. 


The main lashings (knots) being the Square Lashing
(which is still used, as the preferred method of tying a ladder) and the Sheer Lashing which was used to join poles in parallel, particularly the uprights.


text and image courtesy of 
Scaffolders' forum