OBSEllVATIOXS 03f VEGErA^BLES. 353 



Hops. — The culture of A^irgil's vines corresponded very 

 exactly with the modern management of hops. I might 

 instance in the perpetual diggings and hoeings, in the tying 

 to the stakes and poles, iu pruning the superfluous shoots, 

 &c. ; but lately I have observed a new circumstance, which 

 was, a neighbouring farmer's harrowing between the rows 

 of hops with a small triangular harrov/, drawn by one horse, 

 and guided by two handles. This occurrence brought to my 

 mind the following passage : — 



ipsa 



Flectere luctantes inter vineta juvencos." 



Georgia n. 



The struggling steers between the vine-rows bend. 



Hops are dioecious plants: hence, perhaps, it might be 

 proper, though not practised, to leave purposely some male 

 plants in every garden, that their farina might impregnate 

 the blossoms. The female plants, without their male at- 

 tendants, are not in their natural state: hence we may 

 suppose the frequent failure of crop so incident to hop- 

 grounds. No other growth, cultivated by man, has such fre- 

 quent and general failures as hops. 



Two hop-gardens much injured by a hail-storm, June 5, 

 show now (September 2) a prodigious crop, and larger and 

 fairer hops than any in the parish. The owners seem now 

 to be convinced that the hail by beating off" the tops of the 

 binds has increased the side-shoots, and improved the crop. 

 Query. Therefore, should not the tops of hops be pinched 

 off" when the binds are very gross and strong ? White. 



Seed ltii^g doemant. — The naked part of the Hanger 

 is now covered with thistles of various kinds. The seeds of 

 these thistles may have lain probably under the thick shade 

 of the beeches for many years, but could not vegetate till 

 tlie sun and air were admitted. AVhen old beech-trees are 

 cleared away, the naked groimd, in a year or two, becomes 

 covered with strawberry plants, the seeds of which must 

 have lain in the ground for an age at least. One of the 

 slidclers, or trenches, dowTi the middle of the Hanger, cose 

 covered over with lofty beeches near a century old, is still 

 called strawherry-slidder^ though no strawberries have growu 



