These striking irregularities of production and export fully account for tlie 

 extreme range of prices. They inculcate this lesson to the hop-grower, that he 

 must expect markets at one time most encouraging, and at another most de- 

 pressing. But the question is. Does the average price of several years justify 

 the increased cultivation of this crop? 



In Great Britain the average yield is probably about 750 pounds per acre. 

 Mr. Eouse places it in this country at 888 pounds. He estimates the entire 

 cost of production at about 10 cents a pound, including the picking. This 

 would be about $88 80 per acre. This cost will be larger or smaller accord- 

 ing to the natural fertility of the soil, the cheapness of poles, and the price of 

 labor. But if this estimate is an average one generally, then the hop can be 

 grown for 15 cents per pound in ordinary times and at the usual prices of labor. 



2d. The soil and manures hei^t adapted to its ^row^/?.— These can best be 

 determined by the nature of the plant and its analysis. The roots of the hop 

 penetrate deeply and widely, and are liable to suffer from drought. In a climate 

 of extremes, like ours, this drought must be guarded against, and this can best 

 be done by having a large portion of vegetable matter in the soil, which is a non- 

 conductor of heat, and attracts and retains moisture. It should be broken up 

 deeply, and always kept thoroughly pulverized. It should be deep, that the 

 lower roots may sustain the moisture of the plant in drought, and it should be 

 well pulverized, for in such a condition of the soil air cannot dry it deeply, 

 because it does not crack and admit large amounts of heat, and the subsoil 

 moisture rises higher between fine particles of loose soil. This plant is a great 

 exhauster, both by reason of the thorough summer cultivation demanded, and 

 by what it abstracts from the soil. Analysis shows this ; and the following 

 is an English analysis of the hop. 



In this table the analysis of wheat is given also as a comparison, because it is 

 conceded that good wheat lands may be made good hop lands. Silica in larger 

 quantities is taken from the soil by the hop, where the straw of both crops ia 

 returned to it. Both have nearly the same amount of potash and soda ; but 

 the hop has much more lime and sulphuric acid, and much less magnesia and 

 phosphoric acid. The aggregate pounds per acre do not diflfer materially in 



