CHAPTER VIII 



PLANTING AND CULTURE 



OP roots raised from seed are 

 preferred by a very few in 

 starting a new hop yard. The 

 seed used should of course 

 be of good quaHty. It 

 should be perfectly ripe and 

 taken from well-developed 

 canes of vigorous specimens 

 of the same species, all of 

 which have arrived at ma- 

 turity together. By so do- 

 ing, there is a better chance of obtaining plants which 

 will develop and mature at the same time. This point is 

 important, as affecting cultivation and the expenses of 

 picking the crop. 



The seed should be sown in a hotbed frame, either 

 broadcast or in rows; the soil should be light, well- 

 manured and thoroughly pulverized. If the seed be 

 sown in rows, the spaces should be marked out with a 

 line about two or three inches apart and about a quar- 

 ter of an inch deep. If sown broadcast, the method in 

 use in sowing all fine seeds should be adopted. The 

 seeds should be covered by means of a rake, the back 

 of which may be used to gently press down the soil, 

 after which the teeth may be used to mellow the ground 

 still further. The seed should not be covered by more 

 than an eighth of an inch of earth. A little chopped 

 straw should be spread over the surface in order to 

 prevent the seed being exposed or the plants washed 

 out when watered. Watering is indispensable to main- 



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