CROPS. 287 



3, 



igging. Three a four plants may be placed in a hill. These 

 may be procured from the clippings of the vines, in March j or 

 from what gardeners call layers j or from seed. The latter mode 

 is considered preferable. In hops, the male and female plant are 

 distinct j but many cultivators reject and extirpate the former as 

 barren. It is necessary that they should grow together that is, 

 a due proportion of the male plants should be cultivated in order 

 to give &quot; that energy and vitality to the seed without which it 

 would not produce its kind. This it is which gives weight to 

 the hop, which gives the fine aromatic bitter to the production of 

 the vine, and more fully to the seed; the petal or leaf of the 

 flower containing but little of the astringent quality of the hop. 

 Cultivators of the hop are urged, therefore, to have many male 

 plants on the ground, at least, one to fifty female plants, and 

 particularly to encourage them around their plantation, in the 

 hedges, where no ground will be lost. 



&quot; The hop plants raised from seed surpass those which have 

 been raised from cuttings, their luxuriant growth enabling them 

 to withstand the effects of blight. They are found to have a 

 seed at the bottom of every petal of the flower, of a most pun 

 gent aromatic flavor ; while those hops grown in the usual way, 

 without the necessary quantity of male plants, have scarcely any 

 seed, and they are mostly abortive. In fact, seed gives weight 

 and flavor to the hop, and constitutes the vitality of the plant, 

 or the condition or strength of the hop ; and where there is the 

 most seed, there will be the most condition. We therefore say 

 that the grand object in hop-growing should be to get as much 

 seed as possible.&quot; * These are the important suggestions of an 

 experienced and competent cultivator. 



* &quot; The weight of hop leaves, without the seed, having been accurately ascer 

 tained, those grown at Lewisham, being the fourth year from the sowing of the 

 seed, and having a male plant close to them, weighed at the rate of thirty-six 

 pounds per bushel ; and the same quantity (by old measure) from Shoreham, 

 raised from cuttings, and grown near male plants, weighed at the rate of thirty- 

 five pounds per bushel. The hop leaves without seed, from a place at Oxford 

 where the male plants are always eradicated, weighed at the rate of twenty-two 

 pounds per bushel, when closely pressed.&quot; 



&quot; Hop seeds being severally put into rainwater, most of those produced by 

 plants raised from seeds, and grown near male plants, sank in the water; while 

 most of those grown in grounds that had not any male plant near them, and 

 nad been raised from cuttings, swam on its surface.&quot; Golden Farmer. 



