t"»LTURE OF HOPS. 



S5 



brown ; about tlie first of September is the time generally in 

 New-England. If gathered later, the vines will bear more the 

 next year, but the present crop will not be quite as good. 

 When the poles are drawn to be picked, it is advised to cut 

 the vmes asunder three or four inches from the giound, for cut- 

 ting lower while they are green, weakens the root by too 

 great a flow of sap. When large crops are raised, the best 

 way to dry them is on kilns ; but they may be dried on floors 

 ui?der cover, or in the sun, though it is said they will not be 

 so well flavored as when kiln dried. When kiln dried, the 

 fire should be kept on a ii.oderate heat, foi- if it steams the hop 

 brown it will be injured. They should lie about six inches 

 thick and be frequently stirred v.iiile drying. The seeds will 

 crackle a little when bursting, and then if the hops have been 

 equally exposed to the heat hey are all sutficiently dried. 



Before they are put into bags they should be laid in heaps 

 three or lour days, to sweat and grow tough. Those vrho 

 raise them for market, should procure bags of coarse linen 

 doth about eleven feet long and about two and a half yards in 

 circumference, which rhould contain about 250 lbs. of hops. 



The best poles are those which are most durable. Each 

 pole should have thiee vines and all above this should be brok- 

 en off'in the spring. Mr. Young is of the opinion that a hop 

 garden will last almost forever by renewing the hills that now 

 and then fail ; but that the better way is, ^7 grub it up and 

 new plant it once in about twenty five years. VThe seed of the 

 hop is found to be the strongest part, and care should therefore 

 be taken that they are gathered so soon that these will not 

 fall out while gathering. 



The long white hop is preferred, but care should be taken 

 that they are all of one kind, for of difterent sorts some may 

 ripen quicker than others. When bog meadows are w'ell 

 drained, hops will grow well on them. The culture of hops, 

 where proper attention has been paid to it, has been found to 

 be very profitable ; at the prices tlicy have commanded in this 

 country, an acre of them has produced from two to three hun- 

 dred dollars, and the whole expence per acre for raising them 

 cannot be supposed in any instance, to exceed one hundred 

 dollars ; and they have always been found a profitable article 

 for exportation. Rut very considerable quantities are wanted 

 for our breweries at home ; and they are of considerable impor- 

 tance, as a necessary article in the beer made for domestic 

 uses, wiiich is an excellent beverage, and a fine substitute for 

 cider. 



