Cultivation of Arable L(tnd*--Hops Methods of planting of. 57 



feel: fuccefs in lefs fpace than from fix to feven feet: on good rich foils the latter 

 diftance may be the moft advifable, as the plants will be more at liberty to died: 

 their full growth. In this way there will be a diftance of from eight to nine feet 

 from the centre of the hills. 



The holes are fet out in different ways, according to the particular cuftom or 

 practice of the cultivators; fome making ufe of a line, in which knots are formed 

 at the diftances intended, which is extended the whole length of the plantation, 

 fmall fticks being then thruft down at the knots, and the land meafured eff from 

 thefe by fticks of a proper length; others mark the holes off at once by means of 

 flakes drove down into the ground at fuitable diftances each way : but a more ex 

 peditious method than either of the above is that of ftriking furrows by the plough 

 in different directions of the plantations, at proper diftances, fo as to form a fort of 

 fquares, the holes being made in the angles where the furrows crofs each other. 



In making the pits or holes, the earth is taken out by a fpade or fpud, to the depth 

 of about twelve inches in a circular form, having the diameter of about eighteen 

 inches, the bottom mould being a little ftirred. Thefe are then partially filled with 

 the earthy compoft mentioned above; and the mould that was taken away replaced 

 upon it fo as to make a little riling or hillock. On thefe hillocks feven fets or 

 roots are moftly planted by means of a dibble, one in the middle or top of the hill, 

 and the others around it, at equal diftances, about four or five inches from the fides 

 of the holes. The fets are generally put in to the depth of about two inches in the 

 compoft, and fo as to have the tops wholly covered by the mould on the furface of 

 the hills. Some planters, however, prefer covering them lightly with the fine 

 earth taken from the holes, after they have been planted out in the compoft, to the 

 depth of an inch and a half or two inches. 



Nothing further is now neceffary till about the middle of May, except keeping 

 the ground about the plants clean from weeds; when, from the increafing growth 

 of the young plants, it will be proper to apply an addition of fine mould about 

 them on the hills, which may be fcraped up from the intervals. And in order to 

 check the growth of the young {hoots, and thereby increafe the vigour of the roots, 

 fome twift them together into a fort of knot. Others, however, advife that two 

 fmall fticks, about a couple of yards in length, be fet in each hill in order to direcl: 

 the climbing of the (hoots, three or more being led up each ftick, and tied occa- 

 fionally during the fummer with bafs or fedge. A fecond moulding up will be 

 required about the latter end of July or beginning of Auguft, which is to be per 

 formed in the fame manner as before. 



There is ftill another mode of planting praclifed in fome diftricts where the 



