f 42 Cultivation of Arable Land. Hops Drying ofQaftfor* 



ing together in their green moift ftate; as where this is the cafe they are often 

 jiable, especially when the weather is warm, to be much damaged, both in colour 

 .and ilivour, in the courfe of a few hours, by the heat which they take on. For 

 rthis rcafon, it is neccffary to keep the oajl or kiln conftantly at work, both night 

 snd day, during die time of picking. The number of pickers mould therefore 

 be as nearly as pofliblc, proportioned to the quantity of hops that can be dried off. 

 i&amp;gt;y the oaft. And where, from the nature of the feafon or other caufes, the undried 

 ,!iops are f offered to accumulate, they fhould always be placed only a few together, 

 v. ithout being clofel.y packed. 



In cafes where the crops are.-pretty abundant, a diligent picker will feparate from 

 eight to ten bumels a day, which, when dried, may weigh about one hundred 

 veight. Jt is-ufual in many places to let the picking of this crop by the bufhel. 

 The price .-is variable according to the abundance or fcarcity of .labourers. From 

 fixteen to twenty expert pickers will be neceffary, in favourable feafons, and where 

 the produce is rather abundant, to keep an oaft at work that is capable of drying off 

 .eighty bumels at each meafuring.* 



Befidcs the pole-puller and pickers, another perfon will be xequifite in the hop 

 plantation, in order to pick up the fcattered branches of the binds, and convey the 

 produce to the ki!n. A boy is in general employed in this bufinefs, who, from 

 the nature of his work, is commonly called the poke boy. The conveyance of the 

 iiops is accomplished by means of a cart, horfe, or hand-labour, according to the 

 ciifbnce of the plantationTrom the kiln.. 



The drier, or perfon employed in the kiln, fhould be perfectly acquainted with 

 the bulinefs, .regular and fleady, as much of the planter s profit depends upon this 

 work being properly performed. To this part of the management, as well as 

 that of the pickers, the hop farmer ought to be careful to direct his attention us 

 much as poflible. 



The wages of the different perfons engaged in thefe operations are always con- 

 fiderably influenced by local and other circumftances. In Kent, before the late 

 advances in the price of all forts of farm-labour, it was ufual for the pole-pullers to 

 have from eighteen-pence to two Ihillings the day 4 with frnall beer ; the driers half a 

 crown, with an unlimited allowance of both beer and fpirits; the picJkers from 

 three halfpence to twopence the bufhel, with allowances of fpirits, &;c. Thefe wages, 

 however, at prcfent are greatly advanced. 



Jhe.ftru#ure of the .hop kiln, or oajl&amp;gt; is not very different from that employed in. 



* Synapfis of Hufbandry. 



