Cultivation of Arable Land.- Hops Drying of Q aft for. 24^ 



drying malt. It may be of different dimenfions, as twelve, fourteen, or fixtcerr 

 feet fquare ; and have a fuitable proportion preferved between the height and&amp;gt; 

 breadth and the fides of the Meddle that contains the fire: thus, where the kiln is 

 twelve feet fquare on the top, it mould be eigl r frrr :n height from the fire ; t and 

 the fteddle fix feet and a half fquare. It is covered with hair cloth, on which the- 

 hops are fpread out, in an even manner, to the depth of from fix or feven, to eiaht, 

 ten, or twelve inches, according as the feafon is more dry or moid, and the hops are 

 more or Icfs advanced in ripenefs. Before the hops are laid upon the kiln it mould 

 be rendered a little warm, and the heat afterwards kept up by a regular gentle fire, 

 increafing it gradually till, by the heat of the kiln and the warmth of the hops, ic 

 is found to have attained the proper height. An even d eady degree of heat mould 

 then be preferved for eight, ten, or more hours, according to the date of the hops- 

 at the time they are applied ; by which the ends of the hop dems become in a per 

 fectly fhrivelled and dry condition j which, with that of their rattling o j; being 

 touched, is the principal- indication that they have attained the proper ftate oO 

 dryncfs. Much practical experience is however neceflary to conduct the procefe- 

 with the bed effect, and in the mod economical manner in refpect to fuel. 



Where what is termed a cockle oaft is made ufe of, fea coal is modly employed^ 

 as fuel, a chaldron being confidered the proper allowance-to a load of hops. But 

 where hair kilns are in ufe, as the fmoke of that fort of coal would be injurious, 

 charcoal is had recourfe to for the purpofe, which in Kent is generally bought for 

 about fifty millings the load, which confirts of fifty Hicks.* 



After the drying has been properly performedi the hops are removed&quot; from the 

 kiln, by means of a fhovel, into an adjoining room constructed for the purpofe, 

 which is called thejlowage room. In this chamber they are kept five, or fix, or 

 more days, according to circumdances, before they are in a proper condition to be 

 put into the bags; as when they are bagged too foon they are brittle, and do not: 

 drawfo good a fample, or weigh fo heavy. They fnould always remain fo long; 

 as to attain a tolerable degree of toughnefs, which may be eafily judged of by the 

 feel. 



For the convenience of bagging the hops, a round hole -or trap is prepared ii 

 the floor of the dowage room,, exactly equal in -fize to that of the mouth of the 

 bag, on which a frame. of wood is placed,, to which the edges of the opening, of the 

 bag are fecurcly attached all round. A very fmall handful of hops being then tied! 

 firmly in each of the lower corners, the bag i s let fail below, .and a-perfon termed- 



* Synopfis of 



Li z 



