Cultivation of Arable Land. Hops Stacldngup Poles of. 



After thefe operations have been performed, it will be proper to clear the poles 

 of the binds, and fet them up in Hacks as foon as poflible, unlefs,as isfometimes the 

 cafe, it has been done at the time of picking, as they are apt to fuftain much in 

 jury by remain irrg upon the ground \viththebind upon them. The work is 

 ufually performed by the acre, the poles being piled up into fquare flacks ; 

 thirty or forty poles being fet to each corner, which ihould ftand about twelve feet 

 apart in each direction at the bafe, the tops uniting as clofely as poffible. In this 

 way an opening is formed below, which contributes to dry and preferve the 

 poles. 



At this period all fuch poles as are too fhort, or in any way improper for further 

 ufe, mould be laid afide, in order that fuch of them as are fuitable may be employed 

 in the new plantations ; and that the planter may fully afcertain the proportion 

 of frefh poles that may be neceffary for the following feafon, which it is of great 

 advantage to have provided, brought upon the ground, fet up conveniently in 

 ftacks,and fharpened, when there is leifure in the winter months. The points of the 

 old ones may alfo be put in order at the fame time, and nothing be thus left to 

 interrupt the bufinefs of poling at the proper feafon. The beft poles, which are 

 thofeof am, chefnut, and willow, of the length of from eighteen to twenty-four 

 feet, will fcldom lafl longer than fix or feven years ; and thofe of an inferior kind, 

 as from beech, maple, oak, &c. not nearly fo long. The bark is fhaved off all 

 the forts except thofe of the am kind, (in which it feparates of its own accord in 

 the fecond year,J in order to prevent their being deftroyed by worms lodging in 

 them. 



After the poles have been flripped and Hacked up, the bind fhould be cleared 

 away,which,in fome diflricls, is done by tying it up into bavins or fmall bundles 

 when perfectly dry, and putting it in Macks, fheds, or other convenient places, for the 

 purpofe of fuel in ovens, &c. This work is performed at the rate of about fixpencc 

 the hundred. In others it is burnt upon the ground; and, in fome, the labourers 

 are permitted to take it home for their own ufe. But whatever method 

 is adopted, it fhould invariably be removed, to prevent its interfering with the fu 

 ture digging of the plantation, which is the next operation to be performed.* 



This fhould be executed as early as poflible in the autumn or winter months, in 

 order that the land may have the full influence of the frolls. The work fhould be 

 performed in a dry feafon, and be accomplifhed with as much expedition as pof- 



* Synopfis of Hufbandry, 



