288 THE SOILS AND CROPS OF THE FARM. 



bent across each other at about right angles, so that 

 the top part of the stalk is horizontal at about the 

 height of a common table. The brush or seed pan- 

 icle is then removed with about eight inches of the 

 stalk. The brush is collected from the table where it 

 is laid by the cutters and taken to the stripper, which 

 removes the seed. The clean brush is then placed to 

 dry in airy sheds arranged for the purpose. At 

 some stage of the process, as found most convenient, 

 the brush is sorted. When dry it is baled and is 

 ready for market. 



The price is very unstable. Variations of from sixty 

 dollars to one hundred and twenty-five dollars per ton 

 have not been unusual in recent years and formerly 

 they were much greater. The production of broom- 

 corn is best engaged in only by those who make it 

 a specialty after having studied the business carefully 

 in all its details. 



HOP. 



The hop (Humulus luputus) came into general cul- 

 tivation in Europe in the Middle Ages. The produc- 

 tion is in general about equal in weight to that of 

 broom- corn, on a somewhat less acreage. Perhaps a 

 thousand pounds is a fair yield and two thousand a 

 large yield per acre. The variation in price is very 

 marked. Some years it is a very profitable crop, in 

 others it does not pay the cost of production. The 

 quality of the hop deteriorates rapidly upon keeping. 



The plant is perennial and hence a yard once set 

 may last many years. There are male and female 

 flowers, borne on separate plants. The female flowers 

 are borne at the base of scales which are arranged 

 in clusters. It is these ripened clusters that are 



