xviii INTRODUCTION. 



burning the end put into the ground will be of fervice to 

 prefen'e them. Hops lliould not be poled till the fpring. of 

 the fecond year, and then not till they have been drefled. All 

 that is necelTary for the firfl: year, is to keep the hops free 

 from weeds, and the ground light and mellow, by hoeing 

 often^ and plowing if the yard is large enough to require it. 

 The vines when run to the length of four or five feet, fhould 

 be twilled together to prevent their bearing the firil year, for 

 that would injure them. In the months of March or April 

 of the fecond year, the hills muft be opened, and all the 

 fprouts, or fuckers, cut off within an inch of the old root, 

 but that mufl be left entire with the roots that run down j* 

 then cover the hills with fine earth and manure. The hops 

 mufl be kept free from weeds, and the ground mellow, by 

 hoeing often through the feafon, and hills of earth gradually 

 raifed around the vines during the fummer. The vines mufl 

 be affifled in running on the poles with woolen yarn, fuffering 

 them to run with the fun. 



* Hops muft be drefled every year as foon as the froft will permit. On this being 

 well done, depends in a great meafure the fucccfs of the crop. It is thought by many 

 to be the beft method to manure the bop-yard in the fall, and cover the hills entirely 

 with manure ; afferting, with other advantages, that this prevents the frofts during the 

 winter, from injuring the hop. The truth of this may be determined by experiments 

 ia our climate and country. 



