336 THE FARMER'S AND 



if the ground is so small that it may be done with a breast 

 plough, the hills should be arranged in a quincunx form 

 whichsoever way is made use of, a stake should be 

 stuck down at all the places where the hills are to be 

 made. 



The kind of Hops. As to the kind of hops, it is necessa- 

 ry to pay some attention ; for if the hop garden be plant- 

 ed with a mixture of several sorts of hops, that ripen 

 at several times, it will cause much trouble, and great 

 inconvenience. The two best sorts are the white and gray 

 kind. The latter is a large square hop ; more hardy ; 

 bears more abundantly ; but ripens later than the former. 

 There is another sort of the white kind, which ripens a 

 week or ten days sooner than the former : but this is a 

 tenderer and less plentiful bearer ; though it has this ad- 

 vantage, that it comes first to market. If there be a sort 

 of hop that is valued and wanted to be increased, the su- 

 perfluous binds should be laid down when the hops are 

 tied, cutting off the tops, and burying them in the hill ; or 

 when the hops are dressed all the cuttings may be saved ; 

 for almost every part will grow and become a good set 

 the next spring. 



Planting. The time for planting hops in Kent, Sussex, 

 and Hertfordshire, England, the greatest hop countries in 

 the world, is either October or March. In Northern Illi- 

 nois, for the spring, early in April will be soon enough, 

 as they do not start so soon ; but the vegetation is more 

 rapid, and will come to maturity sooner here than the 

 other side the Atlantic. The better time to plant is the 

 spring ; and the cuttings can be procured when the hops 

 are dressed. As to the manner of planting the sets, there 

 should be five good sets to every hill, one in the middle, 

 and the rest round about sloping. Let them be pressed 

 close with the hand, and covered with fine earth ; a 

 stick should be placed on each side of the hill to secure it. 



