THE CULTURE OF HOPS. 



CHAPTER L. 

 SPECIAL CROPS. 



HOPS are grown with great profit as a farm crop, w T hen 

 the grower understands the manner of culture, and has suffi- 

 cient perseverance, persistence, and patience, to withstand 

 the numerous accidents and drawbacks which are met with 

 in this business. These are due to the adversity of the sea- 

 son; the diseases which affect the plant; the insects which 

 infest it; and the extraordinary fluctuations of the market 

 caused by the condition of the growing crop, or the gam- 

 bling propensities of the dealers who handle it after it leaves 

 the farmers hands; or of the speculators who never see it 

 but yet venture thousands of dollars in attempts to raise or 

 lower the market value of it. 



Hops are grown of the best quality on a rich clay loam 

 abounding in limestone, and well supplied with decomposed 

 vegetable matter. They are found growing naturally in 

 swamps or wet soil that is rich in organic matter; but un- 

 der cultivation will thrive in any soil that is made rich 

 and is well cultivated. They are chiefly grown in central 

 New York; in southern Wisconsin; Oregon; and Califor- 

 nia; and in these localities are found occasionally in fields 

 of 10, 20, and even up to 100 acres in. California. A 5 

 acre hop field is however as much as the average, for this 

 crop costs a large amount in the preparation and furnish- 

 ing of the land, and for the drying kilns, and a good deal 

 of labor in its cultivation. 



The method of culture is as follows. The land chosen 

 is thoroughly well prepared and is laid out with furrows 7 

 feet apart each way. At the intersections, a hill is made, 

 and enriched with well decayed manure. At each hill, 

 two or three sets, or root cuttings, are planted, about a foot 

 apart; and in the center of the hill room is left for planting 

 a long stout pole 14 or 16 feet long for the vines to climb 



