320 THE CULTURE OF FARM CROPS. 



beats off the fruit; and dry weather at the setting of the- 

 cones, decreases the produce. On the other hand, when all 

 the favoring circumstances tend to make a large yield of 

 fine hops, ihe prices are so low as to render the crop almost 

 wholly unprofitable. Nevertheless, on an average of sea- 

 sons, the hop grower who well understands his business, 

 gives close attention and care to it, and at the same time 

 has "other eggs in his basket" and does not depend upon 

 this crop alone, always has a satisfactory reward for his 

 labor; and some years, is repaid in a most handsome and 

 profuse manner for his care and skill. 



The hops are picked when the yellow, bitter powder 

 the lupulin, or extractive principle of the flower appears 

 within the scales, and can be beaten out from them w r hen 

 the flower is dry. The picking is hurried forward as fast 

 as possible, and as the hops are picked they are dried in 

 kilns, upon wire gauze doors under which a large stove is 

 kept heated. When dry, the hops are packed in bags of 

 about 180 to 200 Ibs. for sale. As they lose their fragrance 

 and strength by age, they rapidly depreciate by keeping;. 

 and a year old hops are of but little value. 



The spent hops from the brewery are an excellent man- 

 ure, when decomposed in a compost, and should never be 

 neglected by farmers or hop growers who can procure them 

 conveniently. 



CABBAGES are an excellent feeding crop, especially for 

 sheep, and are largely grown also for sale in the markets of 

 towns and villages. This crop is subject to all the require- 

 ments and necessities of a root crop, and can be grown in a 

 rotation in the place of turnips, or ruta bagas, or other roots. 

 As it needs good manuring and clean culture, and also yields 

 a very large quantity of useful fodder or salable produce 

 24 tons per acre is a fair yield it is profitably grown be- 

 tween two grain crops. An advantage in this crop is that 

 early potatoes may be taken before it, and thus two crops 

 grown in one season and both are productive and profitable. 



The land is planted with the first crop as early as possi- 

 ble, and is cultivated often so as to hurry it through early 



