140 THE AMERICAN GARDENED. [Chap 



use it, frequently, to an extent that would drive us 

 from the table. It is propagated from seed, or from 

 offsets : and is sown, or planted, either in spring or 

 fall. For winter-use, the roots are taken up and 

 kept in the dry, as onions are. 



223. GOURD. I do not know any use that it is 

 of. See Pumpkin. 



224. HOP. To range the Hop amongst Veget- 

 ables may appear odd ; but, it is a garden-plant in 

 America, and does give you, if you like to have it, 

 a very good dish for the table. It is wanted to pro- 

 duce its fruit for the making of yeast, or beer, or 

 both ; and, to get good hops, there should be some 

 cultivation. Any bit of a root will grow and be- 

 come a plant. The young plants should be planted 

 in the fall, three or four together in a clump, or hill, 

 and the hills should be from seven to ten feet apart. 

 The first year of planting, put four rods, or little 

 poles, to each hill, and let two vines go up each 

 pole, treading the rest of the vines down to creep 

 about the ground. In a month after the vines be- 

 gin to mount the poles, cut off all the creeping 

 vines ; and draw up a hill of earth against the poles 

 all round, and cover all the crowns of the plants. 

 In short, make a hill a foot high with a flattish top, 

 and then fork up the ground between the hills and 

 break it fine. When weeds begin to appear, hoe 

 the ground clean ; and, at the end of another month 

 draw some more earth up, and make the hill bigger 

 and higher. When the fall comes, cut off the vines 

 that have gone up the pole a foot from the ground ; 

 take down the poles ; dig down the hills, and, with 

 a corn-hoe, open the ground all round the crowns 

 of the plants ; and, before winter sets in, cut all 

 close down to the very crowns, and then cover the 

 .rowns over with earth three or four inches thick, 



