142 THE AMERICAN GARDENER. [Chap, 



leaves or stalks be amongst them ; arid lay them 

 out on a cloth to dry in the sun, taking care that no 

 rain fall upon them, and that they be not out in the 

 dew. When perfectly dry, put them, very hardly 

 and closely pressed, into a new bag, made of thick 

 Russia linen, such as they make strong trowsers of. 

 And, in this state, they will, if necessary, keep good 

 and fit for use (if kept in a dry place) for twenty 

 years, or, perhaps, three times twenty. I have used 

 hops, for brewing, at ten years old, and found them 

 just as efficient as new hops of the same original 

 quality. However, people say that the fresh hops 

 have a more lively flavour ; and, as any stick will, 

 in America, carry enough to supply a family with 

 hops for the making of yeast-cakes, it must be 

 sho-cking laziness not to put a few by every year. 



225. HORSE-RADISH. Like every' other 



plant, this bears seed ; but it is best propagated by 

 cutting bits of its roots into lengths of two inches, 

 and putting them, spring or fall, into the ground 

 about a foot deep with a setting stick. They will 

 find their way up the first year ; and the second they 

 will be fine large roots, if the ground be trenched 

 deeply and made pretty good. Haifa square perch 

 of ground, planted at a foot apart every way, will, 

 if kept clear of weeds, produce enough for a family 

 that eats roast-beef every day of their lives. You 

 must take care that the Horse-radish roots do not 

 spread, and that bits of them be not flung about the 

 ground ; for, when once in, no tillage will get them 

 out. They must be, like the Dock and Dandelion 

 roots, absolutely burnt by fire, or by a sun that will 

 reduce them to a state of a diy stick; or must be 

 taken up and carried away from the spot. Though 

 a very valuable and wholesome article of diet, it is 

 a most pernicious weed 



