236 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



Meet plot for a hopyard, once found as is told, 

 make thereof account, as of jewel of gold : 



Now dig it and leave it, the sun for to burne, 

 and afterwards fense it, to serue for that turne. 



The hop for his profit, I thus do exalt, 



it strengthened drinke, and fauoureth malt : 



And being wel breued, long kep it will last, 

 and drawing abide, if ye draw not too fast. 



For January. 



If hopyard or orchard, ye mind for to haue, 

 for hop poles and crotches, in lopping go saue : 



Which husbandly saued, may serve at a push, 

 and stop by so hauing, two gapes with a bush. 



Remember thy hopyard, if season be drie, 

 Now dig it and weed it, and so let it lie : 



More fennie the laier, the better his lust, 



more apt to bear hops, when it crumbles like dust. 



For March. 



In March at the furthest, drie season or wet, 

 hop roots so wel chosen, let skilful go set : 



The goeler and yonger, the better I loue, 



wel gutted and pared, the better they proue. 



Some laieth them crossewise, along in the ground, 

 as high as the knee, they do couer up round : 



Some pricke vp a sticke, in the midst of the same, 

 that little round hillocke,the better to frame. 



Some maketh a hollowness halfe a foot deepe, 

 with fower sets in it, set slantwise asleepe : 



One foote from another, in order to lie, 

 and thereon a hillocke, as round as a pie. 



