80 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



For tins pnrpo?e, decayed barn-yard manure, vege- 

 table mold, gnano, ground bones, woolen rags and 

 waste, are used. The hills are opened and pruned 

 of all runners or cuttings and old vines. The cut- 

 ting oil eliould be between the crown and first 

 joint, as from this j'oint come the most fruitful 

 vines. If cut off too low, the vines will be weakly ; 

 and if too high, they grow strong, hollow, and un- 

 productive. While performing this pruning is a 

 good time to work in a top-dressing of rotten ma- 

 nure, of which the growing vines will stand in need. 



The hills are now ready for setting the poles. 

 These, where practicable, should be of cedar, or 

 some other light wood, not less than twelve feet 

 long, and as much more as convenient, up to 

 twenty. The most experienced hop-growers use 

 two and some even three poles to a hill. The poles 

 should be set firmly in the ground, the taller ones 

 on the windward side of the field, particularly those 

 to which the male plants are trained. After set- 

 ting the poles, the ground should be plowed out 

 both ways, and cultivated, so as to insure freedom 

 from grass and weeds. As the vines commence 

 running, two good strong ones should be trained 

 to a pole and the remainder cut away, so as not to 

 interfere with the growing crop. The field will 

 require hoeing two or three times during the sea- 

 con, and such vines as get loose or do not climb 

 well, should be tied fast. Often the leaves are 

 stripped off to the height of two feet from the 

 ground, the better to admit air and sunshine. 



The hop has its enemies, the most troublesome 

 of which is the tcire-worm or grub in the root. 

 These are destroyed by digging into the hill and 

 killing them. They are trapped by burying slices 

 of potato or turnip near the hill, on which they 

 gatljer, and may be uncovered and killed. There 

 are several varieties of the hop-worm, also the 

 caterpillar, flea beetle, hop-aphis, and other insects, 

 that prey upon the leaves and vines. Lime and 

 unleached ashes are good preventives, and birds 

 and injects are efficient helps in their destruction, 

 and should rather be encouraged tlian driven aw.iy. 

 Careful attention and good culture will do much to 

 overcome all these obstacles. 



Picking and curing the hops are important ope- 

 r-ations. When they liave a general appearance of 

 ripeness, indicated by a brown color, hard seed, 

 and becoming close and firm, they should be picked 

 with all possible despatch. Picking should com- 

 mence near the male plants, wliore the hops are 

 ripest. The vines are cut off at the root, the poles 

 taken up and laid on some frames, so as to be up 

 from the ground and convonieut to the picker. 



While picking, several baskets or light boxes should 

 be at hand, and the hops assorted as they are taken 

 from the vines. Picking should bo done early 

 enough to secure the hops from fi-ost ; and tlie 

 sooner done after commencement, the more profit- 

 able. As fast as gathered, they should be removed 

 to the dry-house, where they are spread on a floor 

 prepared for the purpose, with a moderate heat 

 underneath, and dried, care being taken to hj»ve 

 them of a uniform and light color. Sulphur is 

 sometimes used to give a better and more uniform 

 color, but its use can not be reconmiended. From 

 the dry-house they go into sacks, into which they 

 should be closely packed to exclude air. Good sacks 

 are preferable to thin ones, and some dealers paint 

 them the more effectually to exclude air. 



Much more might be said, and profitably said, 

 upon this subject; but for the present this must 

 sufiice. Perhaps some experienced hop-growers 

 can impart additional and better information to our 

 readers. Will they commuicate the result of their 

 practical experience. 



EEMOVING BOOTS AND BUSHES FEOM LA2«D. 



i 



It often occurs, in clearing up a field, that there 

 are many small roots of trees or shrubs which it is 

 difficult to remove, and which are very much in 

 the way if allowed to remain. This is especially 

 true in clearing some of the oak openings or tim- 

 bered prairies at the West,, and also removing the 

 roots of alders and other small trees from low 

 grounds which it is desirable to bring into cultiva- 

 tion. To facilitate this labor, use is made of an 

 implement known as a root puller, which may be 

 readily understood by the accompanying engraving. 



HOOT FULLER. 



They are constructed of great strength, of the best 

 quality of iron, and perr)rated at the end so that .1 

 chain can be hooked in. These prongs readiiy 

 grapple under the roots of grubs, small trees, &c., 

 and render their removal less difficult than by any 

 other process. They may be constructed by any 

 expert blacksmith, or obtained at the agricultural 

 warehouses. 



