

206 CULTIVATION OF PLANTS. 



tain two joints or buds. They are frequently planted in a gar- 

 den for a season, before being set in a plantation. 



Forming plantations of hops preparation of the ground, 

 culture, fyc. Col. SAMUEL PEABODY,of Amherst, New Hamp- 

 shire, has been a successful cultivator of the hop for the last 

 twenty years. He furnished by request the following account 

 of his method of forming his plantation of hops, their culture, 

 &c. &c.* It is the best account we have yet seen fully sus- 

 taining that of Mr. BLANCHARD! and coming from a practical 

 and intelligent cultivator of twenty years successive experience 

 in its culture, we think we cannot do our readers a greater ser- 

 vice than by incorporating it in this work. 



I cultivate the various farinaceous productions of New England, like most 

 farmers. But hops constitute my principal crop. I have picked twentv suc- 

 cessive crops of that vegetable. I here give a list of the quantity raised By me 

 in the following years. In the year 1829, 800 pounds 1830, 3,400 1831 , 4,565 

 1832, 6,4001833, 11,5601834, 11,0001835, 5,297 1836, 13,540 1837, 

 11,1001838, 7,824. Total, 75,486 pounds. In some years I have, averaging 

 the whole, raised more than two pounds to the hill, but oftener less. The years 

 1835 and 1838 were very unfavourable, and the crops suffered much. This 

 crop like others is variable. It is impossible to calculate with much accuracy 

 beforehand the quantity to be raised from a given number of hills. But it may 

 be done with more certainty, than upon corn or wheat. In 1838 the drought 

 bore very hard and stinted the crop more than others. 



The first thing to be attended to is the poles. The best species of trees are the 

 cedar, spruce, hemlock and white pine white birch and hard wood are some- 

 times used, when those named are scarce; but they are poor things. The poles 

 should be cut in the winter, drawn home and shaved all over lightly, except 

 near the top, and sharpened ready for use. 



The soil for hops may be good, dark, deep, rich loam, or it may be light, 

 sandy and poor. Like other crops, however, similarly situated, the crop of 

 hops will accordingly be heavy or light. I have tried different kinds of soil, 

 even to the extreme. Of late years, I have used good intervale, and my reward 

 has corresponded. In short, good corn ground is good hop ground. 



The preparation of the ground is no difficult matter. Prepare a piece well 

 for Indian corn, and it is prepared for hops. Some people are very particular 

 in lining out their rows of hops, while others strike out the ground with a 

 horse and plough, judging of distances by the eye. In striking out my rows, 

 I generally use a pole to be drawn by two men; to which pole is attached three 

 or four draft chains, placed at half the distance of hop hills. Because every 

 other row each way is to be planted the first year with the seed of some other 

 crop, generally Indian corn. As hops become more or less troublesome by 

 rising or growing up very inconveniently above the level of the field, I there- 

 fore, of late, take pains to sink my hills, where the ground is sufficiently dry 

 to admit of it. This is done by men, who take each a sharp steel shovel, and 

 at every cross of the chain where the hop is to be planted, spade down about 

 the length of the blade, and take out the turf and soil, one and a half to two 

 feet square, and lay it on one side. Into these holes I usually put two shovels 

 full of old manure, or good compost. I will just observe, however, that before 

 ploughing, I have of late spread a good coat of manure, which was of course 

 turned under by the plough. Upon the top of this old manure in the hole and 

 near the centre of the hill we drop three cuts of hop roots nine to twelve inches 

 long, and then cover the depth of corn. 



* Farmer's Monthly Visiter, vol. i. page 34. 

 t Complete Farmer, page 150. 



