68 



THE HOP. 



lished yard, as that space is filled with large bed roots, 

 and deep culture cuts them off, which is very injurious. 

 I have seen them 16 feet long in my own yard. Otten- 

 heimer says that for the Pacific coast, plowing deep 

 when setting out the yards is right, but afterward it is 

 injurious to subsoil each spring/' 



The tendency is also to slight the surface plowing 

 for a new hop yard, just as thorough working of the 

 soil preparatory to seeding down to grass for several 

 years is too commonly neglected. While experts dif- 

 fer as to the propriety of putting the plow into a yard 

 once it is well established, every intelligent grower 

 realizes that before the roots are set affords the best 

 chance to thoroughly work the soil. The English 

 realize this and practice accordingly in preparing for 

 hops, just as they do in preparing for the permanent 

 meadows for which old England is famous. The Ger- 

 mans are not so particular. 



FIG. 27. PICKING HOPS IN KENT, ENGLAND. 



