72 THE HOP. 



compact soils horse manure is best, because of its me- 

 chanical effect in lightening the soil as well as furnish- 

 ing food to the plant. Sheep manure is excellent for 

 sandy soils. Ordinary mixed stable manure is plowed 

 under lightly in starting a new yard, when the soil is 

 at all poor. The amount should be all one can possi- 

 bly afford, and then a little more; no danger of getting 

 on too much before planting a new yard. In New 

 York from 10 to 20 tons per acre of stable manure are 

 applied in starting a new yard, in England 15 to 25 

 tons, and in Germany eight to 18 tons. 



After the yard is established, fall application of 

 stable manure is best on most soils. The common prac- 

 tice is to put a shovelful or two of manure on top of 

 each hill in late autumn, to be scattered about the hill 

 and worked into the soil at first grubbing in spring. 

 Green (fresh) manure should not be used, as it holds the 

 frost too long in spring, will not work readily into the 

 soil, and interferes with cultivation. In cold regions 

 this protects against winterkilling, and in case of 

 drouth protects the roots by retaining moisture. The 

 manure washes down about the roots and aids a 

 prompt and early start, but if cold weather follows, this 

 may result in stopping the flow of sap and arresting 

 the growth of the plant. On very sandy soils, such 

 dressings may be quite exhausted before the plant blos- 

 soms out, and the vine has no reserve of fertility with 

 which to develop its hops. 



In addition to this autumn manuring on the hills, 

 a dressing of manure broadcast is highly recommended, 

 to be worked into the soil at the first cultivating. If 

 the soil is very light and leachy, broadcast the manure 

 in early spring, but if fairly strong loam, midwinter 

 spreading is best. In Germany a liberal mulch of 

 strawy manure is often applied after cultivating is fin- 

 ished, especially on drouthy lands. Its preservation 

 of soil moisture is quite as useful as the food it fur- 



