96 



THE HOP. 



which are most pernicious, especially if the sun shines 

 on the vines while they are covered with dew. On the 

 other hand, if the plants are dressed very late, and cold, 

 dry weather comes in May, as is sometimes the case, 

 the bines get behind and cannot make up for lost time. 

 But most planters now hold that moderately late is bet- 

 ter than too early dressing. Care must be taken in 



FIG. 43. YARD PEGGED OUT FOR PLANTING. 



dressing not to cut the stocks too low, thus getting them 

 too much below the ground level, nor too high, so that 

 they are much above it. The dressing knife should 

 be. kept very sharp to give a clean cut, as in all prun- 

 ing." While this advice is good for England, Europe 

 and eastern United States, on the coast we prefer to 

 grub early, owing to the fact that we have not the ex- 

 treme cold or heat that is liable to injure the young 

 shoot. 



