PLANTING AND CULTURE. 97 



Perfect culture, from grubbing until the crop is 

 laid by, is so important that we cite the various meth- 

 ods in vogue in all sections. 



Washington. Says Hart: "As soon as the shoots 

 appear and are up about 12 inches, commence to train 

 them by tying loosely with hop twine to the poles, nip- 

 ping off all but two vines (some growers prefer only 

 one). If you" find some roots have not sprouted, exam- 

 ine and replace with others at once. This training must 

 be continued until the vines have attained a height of 

 some six feet, and even then, some of them may want 

 training to prevent them breaking off. If the short 

 pole system is in operation, you must now twine the 

 yard, immediately after the second training, when vines 

 are about four feet high. Long poles are not twined. 

 Immediately after the first training, take a steady, gen- 

 tle horse, with an eight-inch plow (this is large enough 

 for the first time), and run a furrow on each side of the 

 hills about one foot from the poles, throwing the soil 

 from the hills, and then repeat on the lines of poles 

 across on each side. 



"This done, then by hand and a pronged hoe, work 

 around the square untouched by the plowing at the foot 

 of each pole, being careful to use a tool w r hich will not 

 hurt the root. This will prevent weeds growing around 

 the vine. Next, take a steady, reliable team, and 

 with a spring-tooth harrow cultivate between the rows, 

 both ways, and thus thoroughly loosen the soil. This 

 should be done twice during the growth of the vine to 

 the top of the pole or peg. Now, take your team and 

 plow up to the hills on each side and both ways and 

 then follow both ways with a drag-tooth harrow. By 

 this time your vines will be at the top of the short poles 

 or to the peg of the long poles, and it is near time to 

 commence spraying. When the hops are in the burr 

 and forming, the yards should be gone over twice with 

 the spring-tooth harrow and both ways to keep down 

 the weeds." 7 



