102 THE HOP. 



reason for this practice has never been given, but prob- 

 ably is to be found in the theory that such root-cut- 

 ting will force a new and fresh growth of rootlets, thus 

 enabling the plant to feed more freely on the nutriment 

 in the soil. Sturtevant applied this reasoning to his 

 root-cutting culture of corn some 20 years ago, but in 

 America, the theory finds few advocates in either the 

 hop yard or corn field. The accepted plan is to give 

 the hop rootlets a fine, mellow bed in which to flourish, 

 with as little molestation as possible. 



TYING UP THE VINES 



As soon as the sprouts are up about three feet, 

 tying up is in order. This is generally done by 



FIG. 47. A HOP GARDEN IN KENT. TWO POLES AND STRING. 



women, who take the best and most thrifty vines and 

 wind them carefully around the pole, going with the 

 sun, and tie them loosely with some soft material 

 matting bast, dried rushes, etc. Tie with a knot like 

 Fig. 46, which will slip before it will cut the vine. The 

 number of vines per pole varies from one to six, the 



