PLANTING AND CULTURE. 103 



larger number being where the training is on such a 

 system as Fig. 50. Only the strongest vines should 

 be tied up, the others being buried (not pulled up), 

 though one or two may be left for reserve. The leaves 

 on these buried vines will rot in a few days, making 

 manure, and the vines will make cheaper food for the 

 grub than those running up the pole. These buried 

 vines throw out small roots, and help to feed the plant, 

 and may furnish sets the next year. The yard must be 

 looked over every few days to keep the vines well 

 trained up and the heads must be kept free. 



In the Fig. 3 system, when the vines get about 

 eight or 10 inches above the nail, divide them and 

 place two on each string and two up the pole, and then 

 continue training until they get out of reach of the men 

 standing on short stepladders. In the improved 

 trellis system (Fig. 50), the vine has only to be 

 given a few r gentle turns around the strings and there- 

 after winds itself to the top without further assistance 

 a point vastly in favor of this system. 



A few days after the hops are laid by, that is, after 

 the principal cultivation has ceased, the yard should 

 be gone over and all leaves and arms should be cut off 

 up to the height of a person's head. This will let the 

 sun in underneath and will help in a great measure to 

 keep down the ravages of the hop lice, as they first ap- 

 pear on the vines near the ground. In Washington, 

 many growers turn sheep into their yards and let them 

 eat off the leaves as high as they can reach. This is a 

 very cheap method of cleaning the yard underneath, 

 but where sheep cannot be had, a sharp knife must do 

 the work. Flint cautions Californians not to trim off 

 leaves unless foliage is very thick and ground very wet. 



