28 SYSTEMS OF CULTIVATION. 



CHAPTER III. 



SYSTEMS OF CULTIVATION. 



THE culture of the hop involves a larger outlay than perhaps 

 that of any of our other crops, ranging from 35Z. to 60Z. 

 per acre. The returns from it are exceedingly variable, 

 owing to the extreme liability of the plant to suffer from 

 disease, and range from a little over 1 cwt. to 13 cwt. per acre ; 

 but unlike other crops known to our farmers, the duration of 

 a plantation is almost indefinite, usually lasting, according 

 to the situation and kind of treatment, from two to twenty 

 years ; indeed, some of the hop gardens at Farnham have 

 not been changed for a new stock of plants since the intro- 

 duction of hop culture into England more than 330 years 

 ago. 



The great value of the hop under favourable circumstances 

 illustrates more forcibly the value of what is termed high 

 farming than any other of our cultivated crops, and although 

 its entire tillage and management are exceptional, yet from 

 the examination of hop culture, as practised in some parts of 

 the south of England, the agriculturist may derive many 

 suggestive hints worthy of being acted upon in his ordinary 

 operations. The outlay there in tillage, in manures, and in 

 saving the crop is so large as almost to appear fabulous to 

 those unacquainted with the details of management ; but the 

 enterprising and successful hop grower is aware that it is 



