CULTIVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE HOP. 45 



taken generally to get sets true of their kind and from a 

 distance. I would rather buy sets at a good price far from 

 home than have those grown near given to me. It is no 

 doubt equally as important as a change of corn for seed. 

 Many planters grow turnips, mangold wurzel, or potatoes 

 amongst their young hops, and I have" seen cabbage and 

 kohl rabi. I think it is wrong to do so, and the old maxim 

 " penny wise and pound foolish " applies well to this practice. 

 I consider anything of the kind I have mentioned planted 

 amongst young hops, besides taking much out of the land, 

 rather encourages grub, wireworm, &c., and hinders cultiva- 

 tion. It is much better to cultivate well, and set traps of 

 slices of mangold wurzel to the hills to catch wireworm, &c., 

 to Have these constantly attended to, and so thoroughly 

 destroy the vermin entrapped. On meadow land not well 

 drained, I should advise its being done after the sticks are 

 set, and previous to planting. On arable land it should be 

 done in the autumn or winter, after the planting. It is most 

 important that the land should be thoroughly and deeply 

 drained. The greater portion of my hop land is drained 5 feet 

 deep. Where the soil would not permit 'of that depth, it is 

 4 feet, and none less. I take it as a rule, land that will not 

 bear deep drainage is not hop land at all. Since the intro- 

 duction of ploughing, planters are more independent of 

 casual labour, which was often bad in quality and expensive. 

 Although I plough a little occasionally, and that only in fine 

 weather, when the land will bear the horses, I much prefer 

 digging. The saving by ploughing is very trifling, if any, 

 when we consider the cost of digging, which, on an average, 

 is about 20s. per acre. I think it wrong to dig young hops 



