46 CULTIVATION* AND MANAGEMENT OF THE HOP. 



the first winter after planting, until after they are poled. 

 I have seen considerable injury done by digging too closely 

 to the hills, and many sets and even hills dug up entirely. 

 It is best to get the poles stocked and the manure carted 

 early on the young ground. At the beginning of March or 

 before, if the weather is favourable, the dead bine should be 

 cut off and the hill cleared of all weeds. About the third 

 week in March the poling should commence, and the digging 

 immediately follow. The dipping or creosoting of hop poles 

 has caused a great change in our system of poling. Large 

 14-foot poles are no longer necessary, except in a very few 

 instances. Moderate-sized well-cut 13 -foot poles are found to 

 be sufficient for Colegates and Goldings. Jones's, instead of 

 taking the refuse from other grounds of very uneven length, 

 varying from 7 feet to about 12 feet, are now poled with 

 nearly the same degree of uniformity as other kinds. Greater 

 care is now required in arranging the poles to the ground 

 than formerly. It is now easy to over-pole, which I have 

 seen frequently done, much to the injury of the planter ; but 

 under the old system the sharpening down would generally 

 obviate that danger. Many growers dip their poles without 

 being scraped. I do not approve of the plan, as the bark 

 must hinder to a great extent the creosote entering the pole. 

 It is very doubtful economy, as the cost for scraping 3d. 

 per hundred for small bundles, and 4cZ. for large is very 

 trifling. It is very important to have the poling done well ; 

 whether the work is well done or indifferently done, the 

 difference is of considerable weight per acre. It is often the 

 practice to crowd the poles too near the hill, in which case 

 after they are put up they are in too slanting a direction, the 



