CULTIVATION AND MANAG 



tips of the poles get together as the weight of the bine and 

 hops increase, to the injury of the crop and sample. Poles 

 should he set firmly in the ground, nearly upright, and the 

 width of plant and length of pole should regulate the distance 

 apart at the bottom, so that the tops are an equal distance 

 apart. It is clear by poling upon this plan every pole gets 

 equal benefit f Am sun and air, which they do not when 

 netted together and housed, as they frequently are. Dipping 

 gives us the opportunity of early poling, which I consider a 

 great advantage. Frost is not so likely to injure the young 

 bines, and the best bines are not bruised and broken as they 

 often are when poled late. All planted hops should have 

 short poles to them : they root much stronger than if allowed 

 to run the ground or twisted up, as was the practice formerly. 

 The new modes of training hops I am not in favour of. The 

 string system is being gradually discontinued, and Coley's 

 inclined system (an improvement upon the string) I do not 

 think will come into general use. I need not dwell upon the 

 cultivation after poling, but simply remark I am not an 

 advocate for deep nidgeting until after the first week in July ; 

 after that to nidget with one horse shallow, and frequently. 

 I approve of the plan of striking and raking off before 

 picking, because the land is firmer after picking, and resists 

 the heavy rains of winter in fact, is altogether in a better 

 state than when autumn striking is resorted to. Manures 

 should be put generally all over the ground, except in a few 

 instances, such as weak plants, or when hops from some 

 cause require an immediate stimulant. In that case rapedust 

 or some kind of artificial manure may be chopped in round 

 the hill to advantage, but I would not advise its being put 



