152 THE COMPLETE FARMER 



when the hops are in full blossom, (about the beginning of 

 August.) 



' After the first crop, it is necessary to open the hops, 

 every spring, by the middle of May ; which is performed by 

 making four furrows between the rows, turning the furrows 

 from the hills, and running th-^ plough as near to the same 

 as possible without injuring the main roots. Then the earth 

 is removed from the roots with a hoe, all the running roots 

 cut in, with a sharp knife, within two inches of the main roots ; 

 the tops of the main roots must also be cut in, and then 

 the hills coveved with earth about two inches deep. 



' The next thing necessary to be done is to set the poles. 

 This should be done as soon as the hop-vines begin to make 

 their appearance. By so doing, much time and labor will 

 be saved in tying up the vines to the poles, as many of the 

 vines will naturally take to the poles. There should not be 

 to exceed two vines to one pole, nor to exceed two poles to 

 one hill, nor any pole to exceed sixteen feet in height. 

 Many yards have been very much injured by letting a greater 

 number of vines gro\v^ on one pole, and almost destroyed by 

 over-poling. 



' Very much depends on paying due attention, in the 

 spring, to select the most thrifty vines, and training them to 

 the poles, which is done by fastening them to the poles with 

 a piece of yarn, slightly twisted together with the thumb and 

 finger. 



' It will be necessary to inspect your hop-yard frequently, 

 until the hops begin to blossom, and " tie up the vines," as 

 it is termed, as they are subject to be blown off the poles by 

 every high wind. 



' As soon as the hops are ripe, which is about the begin- 

 ning of September, they must be immediately gathered, or 

 the crop is lost. The quality of the hops depends consi- 

 derably on their being picked clean from leaves and stems. 

 The labor of picking or gathering the hops may be well per- 

 formed by women and children, having one man to a bin to 

 handle the poles and to inspect the pickers. The bin is a 

 wooden box, about nine feet long, three feet wide, and two 

 and a half feet high, made of thin pine boards, that it may 

 be easily moved over the yard, across which the poles are 

 laid, and into which the hops are picked by hand. Care 

 should be taken, when gathering the hops, to cut the vines 

 two feet from the ground, that the roots may not be injured 

 by bleeding. 



