AUGUST. 227 



boys and girls, who carry to them the poles, 

 covered with all their nodding honours, may 

 match, for objects of interest, the light forms 

 and dark eyes of Italy. Kent, Sussex, and 

 Worcestershire, are the counties most famous 

 for the growth of hops. Considerable quan- 

 tities, however, are cultivated in Nottingham- 

 shire, and are known in commerce by the name 

 of North Clay Hops. Those of Kent rank first 

 in quality. Tusser, who wrote in 1557, gives, 

 in his "Five Hundreth Poyntes of Good Hus- 

 bandrie," the following rules for the choice of a 



HOP GROUND. 



When fansie persuadeth, among other crops, 

 To have for his spending sufficient of hops, 

 Must willingly follow of choices to choose 

 Such lessons approved as skilful do use. 



Ground gravellie, sandie, and mixed with claie 

 Is naughtie for hops, anie maner of waie ; 

 Or if it be mingled with rubbish and stone, 

 For drieness and barrenness, let it alone. 



Choose soile for the hop of the rottenest mould, 

 Well donged and wrought as a garden-plot should ; 

 Not far from the water, but not overflown ; 

 This lesson well noted is meete to be known. 



The sun in the south, or else southlie and west, 

 Is well to the hop, as a welcomed guest ; 

 But wind in the north, or else northerlie east, 

 To the hop, is as ill as a fraie in a feast. 



