SETTING OUT THE GKOUND. 369 



Where the soil is of a very fertile character, these dis- 

 tances are frequently exceeded; instances exist of very 

 productive grounds set at 9 feet distances apart: this 

 point should always be determined by the conditions 

 soil, climate, and variety of each particular case. 



In setting out the ground, the ordinary form of marker, 

 fixed at the given breadth, may be used, or in the absence 

 of this the plough is a good substitute ; the ground, previ- 

 ously of course properly prepared, and in good tilth, is then . 

 passed over by the marker the second time, at right angles 

 to the first, the points where the lines cross each other being 

 the sites for the " hills/' When the plough is used, a light 

 furrow drawn at the same distances gives the same indica- 

 tions, and the formation of the "hills" should be at once 

 proceeded with. This is always done by manual labour ; 

 a hole from 18 to 24* inches square, and about 12 to 15 

 inches deep, is dug, and some good, well-rotted dung, 

 mixed up with some of the soil into a sort of compost, is 

 laid in and covered up with the remaining portion of the 

 soil, which, by the additional material given to it, rises 

 above the surface in the form of a small hillock. On this 

 raised spot the "sets" or "cuttings" are planted; five are 

 generally allotted to each, the "sets" requiring more 

 careful handling and arranging in the soil than the " cut- 

 tings,"and both being placed so that they shall incline 

 towards the centre rather than outwards. After they are 

 planted they require constant watching, especially if the 

 soil be not in good tilth, or the weather be dry and cold ; 

 the surface, too, requires to be kept perfectly clean and 

 frequently stirred. Where "cuttings" have been used, it 

 is very customary to take an intercalary crop of potatoes, 

 mangold, carrots, or cabbages, in order to occupy profitably 

 the wide intervals between the hops, and thus help to 

 meet the charges of rent, &c., of the first always an 

 unproductive year. This practice, however, should not 



