400 THE HOP CROP. 



A sample was also submitted to organic analysis, in 

 order to determine the percentage of nitrogen the different 

 parts contained, and thus see what quantities the crop had 

 assimilated during its growth. The results are thus 

 given: 



These results show that the crop, the subject of the 

 experiment, removed from the soil 5 6 '44 Ibs. of nitrogen in 

 the flowers (hops), 49 Ibs. in the leaves, and 23 '86 Ibs. in 

 the stem or bine, or an aggregate quantity of no less than 

 129-3 Ibs. to the acre. 



Assuming that good Peruvian guano averages 14 per 

 cent, of nitrogen in its composition, it would require rather 

 more than 9 cwts. to replace this important constituent 

 alone, the hops taking about 4 cwts., the leaves about 

 3^ cwts., and the bines more than 1 J cwt. If we look to 

 the inorganic analyses, we find also that of the two most 

 important substances, potash and phosphoric acid, the pro- 

 portion appropriated by the powers is 69 '27 Ibs. of potash 

 and 29'53 Ibs. of phosphoric acid, while the leaves and 

 bine carry off 109 '82 Ibs. of potash and 5576 Ibs. of phos- 

 phoric acid. Now, as only one of these three portions of 

 the plant, the flowers or hops, has any market value, it is 

 clearly the interest of the grower to take care that the 

 other portions be carefully preserved and duly returned 

 to the soil, as by so doing he will greatly economize his 

 means, and be able to sustain the normal fertility of his 

 ground at a less expenditure for artificial manures. 



