CULTIVATION. 115 



gardens, the physical condition of the soil (especially in 

 respect of water), the quantity of weeds, the local climate, 

 and the situation of the garden, all being factors influencing 

 the task in different ways. Heavy land, for example, has to 

 be far more thoroughly worked than active, sandy loam, any 

 repeated deep stirring and loosening of the latter being 

 rather injurious than otherwise. The activity of such soil 

 is stimulated by working and a rapid decomposition of the 

 humus matter ensues, the result of which is to dry it and 

 lower its power of retaining moisture, thus depreciating two 

 properties which cannot be too carefully preserved and 

 improved in the case of light land. 



Whereas, in dealing with heavy clay, the soil is deeply 

 stirred and rendered friable in order to bring the particles in 

 closer contact with atmospheric oxygen and open it up, it 

 frequently happens that the superficial loosening of light soil 

 is effected for the sole purpose of preventing loss of moisture 

 in the lower strata by interrupting the capillary ascent of the 

 water from below, and thus hindering the drying of the ground. 

 Of course the surface soil dries rapidly, but the inferior layers 

 retain their moisture for a considerable time owing to the 

 protection afforded by the cover sheltering the capillary 

 water from the direct influence of the sun's rays and the 

 wind. 



Dirty ground {i.e., infested with weeds) naturally requires 

 different treatment from land that is clean ; and the result 

 of the multiplicity of influences at work is that hops are not, 

 and indeed cannot be, cultivated in the same way every- 

 where. In some districts flat cultivation is practised, in 

 others the lands are ridged ; more rarely each stock is treated 

 separately and surrounded by a small hillock of soil. 



In the Saaz district, around Schwetzingen, in Southern 

 Styria, Alsace and England cultivation on the flat prevails, 

 or else the stocks are very Hghtly banked up with soil. At 



