174 HOPS. 



can be omitted for a couple of years, or even longer, without 

 decreasing the crop ; in fact, under these circumstances, 

 the application of compost , for several years in succession 

 is advisable, in view of the attainment of higher quality 

 in the cones. Furthermore, in such event, it would be 

 well to consider whether artificial manures are not prefer- 

 able to compost, because of their greater portability. 



In manuring hops with compost the best time to apply 

 the same is — like stall manure — immediately after cutting, 

 though, instead of spreading' it in a ring around the stock, 

 the compost is mixed with soil, and then used to cover up 

 the stock again. 



All kinds of farm waste, such as sweepings, spoilt 

 fodder, ashes, weeds gathered before seeding, ditch clean- 

 ings, road sweepings, leaves, etc., are suitable for making 

 compost ; and dead hop vines, chopped up small, may also 

 be added. The various materials are heaped uji in layers 

 alternating with soil, and kept moist by occasional sprink- 

 ling with water, or, better still, liquid manure. An addi- 

 tion of lime is particularly efficacious and remunerative, 

 and it is highly advisable to plant the heap with cucumbers 

 or the hke, as a protection against undue dryness. To 

 ensure intimacy and uniformity of admixture of the various 

 materials in the compost the heaps should be frequently 

 turned, in any case not less than twice a year.^ It is 

 likewise very important to clear the heap of weeds before 

 the latter have time to seed, since, if this precaution be 

 neglected, the weed seeds find their way with the compost 

 on to the land, the results being very unpleasantly felt in 

 the subsequent tillage operations in the hop garden. As a 



1 A. Adorno, of Kaltenberg-Tettnang, advises the author that he prepares 

 for his hop gardens a compost of stall manure, shoddy dust, and soil, and 

 always obtains very good results. 



