256 HOPS. 



change of crop is desired, other plants are grown on the 

 ground for a few years before turning it into a hop garden 

 again. 



Bearing in mind the heavy expense of a new garden, 

 it is evident that, even when the yield begins to decline, one 

 should not be in too great a hurry to begin grubbing up. 

 Should it be decided to discontinue hop-growing and sub- 

 stitute fruit trees, Strebel's recommendation to plant young 

 trees in the garden several years before the change is actually 

 effected certainly merits consideration. 



So far as experience goes, hops may be cultivated on 

 the same ground for an illimitable period, as is the case in 

 the Spalt district, so that a rotation of crops is unnecessary. 

 If, however, for any reason it is considered desirable to leave 

 an interval between the grubbing up of a garden and its 

 replanting with hops, the best change to make is by grow- 

 ing hoed crops, pulse or fodder plants. The selection of 

 the most suitable individuals of these groups must naturally 

 be influenced by local considerations. In Wiirtemburg the 

 following rotation is often adopted : Hops (average eighteen 

 years), wheat, potatoes, barley, clover, hops. 



Cost of Peodtjction, Yield and Selling Prices. 



The expenses of producing the hop crop, which naturally 

 differ, according to the method of cultivation and existing 

 economic conditions, in every hop district and even for 

 every grower, consist of : — 



1. The capital outlay in starting the garden, with the 

 interest on this outlay, distributed over the whole life of 

 the garden ; and 



2. The current working expenses incurred every year. 

 Where the cost of labour, the value of the soil, and the 



price of poles, etc., are known quantities there is little 



