CULTIVATION. 257 



difficulty in figuring out the cost of production for a given 

 locality, although there is one item that cannot be accurately 

 expressed in money value, viz., stall manure. This, however, 

 is generally reckoned at the local price. On the other hand, 

 there is considerable uncertainty in the calculation of the 

 net profits of hop-growing, owing to' the wide range of 

 selling prices and the unreliability of the crop ; and it is 

 only when the outgoings have been dedacted from the actual 

 receipts that a true idea is gained. It is thus evident that 

 the results of any single year are insufficient to form a basis 

 for estimating the profit derivable from hop-growing ; and 

 in fact a prolonged experience of at least twenty years' 

 duration is necessary, since it is only by taking the 

 average net profits of a long period that a knowledge of 

 the interest (profit) returned on the capital invested can be, 

 gained. 



In estimating the cost of production, the first thing to^ 

 ascertain is whether the garden is to be poled or worked 

 on the frame system ; and, moreover, one must be fully 

 acquainted with, and take into consideration, all the local 

 factors likely to exercise any influence on the planting 

 and working of the garden. 



Calculations of this kind are often made by taxation 

 officials, practical growers, and theorists ; of course without 

 any concordance in the results, as might be expected from 

 what has been said above. 



Fruwirth, in his work on hop-growing, gives a general 

 scheme which, when the current rates of labour, etc., 

 are inserted, will enable the cost of production to be 

 closely estimated for any given locahty. Taking this 

 scheme as a basis, the calculation may be performed as 

 follows : — 



Cost of planting per acre. 



Trenching by hand to a depth of 23 to 30 inches, 30 to 60 



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