143 



THE AMERICAN GARDENER. [Chap. 



leaves or stalks be amongst them ; and lay them 

 out on a cloth to dry in the sun, taking care that no 

 rain fall upon them, and that they be not out in the 

 dew. — When perfectly dry^ put them, very hardly , 

 and closely pressed, into a new bag, made of thick j 

 Russia linen, such as they make strong trowsers of. ' 

 And, in this state, they will, if necessary, keep good , 

 and fit for use (if kept in a dry place) for twenty , 

 years, or, perhaps, three times twenty. I have used f 

 hops, for brewing, at ten years old, and found them 

 just as efficient as new hops of the same original 

 quality. However, people say that the fresh hops 

 have a more lively flavour ; and, as any stick will, - 

 in America, carry enough to supply a family with 

 hops for the making of yeast-cakes, it must be 

 shocking laziness not to put a few by every year. 



225. HORSE-RADISH. Like every other? 



plant, this bears seed ; but it is best propagated by |t 

 cutting bits of its roots into lengths of two inches, ^ 

 and putting them, spring or fall, into the ground i 

 about a foot deep with a setting stick. They will 

 find their way up the first year ; and the second they k 

 will be fine large roots, if the ground be trenched 

 deeply and made pretty good. Haifa square perch | 

 of ground, planted at a foot apart every way, will,^ 

 if kept clear of weeds, produce enough for a family j 

 that eats roast-beef every day of their lives. Youi 

 must take care that the Horse-radish roots do not j 

 spread, and that bits of them be not flung about the^ 

 ground ; for, when once in, no tillage will getthemp 

 out. They must be, like the Dock and Dandelionjj 

 roots, absolutely burnt by fire, or by a sun that will 

 reduce them to a state of a diy stick; or must be^ 

 taken up and carried away from the spot. Though^ 

 a very valuable and wholesome article of diet, it iS; 

 a most pernicious weed \ 



