892 



Cultivation of the Hop Crop. 



[Jan. , 



the original soil should be of this nature, 'and for this reason 

 freshly-ploughed grass (provided wireworms are controlled) may 

 provide a suitable situation for hops. In other circumstances 

 the fertility may be artificially supplied by the use of dung, 

 dung-substitutes and other artificial manures. 



Another essential condition is adequate drainage ; in the case 

 of hops the water table should not be closer to the surface than 

 80 in. This means that if artificial drainage is necessary the 

 drain pipes should be laid 3 ft. below the general level of the 

 surface. In any case if artificial drainage is required, it should' 

 be carried out before the hops are planted so that the subsoil may 

 be brought into proper shape before the roots of the hops begin 

 to grow. 



Consideration should also be given to the situation of the 

 field in respect of access for carting water for washing or spraying, 

 travelling of pickers, carting hops to the oast, etc. 



Preparation of the Site. — Before any other steps are taken 

 the field should be mapped and a careful plan made, upon which 

 should be recorded not only the sequence of varieties it is pro- 

 posed to plant but also details relating to the type and construc- 

 tion of the wirework contemplated (see Methods of Training 

 Hops*), width and position of roadways, gangways, width of 

 alleys and spacing between plants ; this may need revision as new 

 factors arise, but the existence of such a record in advance helps 

 to prevent foolish omissions v^hen actual planting occurs — omis- 

 sions which can onlv be rectified at considerable expense. 



Mention has already been made of the importance of drainage 

 well in advance of planting ; in close association with this careful 

 attention should be given to the texture of the soil. In prepara- 

 tion for the preceding crops, ploughing should be increased in 

 depth so as to provide a deeper root range for hops when 

 planted; once also during this preliminary period it will be well 

 to subsoil-plough the field, or alternatively use the steam culti- 

 vator to its fullest depth, care being taken that such deep 

 cultivation is undertaken only when the subsoil is sufficiently 

 dry to benefit by it. This deep cultivation, followed by the 

 deep root-growth of the crops, will leave the soil in better 

 condition for th'e growth of the hop roots and will render the 

 drainage much more efficient. 



During this period also the fertihty of the field should be 

 increased by the application of d ung and other organic manure s 



* Mr. Amos will contribute an article on this subject in a later issue of 

 the Journal. 



