886 



Hop Cultivation. 



[FEB, 



that applied to other farm crops. At the same time, care 

 should be taken that the manuring (especially as regards 

 nitrogenous manures) is not overdone, because this will lead 

 to the production of rank sappy bine, which is readily attacked 

 by mould, is a very suitable feeding-ground for aphides, and 

 tends to produce thin and low-quality hops. 



Experiments* carried out over a number of years by Wye 

 .College in different parts of Kent and Surrey have shown 

 that the hop (unlike many other farm crops) is a general or 

 all-round feeder, and has no special requirements for any one 

 of the elements of plant food. The problem of manuring any 

 hop garden, therefore, is mainly concerned with the question : 

 What elements of plant food are deficient in the particular 

 soil upon which the hops are being grown ? 



Nitrogen and Organic Matter. — These are classed together 

 'because, for the most part, manures containing nitrogen 

 contain organic matter at the same time; nitrate of soda and 

 .ammonium sulphate are notable exceptions. 



In the growth of all plants the supply of nitrogen is mainly 

 concerned with the production of foliage; insufficient nitrogen 

 An the soil will lead to an insufficient growth of bine, and 

 -excess of nitrogen will lead to excess of sappy bine. 



All hop gardens require an annual dressing of nitrogen, 

 and this is usually supplied by carting out 15-20 tons of 

 dung per acre yearly during the autumn and winter months. 

 If the supply of dung on the farm is not sufficient to manure 

 all the hops at this rate the deficit is made good by applying 

 1-2 tons per acre of shoddy or some other bulky nitrogenous 

 and organic manure. 



In addition to this winter dressing, a spring dressing of 

 5 or 6 cwt. of guano or meat meal, or 1 or 2 cwt. of sulphate 

 of ammonia or nitrate of soda, is applied in May or June, 

 particularly if the hops for any reason start to grow badly 

 or if they receive a check in any way. 



Some growers manure their hops still later in the year — in 

 July, but it is doubtful whether this is a wise plan, as it is 

 likely to delay ripening and encourage disease. 



Phosphates. — The above-quoted experiments carried out 

 by Wye College show that upon nearly all soils hops respond 



* A. D. Hall, lournat ' of the South- Eastern Agricultural College, 1902. 



