728 = 462 
T7ie Cultivation of Hops. 
covered over with a little fine earth. Poling is done direct 
after this, and is usually finished by the beginning of the 1: 
week in April. When the poles have been set up, the grou 
between the rows is cultivated deeply with harrows (drawn 
one or two horses), called nidgetts, with one wheel and handl 
and with broad duck-footed tines ; and the space round the hi 
is dug by hand and hoed with plate and pronged hoes to destr 
the weeds and to break the surface. Poling is performed 
men who make the holes with a short iron pitcher, and tbri 
the well-sharpened poles firmly to the end of the holes by c 
strenuous, well-directed effort. Two, three, and even four po 
are put to each hill, varying in size from 10 feet to 18 feet 
length according to the sorts of hops and the quality of the s( 
The poles are set up so that each one may overshadow the othi 
as little as possible. In the best hop-grounds of Kent t 
or three poles, 16 feet long, are usually put to Goldings a 
Colegates. Grape hops are generally poled with three po 
12 feet in length ; and Jones' have three or four poles from 
to 12 feet in length. Hop-growers in Hants and Surrey i 
poles 16 feet long for Goldings, and even 18 feet long in 1 
famous " malm " district. They use poles 14, 12, and 10 feet 
length for VVhitebines, Greenbines, and Jones'. 
Woodlands in Poles from 14 to 16 feet long are put to Goldings in Herefoi 
Kent and Sus- shire and Worcestershire, and from 10 to 14 feet to the otl 
hop-po'les "^"^ sorts of hops grown there. Most of the hop-land upon the hea 
clays of Sussex and the Weald of Kent is poled with short po 
varying from 10 to 12 feet in length. A great proportion 
the woodlands of Kent and Sussex is devoted to the growth 
poles for hops, and great attention is paid to their manageme 
In the best of the woodlands, which are called plantations, whi 
the stocks or stubs — chiefly of oak and chestnut — are set in eq 
distant roAvs, the fall occurs every eighth or ninth year and 
worth from 40Z. to 65Z. per acre.* There are also some v< 
good woodlands in Hampshire, whose fall occurs every ten 
eleven years and is worth from AOl. to 50/. per acre. Fir pc 
are also largely grown upon land in Hampshire which v 
formerly waste and desolate heath. Herefordshire and Wore 
tershire hop-growers get poles from Wales and from the bord 
ing counties. Very useful poles are grown in the large wo( 
of Sussex. These are of slow growth and are therefore m 
durable than quickly grown poles. Extensive fir plantati 
have been made in Sussex upon reclaimed moor and wild for 
land, which are ready to cut in about twelve or fourteen yei 
and bring from 50/. to 75/. per acre. Ash and chestnut aie 
* An acre of really good plantation yields about 1000 16-feet 
14-fiot poles; 1000 12-fcet poles ; 500 10 or 11-feet poles; and 200 poles 
stout for hops. 
