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XXIX. — On the Best Mode of Managing Hops, in its various 
branches. By Samuel Rutley. 
Prize Essay. 
In presuming to compete with scientific persons and more able 
writers for the Society's prize on the above subject^ it is under 
the impression that a plain practical statement is what is re- 
quired ; and although I may be more prolix in stating my views 
than persons more in the habit of writing would be, T hope — from 
nearly fifty years' practice and experience in the cultivation of 
hops in the counties of Kent and Sussex, and in various parts of 
the former ; and as during the whole of that period a great part 
of" my time has been devoted to it, not confining my observations 
to the results of my own practice only, but extending it to the 
practice of others — I may be able to give some information that 
may be useful to the young and inexperienced planter. 
As no specific directions are given as to what is required from 
the writers of this Essay, as in others, in going into detail, I shall 
adopt that course which I consider would be the most plain, 
straightforward, and intelligible, by commencing with the first 
proceedings in hop-planting, and continuing on in regular course, 
with as little digression as is possible, through its various ra- 
mifications that come under the management of the planter, up 
to the sale of the hops, confining myself strictly to the Society's 
first rule for Essays, stating only as facts what are founded on my 
own experience and observation, referring to other sources only 
by way of analogy. The first thing that will naturally come 
under my consideration is — 
The Soils and Subsoils best adapted for the groicth of Hops. 
Although nearly the whole of the hops grown in this kingdom 
are grown in the following six counties, viz., Kent, Sussex, 
Surrey, Hampshire, Worcestershire, and Herefordshire, and 
principally in the two first named, Kent and Sussex, those two 
counties having grown on an average of the last 30 years more 
than G-7ths, and last year 19-20ths of the whole growth of Eng- 
land ; they are nevertheless capable of being grown to perfection 
on varieties of soils, but deep rich dry soils with porous subsoils 
are the best adapted. All retentive subsoils should be drained 
thoroughly at a depth of at least 4 feet, and from 16 to 48 feet 
distance between drains, as the subsoil may bo more or less 
porous. On wet soils the plant will soon decay if the land is not 
underdrained, although great care may be taken to keep the 
water running off in the winter by open furrows, in every or 
every alternate alley between the rows of hills, for as the soil 
