Manar/ement of Hopa. 
535 
Although I have not named all the varieties of soils that hops 
are and may be grown on, I have endeavoured, by stating the 
principal soils on which hops are grown in the counties ot Kent 
and Sussex, to show that they may be grown on as great a variety 
as wheat or any other grain ; and that the deeper and richer the 
soil, as with grain, the greater will be the produce, and generally 
better the quality of it. 
The deep alluvial soils, or mixed with loam, which are calcu- 
lated only to grow the coarser varieties, are the most productive; 
30 cwt. and even two tons per acre have been sometimes grown 
on these soils : and it is in the eastern part of Sussex and some 
adjoining parts of Kent, where generally the largest crops are 
grown. The plant will not continue so long here as on the rag- 
stone or chalk formation in Kent, although there are instances 
in Sussex of hop-grounds being in plant 40 or more years : on a 
dry loamy soil on a porous sandy rock, from 12 to 20 years is 
a fair average of years that the plant here stands good ; and on 
wet clayey soils, where not well drained, 8 to 10, or at most 12 
years. Before I leave the subject of soils, I should state that 
where old meadow or pasture land can be had for planting hops, 
it is in all cases most desirable, but the sward should not be pared 
and burnt, as would be advisable for green and corn crops ; but 
be turned into the ground, so as gradually to decay, and become, 
as it does, food for the hop-plant. The next to be considered is 
Situations. 
The site of a hop-ground is of some importance, and a field 
sloping to the north is best, being more screened from the south- 
west winds, which are the most prevailing during the time of the 
growth ; that aspect has more hours of sunshine than a south one, 
and not so scorching a heat, the mid-day sun not striking so directly 
upon it as on a south aspect. Flat low lands, although the best 
land, and generally the most productive and best sheltered from 
wind, are more subject to be blighted by the aphis than higher 
and more exposed situations ; if on very high hills, the climate is 
too cold, and the crop small, as on the top of the chalk range in 
Kent ; but the quality is good and seldom blighted. 
Pr-eparing the Ground for Planting. 
In all cases, whether old meadow, pasture, or cultivated arable, 
a deep tilth is required, which is obtained either by trenching or 
ploughing, and subsoiling ; the former being the best when well 
executed, the latter being the cheapest and most expeditious. 
Trenching is done by moving the ground two or more spits deep, 
and may be done either by burying the surface soil and bringing 
the under soil to the top, or by loosening and breaking the under 
