Management of Hops. 
557 
replace it, is to make heads ; which is done by taking one of the 
best lateral branches (for there will soon be two at every joint 
after the head is broken off) about 4 or 5 feet from the ground, 
cut off what is remaining of the broken bine above it, pull off" 
every other branch on the same bine, tying that around the pole; 
it will go up the pole, throw out lateral branches, and grow hops; 
and all the other branches should be taken off, in order to throw 
all the sap to strengthen the one tied to the pole. The price 
of tying is about \Qs. per acre of 1200 three-poled hills, where 
they are cleared out and stripped, and about 8.y. where they are 
not stripped and cleared out before earthing. The stripping is 
much more practised in Mid-Kent than in the Weald and in 
Sussex, and the Golding hops do more require it ; some planters 
give them a second stripping in July, about the time they are 
coming into burr, which is called " branching ;" and I have seen it 
done up to a height of more than 5 feet from the ground : it is 
sometimes done with a view of checking the mould, by admitting 
a more free circulation of sun and air at the bottom; but its effect 
on the mould I think is doubtful. It certainly gives an oppor- 
tunity of the ground becoming drier; and as the Goldings do not_ 
hop down generally so low as many other sorts, there may not 
be any less hops in consequence ; but branching is not so much 
practised now as twenty or thirty years back. In those varieties 
that grow hops near the bottom of the poles, it must be wrong: 
I never branch, consequently do not recommend it. I strip 
before earthing, but not high, Golding's, and other biny varieties, 
from 18 inches to 2 feet; but grape, Jones's, &c., only to the 
first joint at the back of the poles, and this more from its having 
a neat appearance than any good that I know it does. 
I will now proceed to state the different modes of summer cul- 
tivation, which, whatever mode be adopted, should be done in 
fine weather and when the ground is sufficiently dry. Where 
the nature of the soil permits there is no better mode, nor any 
more universally adopted, than horse-hoeing, or what is locally 
called '' nidgeting," or, in some parts, " shiming," which is 
done with one or more horses, with a man to hold and a boy to 
lead or drive, which should be begun as soon after the hops are 
poled as it can be, getting a deep fine tilth as soon as possible, 
which may be done best on some soils with a strong nidget and 
two or three horses, going into the required depth at once ; other 
soils are better brought fine by getting into the ground gradually 
with one horse and a lighter nidget, and going over the ground 
two or three times before the required depth is obtained, which 
would be at about the same expense as the other, for, although 
it takes a longer time, the other employs more horses. Nid- 
geting should be done several times during the summer, up 
