Analyses of the Mineral Ingredients of the Hop. 
219 
It will be seen from the preceding' tables that a large amount 
of inorganic or mineral matter is removed annually from the soil 
by the hop. As the produce is almost wholly exported from the 
farm, it must be evident that unless the mineral matter is replaced, 
the richest soil would eventually be impoverished by the growth 
of this plant. This undoubtedly is one of the chief causes of the 
necessity of manuring this plant so highly. 
The amount of mineral matter taken by the two species of hop 
varies considerably, but we must consider the Farnham hop to 
have taken from the land rather under the mark than over. Ac- 
cording to the nature of the soil will be the necessity of applying 
one or all of the mineral ingredients enumerated ; but potash, 
which in both seems to be taken out in nearly the same quantity 
for the same amount of crop per acre, is one of the most import- 
ant ingredients, because the most scarce. Lime ought to be of 
service to the hops, as it is not only itself a necessary ingredient, 
but will likewise assist in the liberation of potash and silica from 
the insoluble silicates of the soil. 
From the examination of various samples of hops, I am led to 
believe that the finer samples of hops require more potash than 
the coarser, and that the potash is replaced in the coarser hops by 
lime. Wood-ashes should certainly be of benefit to hops, as may 
be perceived at once from the following analysis of the common 
wood-ashes of the district of Farnham, for which (together 
with the two following) I am indebted to my pupil Mr. James 
Analysis of Wood Ashes from Farnham, 
Wood Ashes. 
Silica . . . . . 4-25 
Sand ..... 1000 
Charcoal ..... 'SS 
Lime . . . . . 29-05 
Magnesia ..... 6'65 
Potash ..... 7-55 
Soda ..... 4-89 
Chloride of Sodium . . . . -80 
Sulphuric Acid .... 3'2.5 
Phosphoric, Acid . - . . . 4 70 
Carhonic Acid .... 25'00 
Phosphate of Iron .... 2'50 
Phosphate of Alumina . . . '50 
Manganese . . . . .a trace. 
Allen. 99-40 
Peat-ashes might, with the addition of some salt of potash, also 
be used with advantage. 
