METHOD OF CULTIVATING THE HOP. 
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METHOD OF CULTIVATING THE HOP. 
Houblon. Humulus lupulus. 
Although the Hop is not a culinary vegetable, yet, as it 
is more or less used in every part of our country, it may not 
be amiss to treat of its culture. It is presumed, that, in pro- 
portion as habits of temperance are inculcated, our citizens 
will have recourse to beer as a wholesome beverage ; and as 
a great deal depends on the manner in which Hops are 
cured, I propose giving directions for their management 
throughout, so as to enable those who choose, to prepare 
their own. My information is collected chiefly from Loudon’s 
Encyclopaedia of Plants. 
4 4 The Hop has been cultivated in Europe an unknown 
length of time for its flowers, which are used for preserving 
beer. Its culture was introduced from Flanders in the reign 
of Henry the Eighth ; though indigenous both in Scotland 
and Ireland, it is little cultivated in those countries, owing to 
the humidity of their autumnal season. Like other plants 
of this sort, the Hop bears its flowers on different individuals ; 
the female plants, therefore, are alone cultivated. There 
are several varieties grown in Kent and Surrey, under the 
name of Flemish, Canterbury, Goldings, &c. ; the first is the 
most hardy, differing little from the Wild or Hedge Hop ; 
the Golding is an improved and highly productive variety, 
but more subject to blight than the other* 
“ The Hop prefers a deep loamy soil on a dry bottom ; a 
sheltered situation, but at the same time not so confined as 
to prevent a free circulation of air. The soil requires to be 
well pulverized and manured previous to planting. In Hop 
listricts, the ground is generally trenched either with a 
* Besides these are the Farnham, or Golden Grape, which is cultivated 
1W an early crop ; and for late picking, the Mayfield Grape, or Ruffler, is 
esteemed, which is a dwarfish variety. Great caution is necessary, lest the 
varieties get mixed, as they will not ripen or dry equally, and consequently 
cannot be of one uniform colour and quality. 
