124 
HOPS. 
the management is uniformly as follows:—They are 
gone over, mostly four times, with the plough, or kerf, 
beginning about March. The first business is to throw 
down the tumps, and rows of the former year, and to 
work in the manure, previously brought on in the 
•winter. This consists of fresh earth, rotten dung, or a 
compost of dung, earth, and lime, judiciously propor¬ 
tioned, according to the nature of the soil; each acre 
receiving not less than sixty cart-loads, for a good 
dressing—it is repeated, according as the nature of the 
land renders it necessary. The stocks are now pruned, 
the remains of the old vines, and superfluous shoots, 
are removed Avith the hop-knife. The second moulds 
up the tumps and rows ; the succeeding ones complete 
the moulding up of the plants, and destroy the Aveeds. 
The tumps are formed round, flat at top, and about 
twenty inches diameter, and somewhat broader at 
their bottom. The ploughed lands are throAvn up 
much in the same manner as for potatoes, or beans, 
only higher, and with more soil. The shoots begin 
to appear in April, and the poles are pitched the 
latter end of the same month, or beginning ©f May. 
These are set two or three to a stock, at a foot distance 
from each other, Avith great regularity and exactness, 
and inclining a little outwards, over the alleys. Some 
attention is necessary, in this part of the business, not 
to over-pole the plants, either in number, or the length 
of the poles, as it weakens them; and by drawing the 
vine out to too great a length, renders them less pro* 
ductive. About the close of this month, and begin¬ 
ning of June, Avomen are employed to direct the vine 
to the poles, and tie them with dried rushes. This is 
continued till they are out of reach. The only care 
now remaining is, to keep under the Aveeds, and to go 
over 
