HOPS. 
129 
twenty feet, proportioned to the goodness of the lands; 
they last, with care, seven or eight years. The sets, 
when bought, cost from 6d. to 2s. 6d. per hundred. 
The last expense is the duty, which is id. per pound, 
and 15s. per cwt. on the produce. The average of the 
expenses in general, is thus estimated : that of work¬ 
manship, from 25s. to 30s. per acre ; those of picking, 
dicing, charcoal, sack, and duty, 30s. per cwt. The 
implements used throughout this plantation are, the 
plough, the kerf, the spade, iron crotv, and the hop- 
knife. The plough is the common one of the district; 
the kerf is a large hoe, with a plate about nine inches 
broad, and thirteen deep; the spade needs no par¬ 
ticular description ; the crow r is an iron bar, about 
four feet and a half long, generally square at top, with 
a large point, in the octagon form, used to make the 
hole in the ground in pitching the poles; the hop- 
knife resembles in make the sickle, an old one being 
often converted to this purpose, by grinding off its 
saw-edge, and giving it a sharp one in its stead ; Avhen 
made with new metal, it is something smaller. The 
crib, into which the hops are picked, is an open frame 
made of wood, standing about four feet high, four feet 
broad, and nine long. To the upper edge of this, is 
fastened the crib-cloth, which is nine yards double, 
made of the same stuff as the bags, but coarser 
and cheaper. The sacks in which they are conveyed 
to the kiln, are the same. The kiln will be afterwards 
described. 
When the hop-grounds are come to perfection, it is 
the general practice to exclude every other growth, 
and trust them alone, for a return of the great ex¬ 
pense at which they are cultivated. Under this ma¬ 
nagement, those which have been uniformly attended 
WORCESTERSHIRE.] K to 
