ho£$. 
to in their prime, and not weakened by over-poling, 
will continue to produce plentifully, from twenty to 
thirty years; and in some instances, much longer, 
care being taken to replace the stocks that acci¬ 
dentally decay. On the other hand, fresh grounds are 
generally allowed to produce the finest hops, and in 
greatest abundance. A question of some difficulty 
arises, at what time it will answer best to give up the 
old, and plant new grounds ; this must at last be de¬ 
termined by the peculiar circumstances of each plan¬ 
tation. But the error of continuing the old, as they 
often are, years after they have passed their prime, is 
self-evident The first expense of the new, may 
weigh with the occupier, who holds his farm by the 
year, or for a short term ; but this is not the case with 
many of the principal planters. The same observation 
holds good with respect to the fruit plantations : these 
are often suffered to encumber the grounds, when 
there is scarce a hope left, that they may produce a 
crop anywise adequate to the expense of continuing 
them. This has given rise to the following practice ; 
and were it universally adopted, it would probably 
prove advantageous to the planters in general.—The 
young hop-grounds are planted at proper distances 
with fruit trees ; these, from the frequent turning the 
soil and manure, are found to thrive better, and of 
course come to perfection sooner, by this, than any 
other management followed in this county. The 
constant attention to the fences necessary for the hops, 
is of the greatest service to the trees, by protecting 
them from their greatest bane—the teeth, and rubbing 
of cattle of every description. For years, there can 
be no doubt but the advantage to the trees, more than 
compensates any loss the hops sustain, considerably. 
Later, 
