The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-11-13
Correspondence OF tbs Richmond Dispatch.
Bop Culture Directions adaptation of our
Iii md l,li,natc & xiranrdiuarE Profits.

Correspondence OF ms ElCEnbHu il-pd'Ch'
Bop Culture Directions adaptation of our
Soil and Climate Extraordinary Profits.
The depressed condition of agriculture in
VIRGINIA viii Justify me in your eyes, trust,
for touching so frequently on rural subjects
But wishing 10 be of what little use may, III
my day and generation, ana seeing no pros
pect for the prosperity OF The State but III Il
more EXPANDED aud diversified system OF cul-
tvntiOn, desire 10 contribute my nite lot
the in formation of your numerous readers.
Ina late letter made some reference to the
culture of hops. Since IL was written nave
taken the mains to inform myself fully on the
subject; and find the advantages il oilers
are greater by far than those OF any crop
grown in the South. General NewberrE, one
of The proprietor. of the Cockade brewery,
has had, many years experience IN me G 9!o
ness, and it is chiefly from him that have
cleaned the following particulars
The soil best adapted TO the culture is 4
good loan. resting on a clay foundation. Such
u soil holds manure better THAN one resting Oh
q sandy sab soil; and il is not desirable that
| Tho roots should penetrate TO Il great Gei'tH IL
| should. however, be broken up deep and re,
| duced 10 4 fine filth. Any ground mat VIII
grow tobacco is well suited for hors. VI
/ course il should be well manfred, rs LOT TO-
! bacco. ~, IN.
! The land being prepared, it is then laid OF,
in rows eight feet by seven. The laying OH
| should be done very accurately-!t necessary
NV q line At the intersections the roots are
/ ~ he nlanted. five in each place. arranged in
| n circular form, leaving an open space III the
centre of about six inches diameter. 1ney are
! TO be set with dibble, moi vertically olt ~
| an angle with the hofi|oh "a say '4ii -
degrees. a.
or six inches long. These are taken from OLD
vines after they have come INTO bearing. IT
requires three bushels Of these 10 plant an
acre. They are now worth from six 10 ten
! dollars per bushcl being in great demand, and
consequently higher than usual. Inc proper
time for planting is i'll April
| 1t must always be borne In MIND by the
planter that the hop is dincious plant-lh;tt
is. that the male and Female blossoms are
borne on separate plants. 1t Is necessary,
therefore, TO have certain proportion OF
each, say one male &c eight females. II IS the
latter that are prolific, the blossoms being
fertiiZed Sy the pollen from the blossoms Of
the male like the silk of corn from the pollen
of the tassels. Without this precautlon the
crop will prove 10 be little better Than an
abortion.
The cultivation the first year after planting
is very simple, consisting in nothing more
than keeping the ground clean of grass ana
weeds, lis III the case OF tobacco 1he vines
are allowed 10 run 1T random.
The second year they are 10 be staEed, or
rather polcd." For This purpose poles are
| 10 be provided which will stand twenty feet
above ground. Il less height Will not he sui
licirut for a full crop. The but ends are shar-
| penrd in Il long taperipS form; the holes are
made proper depth by means OF Il crow
bar aud the poles then securely Sci. There
must be TWO 10 each Hill, side OF the crown
of the vines and in the line on which the
plants stand at the greatest distance apart
The stalking is 10 be done IN May, Tie second
season, and after the plants have received
| their first working. After the vines have
made Il good start, select four OF the best
shoots and train them, two TO each pole, sup
porting them IL first by strings loosely tl"d SO
as not 10 cut the vine by pressure. Two tylngs
are deemed sufficient. As soon rs the vines
are out of danger the hill is to be cleared Of all
supcrfluous growtlis by pulling up every re-
nlaining shoot, breaking them Oil At their
| junction with the parent roofs.
| All this, doubtless, involves mnch tronble
| and expense but the profits justify the whole
| and much more A crop of hops ranges from
/ 200 pounds 10 1000 pounds per acre and Tor
| several years they have been worth from Sixty
| TO seventy cents per pound IN the northern
markets New hops are always in great de-
| mand ut 4 high price : and we 1T the South
! have all the advantages OF ;tn early market III
| respect TO this article which the IrElt-groWers
| of Norfolk possess in their early peaches and
strayyperries General Newbrrry informs Inc
| that he sent his crop OF hops this year TO New
| York and being early Ill the market, they
| readily commanded one dollar per pound IL
| is no dclusiou therefore, but fact which has
been demousira ted, aud may be demonstrated
again by anybody who sets about the WORK
iItelligently, that gross profit OF from 'i.9oo
| 10 81 900 per acre may be realized by the N!r-
GINA planter from the cnltuTe o1 hops.
| Cotton and tobacco, 10 which ourpeople seem
TO be indssolubly wed, bear 10 comparison
10 such profits.
The hon growers of the North, who have
| made the business Il speciality, have made
| large fortunes aud that, TOO, alta time, as be-
| fore the war when hops were not worth more
| than from l2h TO Is cents per pound: 1here
| is no probability that the demand VIII ever be
less Than il is now FOR in England it IS steadily
on the increase and has been for series OF
years. -.
| l had 4 great deal more 10 say, but LOT lear
| of wearying your readers and taxing too
heavily your already overcrowded columns, |