The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-05-09
Hop Culture.

AAOP SoASOASi
have looked for some time past in the
principal agricultural journals for a practi
cal description, in detail, Of the mode of pre-
pairing soil, setting or planting, cultivating
and harvesting hops, and have failed to find
such information. have tho't my own ex-
perience might be Of some interest to those
contemplating setting hops in the spring
In the fall of 1864 | broke two acres OF
timothy sod, and in the spring following
plowed two acres of corn stubbe adjoining,
making four acres | dragged down smooth;
look a cord the size Of a BEDFORD, stretched
t across the north side of my proposed yard,
where | wanted the first row of hops, fas-
tened at each end with stout stakes driven
in the ground. | then with a Irvine needle,
drew some red yarn through the cord, at
distances eight feet apart cutting the yarn
so as to leave one inch projecting on each
side of the cord Then with a man and
some sticks prepared, one foot long, we star
ted at the same time from each end of the
line, and stuck one stick at each red yarn
until we met in the centre of the cord. We
went back, pulled up the stakes, moved
south eight feet drove the stakes again,
and pinned off as before, and so on to the
end. Then with a spade, on the south side
of each pin, and four inches from it, one
took about a foot square and spade deep,
filling the hole up with pulverized soil; the
other following with a basket Of roots, took
up three pieces in one hand, the eyes up,
made hole with the other hand put the
roots in, tramping the soil nicely about
them, leaving them covered about two in
caes deep. We put in male plants, com
menciDg with the fifth hill from the edge,
then every tenth hill each way, through the
yard. Two men will in this way set two
acres per day. AS soon as the hops began
to show themselves, | took refuse hoop poles
from the barrel factory and stuck one in
each hill. | then planted one row OF corn
between each row Of hops, and between each
bill of hops the other way planted potatoes
harvested so bushels Of shelled corn, 100
of potatoes and 300 pounds hops. The
hops sold for $3.50 These crops more
than paid all expenses thus far
In the winter of 1865 and SO | prepared
1000 tamarac hop poles from 16 to Is feet
long at cost Of $50 per thousand, as soon
as the soil would 90 to work in the spring,
| set about three poles to a hill, except
about 800 hills; to these set but two
poles; by this time the vines were large
enough to be tied to the poles this is dore
by women, winding two of the largest and
best vines. with the sun, around the pole.
and tying carefully with yarn strings In
case some of the hills are not far enough
along they are left to the second tying
must be followed up till two good vines are
growing up each pole. At this stage
worked the ground thoroughly with the
cultivator, both ways, and hoed it, at the
same time GOVERN 6 up all surplus vines,
except one or two i'll each hill left to replace
any that might be broken; If not needed
by the next time of cultivating, they were
cut off. thus cultivated and noed my
yard three tunes during the season.
In the summer of 1866 built my hoF
house-also used as carriage house, gra
nary, tool and ice house 0x40 with It
feet studding; the kiln is 90 feet from out
side to inside. the other half of the building
for storing. L had also made ten hop boxes
with compartments in each, each COM
partment holding seven bushels
On the 9th Of September, | commenced
picking, with 40 hands, all women except
one man to two boxes to pull poles fin
ished picking on the 18th, picking fou
acres in eleven working days.
The yield of hops and what they nettec
me is set forth in the heading of my letter
The following is a reorganization of the ex
penditures and proceeds
Z 600 tamarac poles at 800 per Ms 63(
Setting poles, tying up vines and cul
tlvating. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 8
Hop house 400
Stove pipe, Of press, ten hop boxes 100
Harvesting, drying, bailing, wood and
oacking. ............... 76l
Ten days man and team drawing
manure from village (Which costs
only the drawing) to cover hops A
Six months interest in capital, depre-
citation on poles, building, etc, %
per. ct and SO per acre for use
OF land ................. 49,
| Total cost ............. 50, 81
Amount Received for crop. ..... 4, 46
Net profits 80, A
II. H. Potter, SGuk Co., Wis, in Praifi
Farmer.
A lawyer engaged in case tormente
a witness so much with questions that th
: IL. I