The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-01-31
Soil and Manures for Hops.

4
Lawe's experiments with tIe .., H'
shown that to ensure success WIFI III t'i,
p - tn manure literally with bal
- anir,al and vegetable manures. 1[nTlR'S
~ - ,,ost snmmer, in an examination OF the
-, oordens in the county Of Kent, ana Inc
no an@er in which the crop is cultivated III
.ilat noted hon district, we found WOODEN
rags, shoddy, skin clippings, and lur VAST
manure. MIR. Lawes' remarks that Id larnl
ra d,,no, the nroportion Of mineral matter,
ID If organic matter yielding carbonlc ACID
ga some other organic compounds IN the
col are comparatively large; but the
amount of nitrogen or ammonia y'elQlnS
letter "a small With this manure there
should therefore be employed WOODEN rags
or skin clippings, which are rich IN ammo,
MIA Welding substance, but poor IN mineral
matter. Rape cake he says IS always an
exceeding good manure for hops. and Re-
ruvian guano may also be used with advan-
tage, in addition to, but not a substitute
for the more bulky manures
The idea prevailed among hop growers III
England, that soils made up OF those con-
stituents particularly favorable to the pro-
duction of fruit, especially the culture OF
grapes are the soils best adapted to hops,
and this suggestion would seem to have
some foundation since the best hop regions
in England are also the best for fruit
Doubtless this will be found to hold good
to a considerable extent in America, and II
the question be canvassed as to the reason
why so great a difference exists In the quail
ity of hops grown in different parts OF the
country, the suggestion referred TO may
perbaps aid in solution of the matter In
conversation with the English hop mer-
chants of London, they claim that the Amer
lean hop is far inferior in flavor to those
grown at home. That it has peculiar rank
ness in smell easily detected, and which car
ries with it an unpleasant flavor III brewing
that this has damaging influence In pr
ces, and they expressed hope that means
should be taken to obviate the difficulty
There would then be large demand for
American hops of choice quality, and at top
prices. If it be true that the American hop
lacks delicacy Of flavor, as compared with
that grown abroad, it may be well to inquire
whether it results from the peculiar nature
of the soil on which it is grown, the manner
of cultivation, the inferiority of the plant, Oh
some other cause. If it be soil, we have q
diversity in this respect, and some Of it al
least must be suitable to the plant.
We understand that any quantity Of hoI
roots can be obtained in Sank county, along
the Wisconsin and Baraboo vallies.- WiS
Farmer.
A correspondent of the New York World
says that England is now paying from 9lf
to 812 per cwt.-equal to 70 to SOC. pei
pound in our currency. Such extravagant
prices will be likely to stir the Yankee blood
to fever heat. True, hops are subject tc
diseases, and so are our other crops. Like
our grains and fruits they have enemies that
prey upon them, and we should learn to con
tend with these difficulties The English
hop-planter destroys the hop louise by an ap
plication of strong tobacco water. We Car
do the same. He cures the mould with -four
of sulphur. We have not yet been troubled
with that disease, aud there are many 9th
ers which have not yet afflicted us.
The following remarks on the cultivation
of this crop are by the Rural American;
THE ground intended for the hop yard
should be well MANFRED, then ploughed in
April, dragged and marked four feet each
way; then with hoe on every other mark
each way dig a hole about three inches
deep, into which drop hop root from three
to six inches long; then cover it with dirt
to make it level. The root, if it does well
will throw up a sprout from each joint Ev
cry other bill on the hop roN. and next row
entire, can be planted to corn or beans, as
the hops do not require to be poled the first
summer. Every fall each hill of hops must
have two or three shove!s full of manure put
on if, to enrich the ground and protect the
roots from freezing The following spring
the manure must be pitched off from the
hills, and the runners, if any, dug ont and
cut of, to prevent them from spreading all
over the ground, and to preserve the hills III
their places There are but few runners the
first spring, but plenty afterwards After
the runners are removed, the poles can be
set, two to each hill, about one foot apart
at the bottom, with the tops spread far
enough apart to prevent the vines from run
ming from one pole to the other, and to
make the tops Of the poles i'll the yard an
equal distance from each other The next
thing is to plough, commencing in the cen
tire between the rows, and turning the fur
rows from the hill until you get near enou gh
to each row, then turn and plough the other
way; after that reverse the furrow, turnin g
toward the hill; the rest can be done with
the cultivator or hoe, keeping the ground
clean and mellow. Put the vines around
the poles from right to left, and tie with the
yarn raveled from an old stocking. This is
full of kinks and will stretch and not dam
age the vine as it grows The hops are
generally ready to pick the last Of August
or the first Of September. From ten to fif
teen hundred pounds is the yisld per acre