Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1868-01-28
Management of Hops.

cd Tor competency, upon the start
ing of hop yards and management
and care of the crop The writer has
| aimed 10 sketch at random what be
considers the most important for the
public at this time. He says
The first year the weeds should be
excluded fro.d u hop yard. Expert
ence shows the short stakes. say two
feet long, arc best for winding the
vines closely around the first year.
thus preventing any full growth OF
vine, and causing fuller develop
| ment of best roots. Such stakes are
| now preferred III Sank county to tie
seven foot pole formerly in use at first
and is held moro profitable ensuing
seasons than to aim at making half a
pound crops to the hill the first year
by means of using poles, these of in
ferior quality.
About the closing OF ground by fall
frost, cover tho hills Will two or three
forks of straw manure, which serves
to enrich the ground and prevent the
| plants coming forward too early in
the spring, ana also, as summer
mulch.
Large yards are regulated rs to hop
gathering time BY such mulching.-
Vines may be held back several DAYS
and the harvest thus arranged to Gov
er double the usual length of time for
picking.
After the manure is thus drawn
from over the bills some weeks clapse
before pole setting is necessary, all
though it may be done early or when
the vines are a foot high. A common
crow bar is used for making holes for
putting IN the poles-depth about Is
inches, two poles and three vines to
each hill, and the poles slightly lean
ing apart. All surplus vines should
be gathered in the hand, rolled in
wad, and then covered over with dirt.
If cut they bleed, and if polea up
they wound the roots.
PREPARING THE GROUND AND PLANT.
mo.
Plow deep, doubly deep; ulver,
ize and iertilize. No dou bt the ouan.
tity and quality of hops depends
greatly on the depth of blowing and
the richness. Lay off tho ground
with corn marker, so that the hills
are at least eight feet apart ten is
better. Cut the roots in pieces, six
inches in length, with two sets of yes
to each piece; with hoe slightly
mound the earth plant the roots in
moist earth, with eyes upward, leans
ing obliquely toward the center =
plant three roots to each hill and COW
er with moist dirt, half an inch over
the top 1t is known from experts
once that when the roots are set near.
w perpendicular more hops are pro.
ducedi but when set horizontally or
obliquel y, more roots and fewer hops.
When roots are received before
you are ready for planting. spread
them in the cellar and cover with
moist earth. Pouring water ON them
profusely may drown them. But the
roots must be kept from shrivcling.
Hop land may be planted in corn
the first year; it is better to so cult
vate the land. Every tenth hill
should be pistilate or male kind, and
for these longer poles ought to be
used 10 facilitate the distribution of
pollen.
In Sank county all the kinds of
hops have admirers, but the English
are certainly gaining the day-being
the most prolific, although the mul>
berry and grape are having good sue
cess.
1t is not highly important as to
any fixed time for planting about
corn planting is usual.
On rich soils, where the vines
make vigorous growth, they often
reach out from top OF poles and hitch
on with other reaching vines-thus
soon forming canopy, often extend
ing to acres. Hence setting vines
ten feet apart is preferred by the old
growers-thus to avoid cutting the
vines. The sunshine should be IN
obstructed, and the air be free.
WHY GRANT COUNTY Is ADAPTED FOR
HOPS
Very dry atmosphere and hardly
any fogs or damp weather; the alti~
tude so great as to insure uniformity
of temperature days and nights
great number of clear days light
soil and lime or clay subsoil Of
great depth and richness; rolling
land and certain drainage, allowing
the roots to find their natur4l depth
and draw full support.
CLIMATIC INFLUENCES
The hop finds it's natural abode
only within a narrow belt of latitude,
in the west as far south as Spring
field, His, ard north as far as La
Crosse, Wis, the middle Or choice sec
ton being Southern Wisconsin, of
which region Grant county is the
best on account of elevation, soil and
atmospheric humidity. Perhaps the
range between Galena and Prairie du
Chen includes the best bop region
in the United states, if not in the
known world as time will show.
The damp atmosphere about the
lakes and other large bodies of water
favors mildew and rust, whilst in the
region of the Mississippi river, dry
atmosphere has uniformly prevented
the like ever since its culture in
South West Wisconsin, some fifteen
years since. A damp atmosphere
aud hot weather are uniformly fatal
to hops in all countries, but in this
section no calamity has ever happen
ed the crop. In the higher and
northern ATTITUDES at and above La
Crosse the seasons are too short and
frosty 10 allow certain maturity to
the crop So far as known hops have
not done we'll west OF the Mississippi,
disease and blight being as common
! l. III