Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1868-01-21

| ~ az S-NtA oSiNih lai &c lCiN. but
still not larger than any one else OF
equal experience could obtain with
the same care. Prices, also, have
been very high during the past two
years 1t will be interesting to con-
slider, however, that, had prices this
year and last been but SOC per pound,
Mr.. Potter Mould have realized "a
clear profit Of 81 ,7O6 last year, and
this year, 81, 329, which, to say moth.
ing OF the money realized by the sale
OF hop>roots, would pay any farmer
handsomely for the results obtained
from but tour acres of his land
THE BEST SITUATION FOR A HOP YARD
In the selection Of a site for a hop.
yard, it is best to avoid low and wet
localities, and to select some spot
where the circulation of the air is
good, and where no water stands up
on the ground at any season of the
year. The hop in such localities
fills much better, and is less liable
to blight and midew, or to suffer
from the attacks of vermin. As the
vines grow very dense, however, and
present a good deal Of surface to the
wind, | apprehend that, in those
portions Of the country where very
/ high winds are prevalent, it might
be possible to select location too
much exposed. The hop vine, as far
as it is concerned, will grow almost
anywhere; but, in order to insure
perfoc. fruit and an abundant yield,
certain kinds Of soil are necessary
It is grown with good success on
sandy soil, but appears to flourish
best on a clay loan, especially when
undcrlaid with limestone.
For convenience IN harvesting and
cnring, it is desirable to have the
hop. yard as near the farm house as
possible, because, if located at a dis
tant part of the farm much valuable
time will be consumed by the forty
or fifty pickers in going backward
and forward, when, perhaps, the
time wasted is Of ten times more wall
ne than the wages paid them.
PREPARATION OF GRoUND-PLANTING
The ground should be prepared
thoroughly in about the same man
ner as for corn, and we'll nulverizsd.
The hills should be less han eight
feet apart in all directions, and in>
cline to the opinion that nine feet
would be much better; and as the
yard once planted lasts for years,
great pains should be taken to make
the hills at uniform distance, so as
to be in perfect line in each direc>
ton A long line should be used in
locating the hills, and the spaces be-
tween them accurately measured
1t IS absolutely Necessary that there
should be free passage of air thro'
the whole yard, and, when the hills
are made at uniform distances and in
straight lines in all directions, the air
can circulate between them with
more freedom, and the advantages to
bedcfivcd will more than compensate
for any trouble for locating the hills
properly at the commencement.
When the hills Lave been located,
the earth should be removed from
about 6 foot square and the place fill
ed with carefully pulverized soil. In
this, place three roots, the "eves" up.
The soil should be tramped gently
around them and they should then be
covered to the depth of about two
inches. 1t is proper to mention here
that the hop, like many other things,
does not produce its own variety
with any degree of certainty from
the seed and is propagated altogeth>
er from the roots, which can be obs
tanned from any old yard in great
abundance.
The hops are divided into two sex
"a, the male and female-or the stem
jlate and pjsteNate-the forming bear,
ing no fruit, but still necessary in all
well regulated hop yards to render
the other vines fruitful. In planting
The first row in q hop-yard, the fifth
hill from the place Of commence
ment should be planted with male
roots the next hills should be plants
ed with female roots until the tenth
hill is reached, which should be plant
cd with male roots; and so on, each
tenth hill being planted with male
roots throughout the low. The male
roots are not planted in every row,
but in each tenth row throughout the
yard-where they are planted as in
! The first row-the Intervening rows
containing none but female roots
A permanent stake should be driven
in all the male hills. to designate
/ them from the others. In ordering
hop>roots tor new yard, which can
DO done from any old hop-grower
anywhere. and the roots sent in BAR
rels by express, they will be cut up
in pieces of the required length, and
the male roots put in small packs
age, to designate them from the 9TH
/ erS.
The proper time for planting is as
early As the ground will do to work
in the spring. The frost will not
/ kill the roots after they are planted,
50 there need be no fear Of planting
them so early as to endanger them
/ by the occurrence of an unlocked for
cold spell.
CULTIVATION.
| The cultivation of the hop the first
season, is confined almost exclusive
1 IL to keeping them free from weeds.
They will yield light crop the first
season, but scarcely enough to pay
for looking after, unless prices
should be very high. During the
first season it is not absolutely nee
essary to provide them with poles
to climb upon but, where small
poles can be procured without too
much trouble and expense, it is bet
ter to use them as they mark the To-
cation Of the hills and prevent the
roots and vines from being broken in
cuItiva.ing. During the first season,
corn or potatoes. or, what is better,
alternate rows Of corn and potatoes,
which let in more air and sunshine,
4 can ha ulanted between the hills of