Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-04-09


As few are aware of the enormous con-
sumption of malt liquors; official statistics
give the production of 1860 at 3,239,545
barrels, of 1866 ct 7,9l6,575 barrels, while
the estimates for 1868 (basod on the sale of
stamps and other data is placed at 10000
600 barrels, an increase of 300 per cent.
since 1860. When we add the demands
from distillers, hackers, home ''risins', and
the slime arts" is it to be doubled that the
culture of the hop is to assume Gigantic
proportions.
The hop is indigenous to the temperate
zone, is to be found in every farmers gard
en-. 1t is grown with success on sandy soil,
and many prefer such land, in the belief that
an early maturing advances it beyond the
danger that might beset it later in the sea-
son, but it flourishes to perfection on clay
loan underlaid with limestone but good
cultivation and proper attention are the re-
quisites of success
The ground is prepared the same as for
corn-the hills should not be less than eight
feet apart each way, (nine feet is preferably
and when located the dirt is thoroughly pull
verified in the hills; the roots Qhree TO a
hlD are planted about two inches below the
surface, about twelve inches apart, and
eyes up. These roots are about three in
ches long, the size of a pipe stem. and are
furnished with two sets of eyes Thc hops
are divided into two sexes, male (stamin
ate) female, (pistillate) the former bearing
no fruit. The male roots are planted in
every tenth row, commencing with the first
row. permanent stake is driven in the
male hills to designate them.
The first season is devoted to keeping the
ground free from weeds, and crops of pota-
toes, beans, turnips, or alternate rows of
corn aud potatoes can be grown the same
season. Ifthe price of hops rules cery high,
and light bean peles about six feet long are
easily obtained, it may be possible to stick
some of the most vigorous VINES, and obtain
number of pounds the first season, but not
otherwise. Still it is an advantage TO keep
them from the ground, they will then be out
of the way in culliyating. In the autumn,
just before the hard frosts set in, the hills
| are mulched with two or three forksfull of
manure, in the spring this is scattered
around and goes to enrich the yard.
| The second year a full crop is obtained,
and poles from twelve TO fourteen feet are
used There is a most excellent device for
polling yards; the patent of c. 4. Bush.
Rensselaeryille, Albany county, n. Y. A
simple pole feet long is used, with a cap
of cast iron, containing sockets to hold light
poles or sticks six or eight feet long. The
great merit of this invention is that sawed
sticks of lumber, two and half inches
square can be used for the main post, and
light pieces of hard wood one inch and u
half in diameter at base and tapering to one
half inch at tip for the arms, or saplings can
be used for the latter and split timber for
the former. 1t is an invention Of great
merit, and as the iron cap only weighs one
pound Costing cents) the balance bears
the relative cost of about II cents where two
would cost 20 to %.
The poles being set, two runners" IRON
two vines, -four in all, the third root being
planted to guard against accident, and re
moved when the other two are well set) ar,
allowed to ascend the poles. The cultiya
i ton OF the ground should extend into July
or uutil the vines commence to bloom,
n when it must cease, and should the Ian,
: become wetdy again, it can be gone owe
Y after the top is fairly set.
n The hop picking which commences i
;. September, is usually performed by womc
&c and children and the labor is paid for al
ID fixed price per box. These boxes are est
G mated to contain seven bushels the on
! used here is 3 feet long, feet high, and |
= inches wide. When filled, these boxes Al
empted into large sacks and then carted /
l. the dry house building constructed for th
J. purpose; but at other seasons OF the yea
} used as a granary, wagon house, or for otht
u purposes The price paid for the last tw
years was 80 TO 60 cents per box, withou
board, and "A good picker will pick foll
y boxes per day. But the price varies much
G according to the scarcity Of help, and I'll
: prevailing price Of hops, the above rates ii
dicating a scarcity Of help and extravaganC
y of the times.
I The picking season is regarded as a gen,
e raj holiday; people come from FAR an
e near everybody assumes gay mood; Il
yard resounds with talking and laughter
n and the wee small hours Of night are ci
q liyened with the .'twangn of the violin, an
I'm sbufilintr al ~ In. Al
y, dance,
" The hops being dried by artificial heat
ol they are allowed to remain few days, VIII,
n they are pressed into bales weighing abol
OF POO HIS. each the standard bale being abo
u feet high; s in thick. and y in. wild
u Before entering the market these bales i,
w subjected TO inspection. an iron instrume
q used for the purpose is plunged into I
y bale, and in Withdrawing it a portion Of {
nd hops are drawn from the centre Of it. II
est inspection determines the character of I
product, though successful appeals liza
m been made, where the inspection was
ch LEVIED 10 be unfair; the inspectors in Il
is section having only private capacity.
dS The gruhbing of the roots takes place
mas the spring, Though some prefer autumn
ply and extends into May. The hop throws
be- two kinds, the bed roots which run deep Il
md nourishes the pants and the suckers VIII
me are Immediately beneath the surface. Til
The last furnish the .'setts for new yards d
lei are Of an annual growth. They are prov
bli- ed every few inches with ''eyes" like
ere potatoes and are cut into pieces few incl
lcir long; every piece having two sets Of c
ms. but when shipped to long distance
rop whole roots are sent; (an equal number
'ble pounds the receiver doing the cutting;
and the danger Of the drying, When 50 MI
ina small pieces are sent, being avoided. They
The packed in barrels with damp moss or v
the nay, The male roots being tied in sepai
,her bundle and plainly labelled so as to de
Oh nate them.
the Roots from young yards are preferre