Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-04-02

THEORY OF HOP CULTURE.-From across
| the continent comes the story of eleven acres
f hops grown on a California rancho, and
yielding the enormous quantity of 3 524
pounds to The acre. In the East 900 p funds
TO the acre is considered large yield and III
most yards, especially Since the appearance
Of the anhis, 900 weight would come nearer
The average. The diminution of the crops
from the devastation OF the louise cannot, by
any known means, be guarded against. But
f We eliminate this factor from the calcutta
ZION, the difference between an ordinary
ta stern hop crop and the greater yield from
the remote West is simply the measure be
tween the conditions If supsbod practice and
those most favorable to al abundant harvest.
For tue richness Of soil and deep tiltb, w-,ich
Nature probably furnished the California
tulturst, may be initiated if not emulated
ere
The soil that will grow corn will grow
hops, hut 1T must be deeper for the former
than is ab. oiutely necessary for the latter.
Hence the common u.s. ge setting out the
hop roots in starting a new yard with the
same tIl.h as tie euro, which occupies three
ourths of the ground the first year, is, Oh
the lace of it, an error Sub-soilipg, lot
trenching, will pay we'll in a long run, and
1t this is not cCnvcuient the site Of each hill
If hops may be dug ~ depth Of eighteen
inches and II width of two test and wish
plenty OF ashes and well rotted manure init
mately mixed with the soil, will show It's
| IlotiL IN the first years yield.
| Undoubtedly barn yard manure is one oil
the very best neips Tor TINS as Tor most other
| rols. But it may be supplemented to ad-
| vantage by special len tilIzers, nature u
wh Gu Is Indicated by tue composition OF the
| plant. The guilty OF aikall taken from the
,pIi is shown ny the quantity of ashts OBJ
ained by burning tue bones hence the
utility OF wood ashes. The hop is ID green
aud succulent plant with many leaves, an,
is ammonia the element O1 plaut food
which CO tributes most directly to the nour-
shment of such, the usefulness of hen ma
nure, guano and the like, Is plain. As the
| Up ming clusters are filled with seeds, the
lumber and piumpness of which determine,
Il a great manner, the weight OF the dried
product, and all seeds require phosphoric
GO, The need ot phosphates, either as bone
lust OF superphosphate, requires no argu-
nrnt for It's demonstration. Moreover, Il c
polien OF hops, the substance tina gives their
greatest value for brewing, Contains SUI phur
lac use vi gypsum. sulphate of lime, may be
/ .I6u DOtu dh d sJuICC vi Al
he nutrition Ot the plant and as ueans Of
iAi = ammonia from the air.
Bat ia the use of these extra and expensive
tertliIzers more care and common sense than
: . binary II their use must be shown II
pruf aud not loss, Is desired. Ammonlated
nanures and not alkaline materials can only
mingled without detrlment to the latter
when both are mixed with and covered with
MOIST earth =; as in the primal preparation o
the bill. La their subsequent application the
uanO or it's equivalent may be mingled witt
.he ashes and The TWO be applied at dlfferen
zines 10 tue early stages OF growth, prefera
bic just before rain. Bone dust ulay b,
,pplied later, at the earliest signs Of flower
ing.
80 much for maDuring; but the most e1
celent practice of this will not atone for tn
Jack of thorough tllth, the frequent stirrin;
and aeration OF the soil. Taken in connec
non with it should double the annual yIel
E per acre OF Eas era hops. But this will no
come all at once. neither this year nor next
although more scIentif; methods, as we'll a
more thorough practice, must sometime be
come universal III the production OF a Gro
which, for the area devoted to it, is capabl
It current prices of paying better than an
j Jtner cultivated 10 tue Northern States.