Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-02-20
The Theory of Hop Culture,

continue the practice.
The Theory of Hop Culture.
From across the continent comes the
story of eleven acres Of hops grown ON
a California rancho, and yielding the
enormous quantity of 1884 pounds to
an acre. In the east 1000 pounds to
the acre is considered a large yield
and in most yards, especially since the
/ appearance Of the aphis, 1000 weight
would come nearer the average. The
diminution of the crops by devastation
of the louise cannot, by any known
means, be guarded against. But if we
eliminate this factor from the calcutta
ton, the difference between an ordin-
airy eastern hop crop and the greater
yield from the remote west is simply
the measure between the conditions of
of slpshod practice and those favor
able to an abundant harvest. For tho
richness of soil and deep filth which
Nature probably furnished the Cali
fornia culturist, may be initiated if not
emulated here.
| The soil that will grow corn will
grow hops, but it must be deeper for
the former than il absolutely necessary
! for the latter. Hence the common
usage of setting out the hop roots in
starting a new yard with the same filth
as the corn, which occupied three.
fourthS of the ground the first year, is,
on the face of it, an error. Subsoiling,
not trenching, will pay well inthe long
run, and if this is not convenient, the
site of each hill of hops may be dug to
a depth of eighteen inches and n width
of two feet, and with plenty of ashes
and well rotted manure intimately
mixed with the soil, will show its
profit in the first years yield.
Undoubtedly barn yard manure is
one of the very best helps for this as
for most ether crops. But it may be
supplemented to advantage by specia!
fertilizers, the nature of which is indi-
Gated by the composition OF the plant.
The quantity of alkali taken from the
soil is shown by the quantity of ashes
obtained 10y burning the bones hence
the utility of wood ashes. The hop is
a green and succulent plant with many
| leaves, and as ammonia is the element
of plant food which contributes
most directly to the nourish-
ment of such, the usefulness OF
hen manure, guano and the like, is
plain. AS The ripening clusters are
filled with seeds, the number and
plumpness of which determine, in II
great measure, the weight of the dried
product, and as all seeds require phos-
phoric acid, the need of phosphates,
either in bone dust or superphosphate
require. no argument for its demon
stration. Moreover, the pollen of
hops, the substance that gives their
greatest value for brewing, contains
sulphur The use of gypsum, sulphate
of lime, may be predicated, both az n
source of sulphur in the nutrition Of
the plant and rs a means of fixing am
monia from the air.
| But in the use of these extra and ex
penslve fertilizers more care and com,
mon sense than is ordinary IN their
use must be shown, if profit, and not
! loss, is desired Ammoniated manures
and alkaline materials can only be min
gled without detriment to the latter
Wien both are mixed with and covered
with moist earth; as in the primal
preparation of the hill. In their sub
sequent application the guano or its
equivalent may be mingled with the
ashes, and the two be applied at differ
ent times in the early stages of growth,
preferable Just before ram. Bone
dust may be applied later, at the earh-
est signs of Towering,
So much Tor manuring; but the most
excellent practice of this will not atone
for the lack of thorough filth, the ire
quent stirring and aeration Of the soil
Taken in connection with it should
double the annual yield per acre of
eastern hops. But this VIII not come
all Mt once, neither this year nor next,
although more scientific methods, as
well as more thorough practice, must
sometime become universal in the pro-
ductlon Of a crop which, for the area
devoted to 1T, is capable at current
prices of paying better than any other
cultivated in the northern states.