Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-04-03
AGRICULTURAL.
Devoted to the Interests Of Farmers
and Stockmen.


Mr.. Ezra Meeker gives the following
general directions as to hop planting,
in the Seattle Post-Intsliigencer. AS he
is one of the oldest and most inttlll-
gent hop growers in this territory, his
advice is probably rs near orthodox AS
any that could be offered, and Is wor--
thy of publication:
While in New York and England
the farmers are blowing up hops and
reducing their acreage, here the note
of preparation is heard for planting
more, and no one thinks OF destroying
yard. This is easily accounted for
by the fact that, while the New York
and English growers in many cases
have met with frightful losses, and
but few have made money, here but
few have actually met with loss, while
many have made some gain. We
have received number of inquiries
about how to plant, how far apart to
set the hills, how many roots to the
hill, what kind of roots are hest, when
to plant-in fact, questions enough to
properly answer fully would require
wiring book, but short answers
must suffice.
Prepare the ground thoroughly be-
fore planting; pillow it deep if you
want crop the first year. We have
raised nearly ton to the acre, plant
ing in M trch and harvesting in Octo-
Der OF the same year. We plowed
deep furrow, then ran another pillow
in that way down deep, and in one
| instance subsoiler in the bottom Of
the second furrow. Sod ground is the
best of all for hops when the sod is
turned under deep, as indicated.
| If the land is strong, plant seven
feet apart each way. We have, how
ever, ad, pied the standard of 1000
hills to the acre, six and half feet
apart each way.
IT planting with reference to par
tial crop the first year, would say fl i've
to the HILL and plant in double hills
eighteen inches apart, setting the pole
between them the first year and plow-
ing out half of them when the first
crop is harvested; otherwise, if plant
ing solely to secure a stand, then two
roots to the hill. We generally COM
promise on three roots to single hill,
train all the vines that will grow, and
are content with a half crop the first
year.
There seems to be general inn
preston that "crown ROOTS" so called,
are best. This is mistake. Not that
good results cannot be obtained from
good crown roots, but the good run
ners are as good and can be obtained
of more uniform quality. Take the
RUM IS and cut them to six or eight
inches in length, and if we'll matured,
properly kept and d Gently planted,
no fear but there will be crop. When
digging the cuttings, care should be
taken not to store them in a large
bulk, or be exposed long to the sun OF
air. The proper way is to keep them
covered in thin layers OF earth.
The time to plant is when your
ground is in order and the roots are
cannot be obtained before March nor
the ground prepared before April.
The earlier hop yard is planted, the
more likely to get crop the first year,
provided always that it is we'll done
i. e., that the ground is in order, the
hop roots good and the planting care
fully done. We have, however, planted
in May and got fair returns the same
year.
To the hop-growers of Washington
Territory, and | do not care if it in
cludes Oregon and California, and for
that matter. while we are talking big,
would not care if it goes to the hop
growers of any place on this globe, |
wish to send out a challenge for a trial
OF the year for the best five acres OF
hops in one body, yield and quality
to be considered. | propose to con
tribute $40 towards a fund for a prem
ium to the winner, and that each
person wishing to contest for the prize
to do the same, who must do this prior
to the first of June, with the agreement
that each person competing must fur.
nish full and complete account OF
his management for the year of his
sad five acres of ground.
| " ioooioiH aPPie-SIoWeT says he
made his money by reducing his or
chard fifty per cent. and giving the
part which he reserved the same
amount of care formerly spread out
thlnly over the entire field.
A man bought farm near Canaan
daigue, agreeing to pay SO, 500 for 100
acres. He planted 35 acres to pota-
toes and sold his crop, $500 bushels,
Tor enough to pay for his farm and
leave 5000 in the bank. This is better
business th'n RAISING hops or making
butter.
Last season, as the result of the
State Institute, more than 10000 acres
OF especially plaated ensilage or fodder
corn was planted in Wisconsin. The
subsequent drouth demonstrated that
such crop, well tended, will outlast
dry weather and make good Weld
50 this winter the crop here referred
TO will take the place of 100000 acres
OF meadow hay. Another good result
Is that, according to the report of an
extensive dealer, the quality of the
butter products of the whole State has
been improved at least 10 per cent.
Y Dung Wife Cat dinner table. sob
= Ia, 4.