The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1888-03-30
AGRlcUL
Devoted to the Interests Of Farmers
and Stockmen.
HOW 70 plant Hops.

MT. Ezra meeker gives Ine lOitOWlnk
general directions as to hop planting,
in the Seattle s'-Intslligsneer. AS he
is one of the oldest and most intelli
gent hop growers in this territory, his
advice is probably as near orthodox as
any that could be offered, and il wor
thy of publication
While in New York and England
the farmers are plowing 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, willie
many have made some gain. We
have received a number of inquiries
about how 10 plant, how far apart 10
set the hills, how many roots to the
hill, what kind of roots are best, when
to plant-in fact, questions enough to
properly answer fully would require
wri ing a book, but short answers
must suffice.
Prepare the ground thoroughly be-
fore planting; plow it deep if you
want crop the first year. We have
raised nearly ton to the acre, plant
ing in M ,rch and harvesting in 0cto-
her OF the same year. We plowed a
deep furrow, then ran another plow
in that way down deep, and in one
instance a subsoiler in the bottom of
the second furrow. Sod ground is the
best of all for hops when the sod il
| turned under deep, as indicated.
II the land is strong, plant seven
feet apart each way. We have, how
ever, adj pted the standard of 1000
hills TO the acre, six and half feet
apart each way.
ii planting with reference to a par
tial crop the fret year, would say five
to the hill, and plant in double hills
eighteen inches apart, setting the pole
between them the first year and pillow.
ing out half of them when the first
crop il harvested otherwise, il plant
ing solely to- secure a stand, then two
roots to the hull. We generally com
promise on three roots 10 a single hill
train all the vines that will grow, and
are content with half crop the frs
year.
There seems TO be a general i'm
preston that 'erown roots" so called
are best. This is n mistake. Not tina
good results cannot be obtained from
good crown roots, but the good run
ners are as god and can be obtainet
of a more uniform quality. Take tn,
rum, r. and cut them TO six or eigh
inches in length, and if well na,ured
properly kept and decently planted
no fear but there will be a crop. Whei
digging the cuttings, care should b,
taken not to store them in a larg,
bulk, or be exposed long to the sun o
air. The proper way is to keep then
covered in thin layers OF earth.
, The time to plant is when you
ground is in order and the roots ar
cannot be obtained before March no
the ground prepared before April
The earlier hop yard is planted, tn
more likely TO get crop the first yeal
provided always that it is well dcne-
j. e, that the ground is in order, tn
hop roots good and the planting care
fully done. We have, how, yer, plante
, in Nay and got fair returns the sam
year.
To tha hop growers of Washington
+ Territory, and | do not care If it in
cludes Oregon and California, and f.
that matter. while we are talking bis
would not care if it goes To the hoI
, growers of any place on this globe,
wish to send out a challenge for tril
OF the year for the best FIVE acres {
hops in one body, yield and quaiit
TO be considered. | propose TO COZ
tribute SO towards fund for a prem
ium to the winner, and that eac
person wishing to contest for the priz
to do the same, who must do this pric
TO the first of June, with the agreemeI
that each person competing must fu
nish a full and complete account {
his management for the year of b
S aid five acres of ground.
Manitoba has 10000 600 bushels {
grain for export this year.
In good dairying it is not allowabl
to mix mi k of different temperatur,
Cultivate thoroughly and sone {
the drawbacks of steIility of soil wi
be removed.
Canada now furnishes more shee
for the Boston market than any Stat
IN the Union.
The object in securing good bree
of hogs should be to have them quickl
convert their food into meat.
A Wisconsin apple-grower says b
made his money by reducing his U
chard fifty per cent. and giving I'll
part which he reserved the sam
amount of care formerly spread OF
thinly over the entire field.
A man bought farm near Canar
daigue, agreeing to pay So, 500 for 1C
acres. He planted 35 acres to poti
toes and sold his crop, $500 bushel
for enough to pay for his farm an
leave 5000 in the bank. This is bette
business than raising hops or maxim
butter.
Last season, as the result of tn
State Institute, more than 10000 acre
of especially planted ensilage or fodde
corn was planted in Wisconsin. Th
subsequent drouth demonstrated tina
such a crop. well tended, will outla:
dry weather and make good yield
so this winter the crop here referre
to will take the place OF 100000 acre
of meadow hay. Another good resul
is that, according to the report of a
extensive dealer, the quality of tn
butter products of the whole State ha
been improved at least 10 per centsa
-tIentIemen ITO IJncie Rastusl