The record-union., 1894-03-30
FAnI,,.l ANU U..51AaD.
Hop-Culture and the Preparation Of
the SoiI-The Planter.
A Simple Method Has Been Devised
for Telling Whether Soil Has
Enough of Lime or Not.

doubtedly a sandy loan. The hop will
grow and thrive on any good wheat or
corn land, but it prefers the deep and
easily permeable sandy loans. In pre-
pairing the land for planting. whatever
the nature of the soil, it should be thor
oughly and deeply worked over. If the
spot selected for planting has been long
under cultivation it should not only be
deeply and thoroughly worked, but it
should also be enriched with suitable
manures, and be given more "nourish-
ment before planting than is usually
given to lands devoted to corn. The
selection of the fertilizers required to sup
ply the needs of soil and plant, and the
manner of their use, application to and
and under various conditions, are mat
ters which must, of necessity, be de-
termined by each planter for himself.
New land being richer in organic mat
ter does not require the application OF
fertiliZing material to the extent neces-
sary to bring the old fields into proper
condition, but whether it be old or new
land, it should be plowed, subsoiled, har-
rowed, pulveriZed and made pliable and
mellow to a greater depth than is re-
quired in the preparation of land Tor any
other crop. The roots of the young plant
must be able TO easily strike downward
to moisture, and if the soil has been made
rich. mellow and permeable to sufficient
depth they will find the requisite moisture
and be enabled to resist the otherwise
checking and destructive effects OF
drouth. This primary work in the hop
field when we'll and thoroughly done in
sures an early start of the sets and a Wig
orous growth of the young plant "below
ground" as well as above it.
The planter should keep in mind the
fact that hop yard is expected to thrive
and bear its annual crop for an indefi-
mite number OF years, and that its value
to him during those years will depend,
in a great measure, upon the work OF
preparation; that the thoroughly en-
richrlent and deep tilling of his yard at
the outset will tell both IN it's longevity
and its productiveness. He will readily
understand how he may best accomplish
the work necessary to be done in pre-
pairing his land, and he will also under
stand that it would be idle for any one to
attempt to put upon paper set of rules
covering the minor details of such work.
Having secured deep and well-work ed
soil, enriched, preferably, with we'll
rotted stable manures, his land is ready
to be marked off," If the rows are to
be eight feet apart. and the hills seven
feet apart in the rows, the planter usu-
ally prefers to have the rows run east
and west" and to set the poles, two to
each hill, and one on the north side and
one on the south side of each hill, thus
securing equi-distant space between
When the field has been squared" it
may be marked Off by furrowing out or
"a much better way by the use OF strong
cord of convenient length, having upon it
painted, or other plainly distinguishable
marks exactly seven feet apart through
out its entire length. Strong pointed
stakes about four feet long should be
firmly attached to the cord-one at each
end-to facilitate the work.
If the rows and the hills are to be at the
distances named, about $50 marking
stakes will be required to the acre. These
may be twelve or eighteen inches long
and from one-half inch to one inch in di-
ameter, pointed if thought necessary.
The cord is carried by two men who
draw it "taut'' on the line of the first
row and set the end stakes firmly into
the ground. The marking stakes are
then set vertically and firmly into the
soil, one directly under each mark in the
cord. This done, the cord is carried for
ward exactly eight feet, again made
"taut," the cord stakes firmly set and the
marking stakes set for the second row of
hills, the work being carried on in like
manner to completion. Sufficient space
should be left outside the outermost
poles, around the entire field, to permit
the team and plow to come about with
out striking the vines.
SIMPLE METHOD.
A chemical analysis will tell whether
soil has an abundance or deficiency of
lime and other materials which go to-
ward supplying needed plant food. 1t
requires an expert chemist to determine
this, and no method has as yet been de-
vised by which a farmer can analyZe his
own soil. But simple method has been
devised by which any farmer can tell
whether his farm has enough lime or not.
Take few shovelfuls of soil from differ
ent parts of the field, and dry, pulverize
and mix them thoroughly. Take few
ounces of this, powder it. and burn it 10
ashes on an iron shovel over fire. Put
these ashes in glass tumbler when
cooled and mix with them as much water
as it will take to cover them. Stir this
with glass rod or wooden stick, but not
with anything metallic. To this paste
add an ounce of hydrochloric acid, which
is commonly sold as muriatic acid or
spirits of salts, The mixture being stirred
all the time. If pretty brisk efferves-
cence takes place it may be taken for
portion of lime; but if little or no etfer-
vescence takes place the soil contains
little or no lime.-ScienIitc American.
HOPS AND CHEESE.
Da;rying and hop growing form the
leading industries of Central and North
ern New York. Hops and cheese have
an affinity which induces them to remain
close neighbors. The hop requires rich
soil, and an abundance of fertilizer on
soil that is naturally thin and weak. The
daries furnish much Of the fertilizer used
i'll the hop yards, and these allied indus
tries, flourishing side by side, are the
nL,s Nf l1a
that section.
FRUIT OR VEGETABLES.
The question whether tomato is fruit
or vegetable has finally been decided by
the Supreme Court of the United States.
ported into New \ ork were classified by
the Collector as vegetables, and duty was
collected accordingly. The importers
disputed this point and claimed tomatoes
to be fruit and entitled TO come in free.
The matter was taken into court, which
decided in favor OF the Collectors claim
that the tomato is a vegetable.
THE PINEAPPLE.
Heretofore the pineapple has been re-
garded as an article OF food, but now
new industry has sprung up in manu-
facture of the fiber, and il is expected
that it will give great impetus to pine
apple development. Indeed, it is as a
fiber producer that the plant now makes
the greatest promise for the future.
Florida is the only State where the plant
can he raised protitably. and only in por-
tions of that.
EGGS IN WINTER.
The secret of having eggs in winter is
to have the pullets hatched early, so as to
to be fully grown and feathered before
winter. Then with warm quarters and a
,,oiv rod n Inf h " nv
good results in eggs. Hens after a year
old make good mothers and settlers, but
not often very good layers. Keep young
blood predominating in your flock, if
you expect to produce eggs at a profit.
RAW BONES.