The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-03-29
h. E. Kinney Of New York Furnishes
a Valuable Paper.
MANY PRACTICAL POINTS ADVANCED
In formation for the New BEGINNER
as welt as the Old Grower--A Plea
for Long PoIes-In Thorough Cut
tivntion There L. wealth.

the importance Of careful study Of the
business in every detail Immediately pre-
sents itself. 1t is a deplorable fact that
growers are content to plod along from
year TO year. using the same old methods
and producing an average yield OF not
more than 500 or 600 pounds per acre,
with the greater part OF these OF an infe.
rior quality. When we consider these
figures it is not surprising that hop rails
ing is not successful with many. and We
see ample opportunities Tor advancement.
1t would be impossible to treat this sub
ject thoroughly in paper of this kind,
and many OF the points must necessarily
be developed by discussion. The soil
best adapted to the hop is deep, sandy
loan, the deeper the better for no other
cultivated crop penetrates the ground go
deeply as this one. A clayey loan is also
good, il it does not bake and become hard
during the hot, dry weather. The hop
yard, If possible, should be situated 30 as
to be protected from the cold north and
northwest winds, and this precaution will
save much trouble and expense from the
blowing down aud the breaksge OF poles.
The necessity of securing good roots is one
Of the greatest importance. Get the best
1t is not profitable to get cheap ones, they
are the most expensive in the end. Pro-
cure roots from yards that yield the larg-
est crop, Of the best quality and those that
are guaranteed true TO name.
AS soon as the ground is dry in the
spring harrow it thoroughly and set the
roots seven feet apart each way; this will
give plenty of room for cultivation, and
we think with proper fertilizers, will yield
the largest crop. Cut the roots, two ey es
on piece, and set three or four pieces in
a hill. Our way OF setting is to make a
hole with hop bar about Ia inches deep.
fill it part full Of loose soil and set the
roots on end with the top even with the
surface OF the ground. Care should be
taken to set the cuttings with the eyes up.
The Hill should then be covered with one
or Two lnCDeS Oh SOIL.
This way OF setting will produce a hill
with the crowns close together, which is
a great advantage over the old way OF
planting, where the crowns grow foot or
more apart. Besides, roots set in this way
will not be affected by a drouth, because
most of the root is much deeper in the
ground than planted ones. When the
young sprouts begin to appear they should
be cultivated. AS soon as the hills are
visible, apply 400 or 500 pounds of the
best phosphate per acre and hoe them
After this the ground must be stirred fre
quently, and later in the season hoed
again
1t is thorough cultivation and the use
Of proper fertilizers the first year that lay
the foundations for a profitable yard
We cannot expect to harvest large
crop from a poorly started yard. II
tskes useless outlay OF time and money
to make it equal to yard thoroughly
cultivated and well fertilized the first
year.
Use long poles % feet is mons too long
then make the vines run to the top. II
can be done by thorough work aud is nee
essary to secure fine quality and large
yield. As soon as the frost is out in the
spring the yard must be thoroughly
grubbed, removing all roots, except bed
roots, aud the crowns in the center of the
hill. Cut the dry vines downsto the
crown and cover the hill with three or -four
inches OF soil to protect it from the frost
The work OF removing the roots should be
done thoroughly and care taken not to
split or otherwith damage them.
We use the ordinary method OF string
ing with oEe pole at hill, exclusively.
As soon as the ground is dry start the cul-
tivator. Don't use plow-the practice
of literally blowing up the hop yard every
spring is fast becoming obsolete. We use
up the ground the first time, and all sub
sequent cultivation is done with one horse
1t is not necessary to cultivate deeply,
only deep enough to destroy weeds, for
the cultivator's work is to keep the ground
stirred, and spring-t tooth does this work
in very satisfactory manner.
Next comes the tying-and the question
as to how many vines to run is one on
which there exists a vast difference oil
opinion among growers. The number
varies from four to fifteen or twenty. We
run six vines, two up the pole and two
up each string, and consider this number
az the one TO give the largest crop and the
best quality. Too many vines necessarily
shade the hops and cause them to grow
small and inferior. The vines should be
selected from the center OF the hill. DO
not use runners. they are not as hardy and
are liable to be torn up by the cultiyator.
As soon as the desired number OF sprouts
have grown enough to be tied mp, trim all
the Others close to the ground. The earlier
the trimming can be done the letter, for
it is useless waste Of material o nourish
vines that are not TO be developed. Train
ing is then in order, and is part OF the
work that requires constant attention
until the vines have completed their
growth, because the wind will do serious
damage to them unless they are kept on
the strings and poles. A poorly trained
yard cannot yield q large crop.
Hoeing, the first time, should be done
soon after the yard has been trimmed,
and 1t is at this time that We apply the
fertilizer in the form of pure ground bone,
using about 500 pounds per acre. 1t lie
scattered about on the top Of the bills ~