Systema agriculturæ, the mystery of husbandry discovered treating of the several new and most advantagious ways of tilling, planting, sowing, manuring, ordering, improving of all sorts of gardens, orchards, meadows, pastures, corn-lands, woods & coppices, as also of fruits, corn, grain, pulse, new-hays, cattle, fowl, beasts, bees, silk-worms, &c. : with an account of the several instruments and engines used in this profession : to which is added Kalendarium rusticum, or, The husbandmans monthly directions, also the prognosticks of dearth, scarcity, plenty, sickness, heat, cold, frost, snow, winds, rain, hail, thunder, &c. and Dictionarium rusticum, or, The interpretation of rustick terms, the whole work being of great use and advantage to all that delight in that most noble practice.

SECT. I. Of Hops.

We mention this Plant in the first place, not for his worth or Dignity above the rest, it being esteemed an unwholesome Herb or Flower for the use it is usually put unto, which may also be supplied with several other wholesomer and better Herbs; but for that of all other Plants, it advanceth Land to the highest im∣provement, usually to forty pound, or fifty pound; sometimes to an hundred pound per Acre.

And yet have we not enough planted to serve the Kingdom, but yearly make use of Flemish Hops, nothing near so good as our own. The principal cause I presume is, that few bestow that labour and industry about them they require, and sufficiently re∣taliate: for being managed carelesly, they scarce yield a quarter part of the increase that those yield that are dexterously handled, though with very little more cost. Another cause is why they are no more propagated here, that they are the most of any Plant that grows subjected to the various Mutations of the Air, from the time of their first springing, till they are ready to be gathered. Over-much drought, or wet, spoils them: Mill-dews also sometimes totally destroys them; which casualties happening unto them, makes their price and valuation so uncertain, and proves so great a discouragement to the Countryman; else why may not we have as great a plenty of them, as in Flanders, Hol∣land, &c. Our Land is as cheap, and affords as great a Crop (if as well Husbandried) and we pay not for carriage so far, but that they are more Industrious than us: Therefore seeing that is so gainful a Commodity to the Husbandman, and that there is a sufficient vent for them at home, we shall be the more Prolix in the subsequent discourse.

The Hop delights in the richest Land; a deep Mould, and light; if mixed with Sand it's the better: a black Garden-mould is excellent for the Hop.

If it lye near the water, and may be laid dry, it is by much the better.

Most sorts of Land will serve, unless stony, rocky, or stiff Clay-ground, which are not to be commended for the Hop.

If you can obtain it, a piece of Land a little inclining to the South, and that lies low, the ground mellow and deep, and where water may be at command in the Summer time, is to be preferred for a Hop-garden.

Also it ought to lye warm and free from impetuous winds, e∣specially from the North and East, either defended by Hills or Trees, but by Hills the best.

Every one cannot have what Land he pleaseth, but must make use of what he hath; therefore if your ground lye obvious to the winds, it is good to raise a natural defence therefrom, by planting on the edges of the Hop-garden a border or row of Trees that may grow tall, and break the force of the winds at such time the Poles are laden with Hops. The Elm is esteemed not fit to be planted near the Hop, because it contracteth Mill-dews, say our Country Hop-planters; the Ash on a dry ground, and the Poplar or Aspen on a moist, are to be preferred for their speedy growth. Also a tall and thick hedge of White-thorn keeps the ground warm, and secures it in the Spring from the sharp nipping winds that spoil the young Shoots.

If your Land be cold, stiff, sowre or barren, you designe for a Hop-garden, the best way is about the latter end of the Sum∣mer to burn it, (as before we directed) which will be very avail∣able to the amendment of the Land. Some also prescribe to sow Turnips, Hemp, or Beans therein, to make the ground light and mellow, and destroy the Weeds.

But in whatsoever state or condition your ground be, Till it in the beginning of the Winter, with either Plough or Spade.

And when you have set out the bounds of your ground you intend to plant, and laid the same even, then must you mark out the several places where each Hill is to be: The best way is by a Line streightned over-thwart the ground, with knots or threds tyed at such distance you intend your Hills. Some plant them in squares, Checquer-wise; which is the best way, if you intend to plough with Horses between the Hills: Others plant them in form of a Quincunx, which is the more beautiful to the eye, and better for the Hop, and will do very well where your ground is but small, that you may overcome it with either the Breast-plough or Spade: which way soe're it be, pitch a small stick at every place where there is to be a Hill; and when it is all so done, in case your ground be poor or stiff, bring into it of the best Mould you can get, or a parcel of Dung and Earth mixed; and at eve∣ry stick dig a hole of about a foot square, and fill it with this Mould or Compost wherein your Plants are to be set, they will

thrive the better, and the sooner come to bear, and sufficiently repay your charge and trouble.

Great Rarity there is both in the judgment and the practise of most men about the distance of the Hills, by reason of the dif∣ferent Seasons: Sometimes it falls out to be a moist year, and then the Hop grows large; and the wider the Hills are, the better they prove. Some years also prove hot and dry, the Hops then grow thin; and the nearer they are, the more Hops they have: But let me advise to keep a convenient distance, that you may have room sufficient to come between, and ground sufficient to raise the Hills with the Parings or Surface of it; and that the Sun may come between; and that the Poles may not be driven the one against the other with the winds, when they are laden.

If your ground be dry and burning, about six foot may be a convenient distance; but if it be a moist, deep, and rich Mould, subject to bear large Hops, then eight or nine foot distance is most convenient: and so, according to the goodness of the ground, place the distance of the Hills.

But if your Hills are too far asunder, the best way to remedy that inconvenience, is by encreasing the number of Hops in the Root in each Hill; by which means you may apply more Poles, and supply the former defect. Hills may be made of that big∣ness, that they may require six, ten, or twenty Poles. The com∣mon Objection is, they cannot so conveniently be dressed; but I only propose it as amendment, to make them somewhat bigger than ordinary: Or if your Hills be too near together, you may also abate the Hops, and apply the fewer Poles; for over-po∣ling of a ground, as well in number as height, injures it more than under-poling.

Authors, and most Practisers, usually advise to plant Hops in the end of March, or in April; but some of our best experienced Planters affirm it to be best in October, before the cold Winter; and that then the Hops will settle against the Spring.

Chuse the largest Sets that you can get; which are to be had best out of a Garden well kept, and where the Hills have been raised very high the precedent year, which increaseth the Plants both in number and bigness: Let them be as long as you can get them; about eight or ten inches may be of a very good length, and in each plant three or four joynts or Buds.

Before you have your Sets out of the ground, make the holes ready to put them in, if you can, else you must be forced to lay them in cold and moist Earth, and take them out as you have occasion to use them: dig your holes according to the depth of your Plant, eight, ten, or twelve inches deep, and about a foot over.

Some take two or three of the Plants, and joyn the tops toge∣ther, and set them bolt-upright, directly in the middle of the hole, holding them hard together with the one hand, while you fill the hole with the other, with fine Mould prepared and made ready before-hand for that purpose; observing, that you set the

tops even with the Surface of the ground, and the same end up∣permost that grew so before; then fasten well the Earth about the Roots.

Others place at each corner of the hole a Plant; which way is to be preferred before the other.

It is convenient to raise the Earth two or three inches above the Set, unless you plant so late, that the Green Sprigs are shot forth; then you are not to cover them wholly, lest you destroy them.

Beware of wilde Hops, which are only discerned by the Stalk and Fruit.

If your Hops be old and ill husbandried, or worn out of heart, then about the beginning of Winter dig them, and take away as much of the old barren Earth as you can, and apply good fat Mould or Compost to their Roots; or if you cannot conveni∣ently, or think it not fit to do it before Mid-winter, yet neglect not to do it in January or February at the furthest, the weather being open; for such Winter-dressing, and renewing their Mould, is a principal Renovation to a decaying Hop: or if your Hop-ground be full of Weeds or Couch-grass, such Winter dig∣ging of it destroys them.

But if your Hops be in good heart, and strong, then late dres∣sing is most proper, which restrains them from too early spring∣ing, which is the cause of many injuries to the Hop: The only time for such strong Hops to be dressed in is March; some dress in the beginning of April.

In the dressing of Hops, these Rules are necessary to be obser∣ved: First, to pull down your hills, and undermine them round about, till you come near to the principal Roots; and then take the upper or younger Roots in your hand, and shake off the Earth: which Earth being removed away, with your said Tool you shall discern where the new Roots grow out of the old Sets; in the doing whereof, be careful that you spoil not the old Sets: As for the other Roots that are to be cut away, you shall not need to spare them to the delay of your work, except such as you mean to set.

Take heed that you uncover not any more than the tops of the old Sets in the first year of cutting: at what time soever you pull down your hills, cut not your Roots before March.

At the first dressing of young Hops, cut away all such Roots or Sprigs as grew the year before out of your Sets, within one inch of the same: Every year after you must cut them as close as you can to the old Roots, even as you see an Osters head cut, say our Authors; but it is found experimentally to be advanta∣gious to a weak Hop, to leave some principal new shoots at the dressing; and that the clean cutting off of them, hath very much decayed a Hop-garden.

The Roots that grow downward are not to be cut, but such that grow outward at the sides of the Plants may, else they will incumber the ground.

The old Roots are red, these of the last year white; if there be any wilde Hops, you must take up the whole hill, and new plant it, marking the hill with a stick at the Hop-harvest, to prevent mistakes.

When you have dressed the Roots, then apply of your rich Mould or Compost prepared for that purpose, and make the hill not too high at first, lest you hinder the young Shoots; although the Hops be sprung out of the hills, yet fear not the cutting of them off when you dress them.

Be sure to keep Poultry, and especially Geese, out of the Hop-garden, especially during the Spring.

According to the distance of your hills, and nature of the ground, provide the number of your Poles; and according to the strength of the Hop, the length or bigness.

If the hills be wide, the more Poles, sometimes four or five to a hill; if the hills are near, then two or three may suffice: In hot, and dry, and hungry ground, the Poles may stand nearer than in rich mellow Land, where they are more subject to grow gross and hawmy.

Also if your Hops be strong, and ground rich, provide large Poles, either in bigness or in length, or else you loose the best of your profit for want of Poles; but if they are poor, provide but small Poles, lest you impoverish the Root, for the Hop will soon run it self out of heart, if over-poled: More especially, be sure not to over-pole Hops the first Year of their Plantation, al∣though they require as many Poles (or rather Rods) the first, as any other Year.

You must be content with such Poles the Country you live in affords; Alder-poles are esteemed the best, because the Hop most willingly climbeth them, by reason of their streight and tapering form, and also their rough rinde, which suffers not the Hop so easily to slip down.

But the Ash is esteemed the best for lasting, especially such that grow on dry and barren Lands of many years growth, which are known by the many Circles in the bottom: I have known such to have lasted ten or twelve Years, the Wood being much harder, and more durable, than the speedy grown Poles.

Some altogether reject forked Poles, and usually cut off the forked branches, if any, because they cannot (as they pretend) so easily strip off the Hops at gathering time: But I have known the greatest burthen of Hops on a forked Pole, and to have suf∣fered less injury by the Winds when they have been fully blown; and that inconveniency of not stripping them, is easily remedied by our directions, as you will hereafter finde.

Disperse the Poles among the hills before you begin to Pole, laying of them between the hills.

Begin not to Pole until your Hops appear above the ground, that you discern where the biggest Poles are required, and so may you continue Poling till they are a Yard in height, or more; but stay not too long, lest you hinder the growth of the Hop,

which will grow large, unless it hath a Pole, or such like, to climb unto.

Set the Pole near to the hill, and in depth according to the height of the Pole, nature of the ground, and obviousness to winds, that the Pole may rather break than rise out of the ground by any fierce winds.

Let the Poles lean outward the one from the other, that they may seem to stand equi-distant at the top, to prevent Housling, as they term it, which they are subject unto if they grow too near the one from the other; that is, they will grow one amongst another, and cause so great a shade, that you will have more Hawm than Hops. Also it is esteemed an excellent piece of Husbandry to set all the Poles inclining towards the South, that the Sun may the better compass them. This is most evident, that a leaning or bending Pole bears more Hops than an upright.

Be sure to reserve a parcel of the worst Poles, that you may have for your need, in case when the Poles are laden, a Pole may break, or be over-burthened, to support it; for if they lie on the ground, they soon perish.

With a Rammer you may ram the Earth at the out-side of the Pole, for its further security against winds.

If after some time of growing you finde a Hop under or over-poled, you may unwinde the Hop, and place another Pole in its place, having a Companion with you to hold the Hop, whilest you pitch in the Pole; or else you may place another Pole near it, and bring the Hop from one Pole to the other.

The next work is after the Hops are gotten two or three foot out of the ground, to conduct them to such Poles as you think fit, that are either nearest, or have fewest Hops, and winde them or place them to the Pole, that they may winde with the course of the Sun, and binde them gently thereto with some withered Rush, or woollen Yarn; two or three strings are enough to a Pole. I have known more Hops on a Pole from one string, than from four or five, though there hath been more of Hawm.

Be cautious of breaking the tender Shoots, which in the morn∣ing is most dangerous; but when the warmth of the day hath toughned them, may it much better be done.

You must be daily amongst the Hops, during April and May, especially guiding and directing them, else will they be apt to break their own Necks by going amiss: It will sufficiently requite your labour and care at Harvest.

It is convenient with a forked Wand to direct the Hops to the Poles that are otherwise out of reach, or to have a stool to stand on, or a small Ladder made with a stay on the back of it, that you may reach them with your hands.

About Midsummer, or a little after the Hop begins to leave running at length, and then begins to branch, that such Hops that are not yet at the tops of the Poles, 'twere not amiss to nip off the top, or divert it from the Pole, that it may branch the bet∣ter; which is much more for the encrease of the Hop, than to extend it self only in length.

Sometimes in May, after a Rain, pare off the Surface of the ground with a Spade, How it off with a How, or run it over with a Plough with one horse, if you have room enough, or with a Breast-plough; and with these parings raise your hills in height and breadth, burying and suppressing all superfluous Shoots of Hops and weeds.

By this means you will destroy the weeds that otherwise would beggar your Land, and you suppress such Suckers and weeds that would impoverish your Hops; and you also preserve the hills moist by covering them, that the drought of the Summer injureth them not: Also the Hop, so far as it is covered with Earth, issues forth its roots to the very surface of the Earth, which proves a very great succour to the Hop. This work may be con∣tinued throughout the Summer, but more especially after a Rain, to apply the moist Earth about the roots of the Hop.

Therefore it behoveth you to keep the ground in good heart, for this purpose, that your Hops may be the better; and in case it should prove a very dry Spring, it would not be amiss to water the Hops before you raise your hills.

A dry Spring, such that happened in the Years 1672. and 1674. proves a great check to the hop in its first springing, espe∣cially in hot and dry grounds. In such Years it is very advanta∣gious to water them, if it can with conveniency be obtained, either from some Rivulet or Stream running through, or near your Hop-garden, or from some Well digged there, or out of some Pond made with Clay in the lower part of your ground, to receive hasty showres by small Aqueducts leading unto it, which is the best water of all for this purpose.

In the midst of every hill make a hollow place, and thrust some pointed Stick or Iron down in the middle thereof, and pour in your water by degrees, till you think the hill is well soaked; then cover the hill with the parings of your Garden, as before we directed, which will set the Hop mainly forward, as I have known, which otherwise would be small and weak, and hardly ever recover to attain its usual height. Also a very hot and dry Summer, will make the Hop blow but small and thin; therefore would it not be labour lost to bestow a pail of water on every hill, prepared before-hand to receive it.

For in such dry Springs or Summers, such Hops that either stand moist, or have been watred, do very much out-strip their Neighbours, and in such years they will far better requite your labour and industry, yielding a greater price, by reason of their scarcity, than in other seasonable years, when every ground al∣most produceth Hops; Industry and Ingenuity, in these Affairs, being most incouraged, and best rewarded, at such times when Ignorance and Sloth come off with loss and shame.

After every watering (which need not be above twice or thrice in the driest Summers, so that they be throughly wet) be sure to make up the hills with the parings, and with the weeds, and coolest and moistest materials you can get; for the more the Hop

is shaded at the root from the Sun, the better it thrives, as is evi∣dent by such that grow under shelter that are never drest, yet may compare with those you bestow most pains and skill on.

The dressing of your Hops, and poling them, the directing and binding them to the Poles, the watering and making up the hills throughout the Summer, seems to be a tedious task, requi∣ring daily attendance: But without these Labours little is to be gotten, which makes this Plantation so little made use of in some places; yet he that is diligent, and understands his business, is so highly requited for his care, cost and industry, that an Acre or two of ground so managed by one or two persons, shall redound one year with another to more advantage, than fifty Acres of A∣rable-Land, where there is much more time, cost and expence bestowed on it.

Towards the end of July hops blow, and about the beginning of August they bell, and are sometimes ripe, in forward years, at the end of August, but commonly at the beginning of September.

At such time as the hop begins to change his colour, and look a little brownish, or that they are easily pulled to pieces, or that the Seeds begin to change their colour towards a brown, and they smell fragrantly, you may conclude them to be ripe, and procure what help is necessary for a quick dispatch, to gather them before they shatter, one windy day or night may other∣wise do you much injury.

The manner usually prescribed for the gathering of hops, is to take down four hills standing together in the midst of your Gar∣den; cut the roots even with the ground, lay it level, and throw water on it, tread it, and sweep it; so shall it be a fair Floor, whereon the hops must lie to be picked.

On the out∣side of this Floor are the Pickers to sit and pick them into Baskets, the hops being stript off the Poles, and brought into the Floor.

Some there are that sit dispersedly, and pick them into Baskets, after they are stript off the Poles.

Remember always to clear your Floor twice or thrice every day, and sweep it clean every such time, before you go to work again.

In these ways of picking, it is necessary that the Poles be streight, without forks, scrags or knobs.

But the best and most expeditious way, is to make a Frame with four short Poles or Sticks, laid on four Forks driven into the ground, of that breadth to contain either the hair of your Oost or Kiln, or a Blanket tacked round the same about the edges; on which Frame you may lay your Poles with the hops on them, ei∣ther supported with Forks, or with the edges of the Frame; the Pickers may stand on each side, and pick into it. When the Blan∣ket or hair is full, untack it, carry it away, and place another, or the same emptied, in the same Frame again: every day you may remove your Frame with little trouble to some new place of your Garden near your work.

This way is found to be most convenient, expeditious, and ad∣vantagious; for it saves the labour of stripping the Hops off the Poles. Also any forked or scraggy Poles which are best for the Hop, prove no impediment to this way of Picking: It preserves the hops from briting or shedding, which by stripping off the Poles, and wrapping them up in bundles to carry up and down, they are apt to do. Also this way they may pick them clean off the Poles as they hang, without tumbling and tearing, which causes much filth to mix with the Hops, besides the spoiling and loss of many Hops: and being thus picked over your Frame, if the Hops be never so ripe, and subject to shatter, all is preserved. The Pickers may this way also make more expedition than the other, the Hops hanging in view as they grew on the Poles.

Before you draw your Poles, with a sharp hook fixed at the end of a long stale or pole, divide the Hops above where they grow together with other Poles; then ought you to cut the Hops, not as is usually prescribed and practised close at the hills, but about two or three foot above the hills, else will the Hop bleed much of his strength away. This hath been found to be a great strengthner of weak Hops, the other a weakner to all.

Then draw your Poles, which in case they are so far or fast in the ground, that you cannot raise them without breaking of them, you must get a pair of Tongs made like unto a Blacksmiths Tongs, only stronger, and toothed at the end, with which Tongs you may beclip the Pole at the bottom, and resting the joynt thereof on a block of wood, you may weigh up the Pole without trouble or danger of breaking the Pole: or for cheap∣ness sake, you may have a wooden Leaver forked at the end, in which Fork fix two sides of sharp and toothed iron; which put to the Pole, and on a block of wood, as before, you may heave up the Pole by the strength of your right hand, whilest you pull the pole to you with your left.

Cut no more stalks, nor draw no more than you can conveni∣ently dispatch in an hour or two, in case the weather be very hot, or it be likely to rain.

If your Hop-garden be large, it were worth your cost and pains to raise in the midst thereof a Shed, or suchlike house, on four or six main forks or posts, and Thatched over, under which shelter you may pick your Hops; which will both defend your pickers from the Sun, and your Hops from the Sun and storms. Herein also may you lay a parcel of Hops unpicked over-night, that your pickers may to work in the next morning, before the Dew be off the other that are abroad: or in case a storm comes, you may lay in here enough to serve till the other are dry again. Under this shelter also may your Poles lie dry all the Winter.

Let not your hops be wet when you gather them; but if the Dew be on them, or a Showre hath taken them, shake the Pole, and they will be dry the sooner.

If your hops be over-ripe, they will be apt to shed their seed, wherein consisteth the chiefest strength of the hop: Also they

will not look so green, but somewhat brown, which much dimi∣nisheth the value of them; yet some let them stand as long as they can, because they waste less in the drying: four pounds of undried Hops, through ripe, will make one of dry; and five pounds of Hops scarcely ripe, yet in their prime, makes but one: So they judge they get more in the through-ripe Hop by the weight, than they loose in the colour.

There are also two sorts of Hops, the green and the brown; the one yielding a better colour by much when they are dry, the other bears larger and a greater quantity of Hops, which is rather to be preferred.

In the picking, keep them as clean as you can from leaves and stalks, which will damage you more in the sale, than they will advantage you in the weight.

As fast as you pick them dry them, for their lying undried heats them, and changes their colour, very much to the damage of the Hop: but if your Kiln be full, and that you must keep your Hops a while, then spread them on some Floor, that they may not lie too thick; and thus will they keep a day or two without much damage.

Well drying of a Hop, is the most necessary thing to be taken care of; for if that be not rightly done, they are not fit for the Market, nor for use; for a handful of slack dried Hops will mar and spoil many pounds, taking away their pleasant scent and co∣lour: Therefore let your Hops be throughly and evenly dried; which to accomplish, there are several ways made use of, some whereof that are most useful and necessary, I shall here dis∣cover.

This following Description we finde to be used by the Flem∣mings, or Hollanders; and also at Poppering.

First make the square Room or Kiln above eight or ten foot wide, according as you desire it to be in bigness, built up with Brick or Stone, with a Door-place at one side thereof.

In the midst of this Room, on the Floor, must the Fire-place be made, about thirteen inches wide within, and about thirty inches high in length from the mouth thereof, almost to the back-part of the Kiln or Oost, leaving only a way for a man to go round the end of it; it is usually called a Horse, and is com∣monly made in Malt-kilns, the fire passing out at holes on each side, and at the end thereof; and needs no farther description, every Mason or Bricklayer almost is acquainted with it.

About five foot high is placed the Bed or Floor whereon the Hops lie to be dried, which must have a Wall about it four foot high, to keep the Hops up from falling. At the one side of the upper Bed must be made a Window, to shove off the dried Hops down into the Room prepared for them.

The Bed must be made of Laths or Rails sawn very even, an inch square, and laid a quarter of an inch asunder, with a cross Beam to support them in the middle; into which Beam the Laths are to be let in even with the top of it, which keeps the Laths even in their places.

On this Bed, without any Oost-cloth, lay your Hops by Bas∣ket-fulls, beginning at the one end, and so proceeding till all be cover'd about half a Yard thick, without treading on them; then lay them even with a Rake or Stick, that they may not lie thicker in one place than in another.

Then make your fire below of broken Poles, or other wood, say our Authors: But Charcoal is the only fewel for Hops, not in any wise diminishing the colour, which smoaky wood or brands will do.

You must keep your fire at a constant heat, only at the mouth of the Furnace the Air will disperse it sufficiently.

The Hops this way are not to be stirred until they are through∣ly dried, which is not until the top are dry as well as the bottom; but if any place be not so dry as the rest, (which you may per∣ceive by reaching over them with a Stick or Wand, and touching them in several places, observing where they rattle, and where not) then abate them there, and dispose of them where the places were first dry.

When they are all through dry, which is known by the brit∣tleness of the inner stalk, if rubbed, and it break short, then are they enough; then take out the fire, and shove out the Hops at the window for that purpose, with a Coal-rake made of a board at the end of a Pole, into the Room made to receive them; then go in at the door below, and sweep together the Seeds and Hops that fell through, and lay them with the other.

Then proceed to lay another Bed of green Hops, as before, and renew the fire.

In several places they dry their Hops on the ordinary Malt-kilns on a Hair-cloth, laying them about six inches thick; and when they are almost dry, with a Scoop made for that purpose, they turn them up-side down, and let them lie again till every hop as near as they can, be throughly dried; and then with the Hair-cloth remove them to the heap where they are to lie till they are picked.

Both these ways are subject to several inconveniencies: In the first way the hops lying so thick, and never turned, the under∣part of them must needs be dry long before the upper; and the fire passing through the whole Bed to dry the uppermost hop, must needs over-dry, and much injure and waste the greater part of the Hops, both in strength and in weight, besides the waste of firing, which must be long continued to through dry so many together.

In the second way, the turning of the hops breaks them very much, by forcing the Scoop against the rough Hair-cloth, frets and spoils many hops, and shatters their seeds, else this way is rather to be preferred above the other.

Which several inconveniencies may be removed and prevent∣ed, by making the lower part of the Kiln as before is described, and the Bed thereof made after the following manner: First, make a Bed of flat ledges about an inch thick, and two or three

inches broad, sawn, and laid across on the other, Checquer∣wise, the flat way, the distances between about three or four inches, the ledges so entred the one into the other, that the Floor may be even and smooth: This Bed may rest on two or three Joyces set edge-wise to support it from sinking.

Then cover this Bed with large double Tin soudred together at each joynt; and so order the ledges before you lay them, that the joynts of the Tin may always lie over the middle of a ledge; and when the Bed is wholly covered with Tin, fit boards about the edges of the Kiln to keep up the hops, only let the one side be to remove, that the hops may be shoved off (as before.)

On this Tin-Floor or Bed may the hops be turned without such hazard or loss, as before on the hair, and with less expence of fewel: Also any manner of fewel will serve for this purpose as well as Charcoal, the smoak not passing through the hops as in either of the other ways: but you must remember to make Conveyances for it at the several corners and sides of your Kiln or Oost.

Only the saving of fewel, besides the advantage your hops receive, will of it self in a little time recompence the charge ex∣traordinary in making the Tin-Floor.

The turning of hops after the most facile and secure way, is yet found to be not only a waste and injury of the hop, but al∣so an expence of fewel and time, because they require as much fewel, and as long time to dry a small part when they are turned, as if they were almost all to be dried; which may be prevented, in case the upper-bed whereon the hops lie, have a Cover made that may be let down and raised at pleasure; which Cover may be Tinned over, only by nailing single Tin over the face of it, that when the hops begin to dry, and ready to turn, that is, that the greatest part of the moisture be evaporated away, then may you let down this Cover within a foot or less of the hops, which (Reverberatory-like) will reflect the heat upon them, that the up∣permost hop will soon be as dry as the lower, and every hop e∣qually dried.

This is the most expeditious, most sure, and least expensive way that can be imagined to dry hops, which is one of the costliest, troublesome, and most hazardous piece of work that belongs to the hop, as it is vulgarly used.

As soon as your hops are off the Kiln, bag them not immedi∣ately, but lay them in some room or place, that they may lie three or four weeks or more, that they may cool, agive, and toughen; for if they are immediately bagged, they will break to a Powder, but if they lie a while (the longer the better, so they be close covered from the Air with Blankets) you may pack or bag them with more security.

The manner whereof is usually thus; make a hole round or square in an upper Floor big enough, that a man may with ease go up and down, and turn and winde in it; then tack on a hop

about the mouth of the Bag fast with Packthread, that it may bear the weight of the Hops when full, and of the Man that treads them; then let the Bag down through the hole, and the Hop will rest above, and keep the Bag from sliding wholly through: Into which Bag cast in a few Hops; and before you go into ••ead, tye at each lower corner a handful of Hops, with a piece of Packthread, to make as it were a Tassel, by which you may conveniently lift or remove the Bag when he is full; then go in to the Bag and tread the Hops on every side, another casting still in as fast as you require them, till it be full: When it is well trodden and filled, let down the Bag by unripping the hoop, and close the mouth of the Bag, filling the two upper corners as you did the two lower.

Which Bag, if well dried and well packed, may be preserved in a dry place several Years; but beware lest the Mice destroy and spoil them.

After you have dried and laid by your Hops, you may return again to the Hop-garden, and take care to preserve the Poles for another Year.

Strip off the Hawm clean from them, and set up three Poles (like unto a Triangle, wherewith they usually weigh heavy ware) spreading at the bottom, and bound together near the top, about which you may set your Poles as many as you please; binde them about with a little Hawm twisted, to keep them together: By this means the outward Poles are only subject to the injuries of the weather, which keep all the inner Poles dry, except only the tops, which for the most part are exposed to the Air and wet.

Therefore the most part Pile them up at length in Piles in se∣veral places of the Hop-garden, by pitching in several Poles on each side the Pile, and laying two or three old Poles athwart at the bottom to keep them from the moist ground, and so lay the Poles that the smaller ends may be inwards, and the bigger ends outwards; for which purpose the Pile must be made somewhat longer than the Poles; and when you have raised them high e∣nough, with Ropes of Hawm binde the Poles that stand on the one side overthwart to the Poles on the other, to preserve them upright, and cover them with Hawm, to defend them against the Rain.

But the better way is to lay them in such Shed or house erected in your Hop-garden, which may serve for picking of Hops there in the Summer, and preservation of the Poles in the Winter; it will soon require your cost.

In the Winter, when sittle else can be done to the hop-garden, then may you provide Soyl and Manure against the Spring; if the Dung you carry in be rotten, then mix it with two or three parts of the common earth, and so let it lie well mixed till the Spring, which will serve to make up the hills withal.

But if the Dung or Soyl be new, then let it lie mixed till ano∣ther Year, for new Dung is very injurious to hops.

Horse-dung, Cow-dung, or Oxe-dung are very good, but no Dung is to compare with Pigeons-dung, a little thereof only to a hill, and mixed, that it may not be too hot in a place: Sheeps-dung also is very good.

In the Spring or Summer-time, if you steep Sheeps-dung, Pige∣ons-dung, or Hen-dung in water, till it be quite dissolved; and when you water your hops on the top of every hill in the hollow place made to contain the water, you may put a dishful of this dissolved dung, and the water wherewith you water your hops will carry with it the vertue thereof to the roots of the hop, which may prove the most expeditious, advantagious, and least expensive way of inriching the hop-hills of any other.

Also by this means you may convey to the Roots of hops, or any other Plant, the fixed Salt or vertue of Lime, Ashes, or any other Fertilizing or inriching Subject whatsoever, whereof we have already discoursed.

Notes

• Best Land and scituation for a Hop-garden.
• Defending the Hop-garden by Trees.
• Aspen.
• Preparing the ground and di∣stance of the Hills.
• Distance of the Hills.
• Bigness of the Hills.
• Time of plant∣ing Hops.
• Choice of Sets, and manner of Setting.
• Dressing Hops.
• Of Poling the Hops.
• Of tying of Hops to the Poles.
• Of the making up the Hills.
• Manner of wa∣tering Hops.
• When Hops blow, bell, and ripen.
• When to gather Hops, and the ••anner how.
• Of the drying of Hops.
• Description of an Oost or Kiln.
• Another way to dry Hops.
• The best way to dry Hops.
• To dry Hops suddenly with∣out turning them.
• Bagging of Hops.
• Laying up the Poles.
• Dunging or Soyling of the Hop-garden.