To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
SOme hold at this day (and ancient Writers witnesse the * 1.1 same) that earth being sa••t and bitter of taste, is neither good, nor apt to be made good.
It is also often written, and generally received, that such earth as you shall see white and bare, (that is to say) wholly
chalk, or all sand, lacking a mixture of perfect earth, or if it be clay, or so dry, as thereby it shall gape or coane in the * 1.2 Summer, it is nought for this, or any like purpose.
It is further said, that if you shall feel a clod (being dissol∣ved with water) to be very clammy or cl••aving like wax to your fingers in kneading it, the same to be profitable land, &c.
I for my part rely not upon other mens opinions, neither mean to dispute with any man herein, I like not to make my mouth an arbitrator in this matter, mine ey may be deceived, and my feeling may erre in the precise distinction of good or bad land, but mine experience hath never failed in this thing (that is to say) that a barren, a moory or wet soil, (though it perhaps do content a wild Hop) shall never please nor main∣tain a good Hop.
I will not say with Varro, that a good ground yieldeth Walwoorts, nor with Columella, that where Crabs or slows grow, there the ground is rich. I can say nothing of Floren∣tines experience in digging a hole, and filling it up again, and by the swelling to judge the strength, or by the gaping to define the weaknesse thereof; but I can say again by sure ex∣perience, that a dry ground, if it be rich, mellow, and gentle, i•• the soil that serveth best for this purpose, and such a mould must either be sought out, or else by cost and labour be pro∣voked.
If it be a very shallow rock (except you raise it with greet or good earth) you shall not set your Poles deep, steddy, and fast enough to withstand the force of the wind.
But to redresse the inconvenience hereof, you shall be taught in the Title of Poles.
A light mould (though it be very rich) is not very apt for this purpose, for it is a received and an approved rule, that the heaviest ground will bear the most weight of Hops, I say, so as it be a ground apt for this purpose.
IT were good to place your Garden, so as the Sun may have free recourse into it, either the whole day, or the greatest &
warmest part thereof, so also as it may be armed against the violence and contagion of the wind; but this I could wish to be considered rather in the scituation of the place, natu∣rally defended with hills, then artificially to be set and guar∣d••d with Trees. Howbeit if you be driven hereunto, provide so (if you can) that your Trees may stand aloof, even that the shadow of them, reach not into your Garden, but in any wise that they drop not upon the hills.
There be many which (to purchase the favour and benefit of the Sun) lay their Gardens very open and bleak to the South, the which I would not wish to be done, for as the fore∣part of the year admitteth into your Garden the cold Ea∣sterly winds, whereby insues Frosts, the which ingenders Blasts, &c. So the latter part of the year maketh it subject to Southerly stormes, which do much annoy an Hop-Garden when the Poles are loaden with Hops, and then commonly no other wind hurteth.
It should also be placed near to your house, except you be able to warrant the fruit thereof from such fingers, as put no difference between their own, and other mens goods.
Also your Garden being thus placed, there may be made thereunto the more sp••edy and continuall recourse, besides that the Masters eye doth m••ny times withstand and pre∣vent the Servants negligence.
By this means it may be with most ease and least charge holpen with Dung.
Finally (if it may be) let it not stand bleak to the East, West, North, or specially to the South.
THe quantity of your Garden, must either be measured by the proportion of your yearly expences of Hops in your house, or by the cost you mean to bestow in the prepara∣tion and keeping thereof, or by the pains and businesse, that you are disposed, or able to employ upon it, or else ac∣cording to the profit and gains, that you mean to levie
and win by it, which later consideration pleaseth and flattereth much a covetous mans conceit, whose vein or hu∣mour, (or rather vain humour) is so resisted in the Rules ap∣pertaining hereunto, as many times the greedinesse of his de∣sire is the overthrow of his purpose, as shall hereafter appear.
BUt to be resolved in all these points that concern the quantity of your Garden, you must make your account in this wise. One man may well keep two thousand hills, and yet reserve his Winters labour for any other purpose.
Upon every Acre you may erect seven, eight, or nine hun∣dred hills, as hereafter shall be declared.
Upon every hill well ordered, you shall have three pounds of Hops at the least.
Two pounds and a half of these Hops will largely serve for the brewing of one quarter of Mault.
One hundred pounds of these Hops are commonly worth xxvi. Shillings viii. pence. So as one Acre of ground, and the third part of one mans labour, with small cost besides, will yield unto him that ordereth the same well, forty Marks yearly, and that for ever.
And here is to be noted, that ground orderly used doth not onely yield the more, greater, harder and weightier Hops, but also they go further, they will endure longer, be whol∣somer for the body, and pleasanter of verdure or t••ste, than such as be disorderly handled. And in the savour of the Hop thus much more I say, that whereas you cannot make above eight or nine gallons of indifferent Ale out of one Bushell of Mault, you may draw xviii. or xx. Gallons of very good Beere, neither is the Hop more profitable to enlarge the quantity of your drink, then necessary to prolong the continuance thereof: For if your Ale may endure a fort∣night, your Beere through the benefit of the Hop shall con∣nue a moneth, and what grace it yieldeth to the taste, all men
may judge that have sense in them, and if the controversie be betwixt Beer and Ale, which of them two shall have the place of preheminence, it sufficeth for the glory and com∣mendation of the Beere, that here in our own Countrey Ale giveth place unto it, and that most p••rt of our Countreymen do abhor and abandon Ale, as a loathsome drink, whereas in other Nations Beere is of great estimation, and of strangers entertained as their most choice and delicate drink. Finally, that Ale which is most delicate and of best account, borrow∣eth the Hop, as without the which it wanteth his chief grace, and best verdure.
These things considered ye may proceed to the making of your Garden, wherein you are yet to have counsell, for the laying out thereof, for the due season and the right trade to cut and set Hop-roots, what choice ye shall make of them, what charge ye shall be at for them, you are yet also to learn the time when, and the way how to prepare your ground, and to make it able to entertain and nourish them, to frame your Hils, to maintain them, pull them down, to cut, to fa∣shion, to erect, to pull up, to peserve your Poles, to gather, to dry, and to pack your Hops, with many other circum∣stances necessarily appertaining her••unto. Finally ye must be taught the reformation of many ••normities and abuses which are received in most places for good rules, the (which God willing) I will set forth truly according to the notes of exp••rience although not learnedly after the rules of Rhe∣torick.
YOu must lay forth the Ground which you determine to imploy in this way, in as levell, square, and uniform wise as you may.
If your Ground be grassie rough or stiffe, it should de first sown with Hemp or Beans, which naturally maketh the ground mellow, destroyeth weeds, and neverthelesse leaveth the same in good season for this purpose.
But in what plight, or state soever your ground be, till it
in the beginning of Winter with the Plough, if it be great, or with the Spade if it be small, and this do not onely the year before you Plant it, but every year after, even so long as you mean to receive the uttermost commodity of your Garden, assuring your self, that the more pains you take, and the more cost you bestow hereupon, the more you do double your profit, and the nearer you resemble the Trade of the Flemming.
Howbeit in some Cases these pains may be spared (that is to say) where the mould is not deep, and the hill made both good and great, in this case (I say) the hills being pulled down, the earth contained in them, will cover the whole Garden, and all weeds growing therein, and the same will with help of dung maintain your hill for ever.
IN the end of March, or in the beginning of April, repair to some good Garden orderly kept, as wherein the Hops be all of a good kind, yearly cut and wherein all the hills are raised very high, for there the roots will be greatest) then compound with the owner or keeper thereof for choice roots, which in some places will cost six pence an hundred, but commonly they will be given unto you, so as you cut them your self, and leave every hill orderly and fully dressed, but what order you shall use herein, I will here∣after shew.
ANd now you must choose the biggest roots you can find (that is to say) such as are in bignesse three or four inch∣es about.
And let every root which you shall provide to be set be nine or ten inches long.
Let there be contained in every such root three joynts.
Let all your roots be but the Springs of the yeare last past.
You must have great regard that you cumber not your Garden with wild Hops, which are not to be discerned from the good by the roots, but either by the fruit, or by the stalk.
THe kindely Hop beareth a great and grene stalke, a large, hard, and a green bell, it appeareth out of the ground naked without leaves, until it be halfe a foot long.
THe Hop that liketh not his entertainment, namely his seat, his ground, his keeper, his dung, or the manner of his setting &c. cometh up small and green in stalk, thick and rough in leaves, very like unto a Nettle, which will com∣monly be much devoured or much bitten with a little black flie, who also will do harme unto good Hops, where the garden standeth bleak, or the Hop springeth rath, but be not discomforted herewith, for the heat of the Summer will re∣forme this matter, and th•• latter Springs will be little an∣noyed with this flie, who, though she leave the leafe as full of holes as a Net, yet she seldome proceedeth to the utter de∣struction of the Hop.
OF the wild Hop, the fruit is either altogether seed, or else loose and red light bells, the ••••alk is red, howbeit, herein the difference between the good and the bad Hop is not to be discerned, until the stalk be two or three yarde high, for at their first comming up, the one aswell as the other appeareth red, and the best Hop is alwaies the most red.
Provide your roots therefore where you are assured of of their goodnesse before hand.
HAving made your provision of roots in this wise, return therewith to your Garden speedily, and either set them immediately, or lay them in some Puddle near thereunto, or bury them in the ground untill conveniency or winde, wea∣ther, and leisure (the want whereof may sometimes prevent good expedition) shall serve. Provided alwaies that you leave them not in water puddle above xxiv. hours, but in the earth you may leave them as long as the time of setting endureth, that is to say, till the middest of Aprill.
Your Garden being dressed, as before I advised you, it shall be easie for you to direct your hils aright, and that in equall distance with a Pole, or rather with a line (that will not stretch) tying thereupon short threds, or placing in it pins, according to the proportion of space which you mean to leave between your hils, whereof if one be placed out of order, it shall blemish and hurt a great part of your Garden.
IF your Garden be one Acre in bignesse, and lye square, leave between every hole three yards, or eight foot at the leaft in space, as well that the hils may be made the greater, and that the Hops of one pole reach not to another, as also that the Sun may the more freely, and universally passe tho∣row your Garden, which by this means may yearly be plough∣ed betwixt the Hills, whereas otherwise it must be digged, which is a more tedious and costly businesse.
If your Garden be very little, you may set the hills some∣what nearer together, namely, seven foot asunder.
YOur line being laid levell, you must digge, underneath e∣very thred or pin placed upon the same, a hole like a Pit∣fall,
one foot square, and one foot deep.
When you have made twenty or thirty holes, take up so many roots; from where you bestowed them, as ought to be therein, and go to work on this wise, alwaies watching a time (if you may) that the winde be in some part of the South or West, but be not so scrupulous herein, that you overslip the moneth of April, least Salomons saying, be spoken of you. He that regardeth the Wind shall not sow, and he that hath respect to the Clouds shall not reap. For he that neglecteth the Moneth of April, shall have a bad season to cut or plant Hops.
Take two or three of your roots (which by this time will yeeld forth green Cions or white buds, and will also have small roots or beards growing out of them, the which must be, all saving the smaller sort of white buds, pared away by the old root) joyn them close together, so as (in any wise) they may be even in the tops: set them also together bolt up∣right, directly under the foresaid thred or pin, holding them hard together with one hand, while you fill the hole with the other with fine mould prepared and made ready before hand, regarding that the tops of the roots be levell with the face or uppermost part of the ground.
Take good heed also that you set not that end downward, that grew before upward, which you shall know by the buds that appear in the knots of each root, and let no part of the dead remain upon the uppermost part of the joynt thereof.
And when you have thus done, presse down the earth with your foot hard to the roots, not treading upon them, but
driving the loose earth close to the corner where the roots are set.
And here is to be noted, that the readiest and evenest way is alwayes to set your roots at one certain corner of the hole, which corner should alwaies be right underneath the said pinne or thred, as is aforeshewed.
At this time you must make no hill at all, but onely co∣ver the tops of your roots about two inches thick, with the finest mould you can get.
When you are driven to set your roots late, if there be a∣ny green springs upon them, you may take the advantage thereof, leaving the same spring uncovered, otherwise you both destroy the spring, and endanger the root.
SOme use to set at every corner of the hole one root, but this is a naughty and tedious trade, because a man shall be longer in dressing one of these, than about four other. To be short, you shall this way so cumber both your self and your Garden, that you will soon be weary with working, and your Garden as soon weary of bearing.
Some wind them and set both ends upward, and herein the cunning of the workman, and the goodness of the roots are lively expressed, for if the roots were good, they could not be so wound, or if the workman were skilful, he would not be so fond as to set them in that order.
Some use to lay them thwart or flat, but I say flatly that is a praeposterous way, for they can neither prosper well (as being set contrary to their nature, and kind of growing) nor be kept as they ought to be.
Some use to make hills and set the roots therein, but the moisture in regard of the hill, cannot administ••r succour to them, besides other inconveniences which may follow.
Some bury the roots under a great hill made on them af∣ter the setting, this differs not much from the other, onely the hill so choaks these that they will do no good.
Finally, there be as many evill wayes to set, as there be ig∣norant men to devise.
IF your Garden be small, and very nigh to your house, you may arm every hill with a few thorns to defend them from the annoyance of Poultry, which many times will scrape and bath amongst the hills, and so discover and hurt the springs, but a Goose is the most noysome vermine that can enter into this Garden, for (besides the Allegory that may be applyed in this case) a Goose will knabble upon every young science or Hop bud that appeareth out of the ground, which will never grow afterwards, and therefore as well to avoid the Goose, as other noysome cattell, let your closure be made strong, and kept tight.
IT remaineth that I speak now of Poles, because Poling is the next work now to be done.
If your hils be distant three yards asunder, provide for e∣very hill four poles, if you will make your hils nearer toge∣ther, three poles shall suffice.
And note that in the first year you may occupy as many poles as in any year after, the reason whereof I will declare in the title of Hils.
Alder poles are best for this purpose, as whereunto the Hops seem most willingly and naturally to encline, because both the fashion of these poles being as a Taper, small above, and great below, and also the roughnesse of the Alder-ryne, stayeth the Hop stalk more firmly from sliding down, than ei∣ther Ash or Ok, which for continuance be somewhat better howbeit, these with the order that I shall prescribe, will en∣dure six or seven years.
These are also best cheap, and easiest to be gotten in most places, and soonest grown ready for this purpose.
There is in the Spring of these, least danger in growing, or in being destroyed, or bitten by cattell.
Finally, by the expence of these, there ensueth the least annoyance to the Co••mon-wealth, as well for the causes a∣foresaid, as also because they grow not in so great quantity, to so good timber, nor for so many purposes as either Oke or Ash.
The best time to cut your poles, is between Alhallontide and Christmas, but you must pile them up immediately after they are cut, sharped, reformed in length, and smoothed, lest they rot before you occupy them.
You may not leave any scrags upon them, the reason whereof you shall conceive in the Title of gathering Hops.
Your Poles may not be above xv. or xvi. foot long at the most, except your ground be very rich, or that you added thereunto great labour in raising up your hills, or else except your hills stand too near together: if any of these chance to be, or if all these three things meet in one Garden, the best way of reformation, is to set the fewer poles to a hill, or to let them remain the longer. Otherwise the Hops will grow from one pole to another, and so overshadow your Garden, the fault thereof being especially to be imputed to the near∣nesse of the hills. Therefore chiefly you must measure your poles by the goodnesse of your ground.
Your Hop never stocketh kindly, untill it reach higher than the Pole, and return from it a yard or two, for whilst it tendeth climbing upward, the branches, which grow out of the principal stalk (wherein consisteth the abundance of en∣crease) grow little or nothing.
Let the quantity of your Poles be great (that is to say) nine or ten inches about the lower end, so shall they endure the longer, and withstand wind the better.
To describe the price of poles, or what it will cost you to furnish a Garden containing an acre of ground, it were a hard matter, because the place altereth the price of Wood. But in a Wain you may carry an hundred and fifty poles, and I see small cause why a load of these should be much dearer than a load of any other Wood.
After the first year Poles will be nothing chargeable unto you, for you may either pick them out of your own provi∣sion of Fuell, or buy them of your Neighbours that have no occasion to apply them this way. For the yearly supply of two loads of Poles, will maintain one Acre continually.
Your rotten and broken Poles will do you good service, for the kindling of your fires in the Oste, whereupon you should dry your Hops, and they should be preserved chief∣ly for that purpose.
At Poppering (where both scarcity and experience hath taught them to make carefull provision hereof) they do com∣monly at the East and North-side of their Gardens, set and preserve Alders, wherewith they continually maintain them.
Before you set up your Poles, lay them all alongst your Garden between every row of hills by three or four toge∣ther, I mean beside every hill so many Poles as you deter∣mine to set thereon, so shall you make the more speed in your work.
WHen your Hops appear above the ground, so as you may discern where the principall roots stand, set up your Poles, preparing their way with a crow of Iron, or a forked woodden tool, with a point of Iron, somewhat like unto these.
You must ••et every Pole a foot and a half deep, and within two or three inches at the most of the principall root.
If your ground be rockie and shallow, tarry the longer be∣fore you set up your Poles, so as your Hops may be grown two or three foot high, that you may adventure to make a hill or bank at every pole to stay uphold the same, with∣out burying any of the young Springs, which may afterward be covered with lesse danger and annoyance of the principall root.
Let the Poles of every hill lean a little outward one from another.
THen with a piece of wood as big below as the great end of one of your poles, ramme the earth that lyeth at the outside of the Pole thereunto, but medle not within the com∣passe of your Poles, as they are placed, lest you spoile the Springs.
IF any of the Poles chance to break in many pieces, when the Hop is grown up, undoe and pull away the same bro∣ken pole, and tye the top of those Hops to the top of a new pole, then winding it a turn or two about according to the course of the Sun, set it in the hole, or besides the hole where the broken pole stood, but some being loth to take so much pains, turn it about the other Poles that stand upon the same hill, and so leave it. But if it be not broken above the middest, the best way is, to set a new pole or stalk beside the broken pole to the same, which may uphold the said broken pole, and preserve the Hop. If the pole be onely broken at the ne∣ther end, you may shove the said pole again into the hill, and so leave it.
ANd because, when the hils are made great, and raised high you can neither easily pull up any, nor possible pull up all your poles except you break them, &c. especially if the weather or ground be dry, or else the Poles old or small, I
thought good to shew you an Instrument wherewith you may pull them up without disease to your self, destruction to your Poles, or expence of your money, the charge being duly foure∣teen or fif∣teen pound of Iron, wherewith the Smith shall make you a paire of Tongs, (or rather you may call them) a pair of Pinsers, of the fashi∣on here set down, the which may also be made with wood, if you think good.
THey must be one yard in length, whereof six or seven inches may be allowed for the mouth or lower end of them, which serveth to clasp or catch hold on the Pole, the same nether end should be the strongest part thereof, and the mouth somewhat hollow in the middest, and there also bend∣ing downward, whereby the extream point may rise a lit∣tle upward.
Upon the upper edges of the infide thereof, the Smith should hack or raise a few small teeth, whereby your tool may take the surer hold upon the Pole.
He must also fasten upon every side of this Instrument a ri∣ding hook, the which may clasp and stay both sides together, when they have caught hold on the pole.
YOu shall lay a little square block upon the top of the hill, and the better to remove the same from hill to hill, you
may thrust therein a Pin. Upon the same block you may rest your Pinsers, when they have clasped the very lowest part of your Pole, and then holding the upper part of each side in your hands, the hook being clasped, and pulled up hard to∣wards you, you may easily weigh up your Poles.
ANd although ye are not come to the laying up of Poles, I am bold herein, as I began too late, so to make an end too quickly, because I would touch the whole matter of Poles to••ether, laying them by themselves, (I mean) com∣prehending under one Title, the businesse pertaining unto them.
For the preservation and better continuance of Poles, some make houses of purpose, and lay them up therein.
Some set them upright to a Tree, and over them make a penthouse of boughs or boords.
Some lay a great heap of Hop-stalks upon the Ground, and upon them a great heap of Pol••s, and upon the Poles a∣gain lay another heap of stalks, &c.
These men hereby do ex••resse no great experience, although by their diligence they signifie a good desire.
You shall need to do no more but thus. At the ends or sides of your Garden, take three Poles standing upon three Hills, placed directly one by another, and three like Poles upon three other hills of the next row right over against them, con∣strain them to meet together by two, and two in the tops, and so hold them, till one with a forked wand put three withs (lik unto three Broom bands, which may be made of the stalks of Hops) upon each couple of the said six Poles, so shall the same six Poles being so bound by two and two to∣gether, stand like the roof or rafters of an house.
To keep the Poles that shall lye nether most from rotting by the moistnesse of the ground: within the compasse of your said six hills, underneath the Poles that you have fa∣stened
together in the tops,) raise three little banks crosse or thwart from hill to hill, as though you would make your six hills to be but three.
Upon those banks lay a few Hop-stalks, and upon them your Poles, observing that one stand at one end of the room, and another at the other end, ordering the matter so, as the tops of the Poles lie not all one way, but may be equally and orderly divided: otherwise one end of the room would be full before the other, whereas now they will lye even and sharp above like an hay-stack, or the ridge of an house, and sufficiently defend themselves from the weather.
If you think that you have not Poles enough to fill the room, pull down the withs or bands lower, and your room will be lesse, and do this before you lay in your Poles.
WHen your Hops are grown about one or two foot high, bind up (with a Rush or Grasse) such as decline from the Poles, winding them as often ye can about the said Poles, and directing them alwayes according to the course of the Sun, but if your leisure may serve (to do at any o∣ther time of the day) do it not in the morning when the dew remaineth upon them.
If you lay soft green Rushes abroad in the dew and the Sun, within two or three dayes, they will be lithi, tough, and handsome for this purpose of tying, which may not be foreslowed, for it is most certain that the Hop, that lyeth long upon the ground before he be tyed to the Pole, prosp••reth nothing so well, as it which sooner attaineth thereunto.
NOw you must begin to make your hills, and for the better doing thereof, you must prepare a tool of Iron fashioned somewhat like to a Coopers Addes, but not
so much bowing, neither so narrow at the head, and therefore likest to the nether part of a shovell, the poll whereof must be made with a round hole to receive a helve, like to the helve of a mattock, and in the powl also a nail hole must be made to fasten it to the helve.
This helve should bow somewhat like to a Sithe, or to the steale of a Sithe, and it must be little more than a yard long.
The helve should be straight at the upper end.
With this tool you may pare away the grasse, which groweth in the spaces betwixt the hills, and with the same also you may take your hills, and pull them down when time requireth.
Some think it impertinent and not necessary to make hills the first year, partly because their distrust of this years pro∣fit qualifieth their diligence in this behalf, and partly for that they think, that the principall root prospereth best, when there be no new roots of them forced and maintained. But experience confuteth both these conjectures, for by indu∣stry, the first years profit will be great, and thereby also the principall sets much amended, as their prosperity in the se∣cond year will plainly declare.
But in this work, you must be both painfull and curious, as wherein confisteth the hope of your gains, and the successe of your work. For the greater in quantity you make your hills, the more in number you shall have of your Hops, and the fewer weeds on your ground, the more Hops upon your poles.
In confideration whereof I say, your labour must be con∣tinuall from this time almost till the time of gathering, in raising your hills, and clearing ground from weeds.
In the first year that you plant your Hop-Garden, sup∣presse not one Cion, but suffer them all to climb up to the poles, for if you should bury or cover all the Springs of any one of your three roots, which you did lately set, the root thereof perisheth, and perhaps out of some one root there
will not proceed above one or two springs, which being bu∣ried, that root I say dyeth, and therefore the more poles are at this time requisite.
After the first year you must not suffer above two or three stalks at the most to grow up to one pole, but put down and bury all the rest.
Howbeit you may let them all grow till they be four or five foot high at the least, whereby you shall make the better choice of them which you mean to attain, whereby also the principall root will be the better, &c.
Some suffer their Hops to climb•• up to the tops of the poles, and then make the hills at one instant in such quantity as they mean to leave them, which is neither the best, nor the second way.
But if (for expedition) you be driven hereunto, begin soon∣er (that is to say) when the Hops be four or five foot long, and afterwards, if leisure shall serve, refresh them again with more earth.
But to make them well, and as they ought to be made, you must immediately after your poles are set, make a little bank or circle round about the outside of them, as a dimension how wide your hill shall be, and as a receptacle to retain and keep moisture, whereof there cannot lightly come too much, so it come from above.
If your Garden be great, by that time that you have made an end of these Circles or Banks, it will be time to proceed further towards the building up of your hills,
Now therefore return again to the place where you be∣gan, or else where you see the Hops highest, and with your tool pare off the uppermost earth from the Allies or spaces between the hills, and lay the same in your Hops, upon and within the circle that you made before, alwayes leaving the same highest of any part of the hill, and so passe through your Garden again and again, till you have raised your hills by little and little, to so great a quantity as is before de∣clared, and look how high your hill is, so long are your new
roots, and the greater your new roots or springs be, the lar∣ger and better your Hops will be
Great and overgrown weeds should not be laid upon the hills, as to raise them to their due quantity, but when with diligence and expedition you passe through your Garden, continually paring away each green thing assoon as it ap∣peareth, you shall do well with the same, and the uppermost mold of your Garden together, to maintain and encrease the substance of your hills, even till they be almost a yard high.
In the first year make not your hill too rathe, left in the do∣ing thereof you oppresse some of those springs which would otherwise have appeared out of the ground.
It shall not be amisse now and then to passe through your Garden, having in each hand a forked wand, directing aright such Hops as decline from the Poles, but some instead of the said forked wands, use to stand upon a stool, and do it with their hands.
SOme observe no time, and some no measure in making their hills, but (having heard say, that hills are necessary) they make hills once for all, and never after pluck down the same: but better it were to make no hill, than so to do, for after the first year it doth derogate, and not adde any com∣fort to the root, except the same be every year new made and dressed, &c.
Some use to break off the tops of the Hops when they are grown a xi. or xii. foot high, because thereby they burnish and stock exceedingly, wherein, though I cannot commend their doings, yet do they much better than such as will have their Poles as long as their Hops.
But if your Pole be very long, and that the Hop have not attained to the top thereof before the middest of July, you shall do well then to break, or cut off the top of the same Hop, for so shall the residue of the growing time serve to the
maintenance and increase of the Branches, which otherwise would expire without doing good in that matter, because that whole time would be then imployed to the lengthening of the stalk which little prevaileth (I say) to the stocking or encrease of the Hop.
And here is to be noted, that many covetous men, thinking (in hast) to enlarge their luere, do find (at leisure) their com∣modity diminished, whilst they make their hills too thick, their Poles too long, and suffer too many stalks to grow up∣on one Pole, wherein (I say) while they run away flattering themselves with the imagination of double gains, they are o∣vertaken with trebble dammage (that is to say) with the losse of their time, their labour, and their cost.
NOte that commonly, at St. Margarets day, Hops blow, and at Lammas they bell, but what time your Hops be∣gin to change colour, (that is to say) somewhat before Mi∣chaelmasse (for then you shall perceive the seed to change co∣lour and wax brown) you must gather them, and for the speedier dispatch thereof, procure as much help as you can, taking the advantage of fair weather, and note that you were better to gather them too rathe than too late.
To do the same in the readiest and best order, you must pull down your hills standing together in the middest of your Garden, cut the roots of all those hills, as you shall be taught in the Title of Cutting, &c. Then pare the Plat small, levell it, throw water on it, tread it, and sweep it, so shall it be a fair Floore, whereon the Hops must lye to be picked.
Then beginning near unto the same, cut the stalks asunder, close by the tops of the hills, and if the Hops of one Pole be grown fast unto another, cut them also asunder with a sharp Hook, and with a forked staffe take them from the Poles.
You may make the Fork and Hook (which cutteth asun∣der the Hops that grow together) one apt instrument to serve both these turns.
Then may you with your forked ••nd, thrust up, or shove off all such stalks as remain upon each Hop-pole, and carry them to the Floore prepared for that purpose.
For the better doing hereof, it is very necessary that your poles be straight without serags or knobs.
In any wise cut no more stalks then you shall carry away within one hour or two at the most, for if in the mean time the Sun shine hot, and it happen to rain, the Hops (remain∣ing cut in that sort) will be much impaired thereby.
Let all such as help you stand round about the Floore, and suffer them not to pingle in picking one by one, but let them speedily strip them into Baskets prepared ready therefore.
It is not hurtfull greatly, though the smaller Leaves be mingled with the Hops, for in them is retained great vertue, insomuch as in Flanders they were sold Anno Domini 1566 for xxvi. shillings viii. pence the Hundred, no one Hop being mingled with them.
Remember alwayes to clear your Floor twice or thrice e∣very day, and sweep it clean at every such time, before you go to work again.
If the weather be unlike to be fair, you may carry these Hops into your house in Blankets or Baskets, &c. and there accomplish this work. Use no Linnen hereabouts, for the Hops will stain it so, as it can never be washed out.
If your poles be seraggy, so as you cannot strip the stalks from them in this order, you must pull them up with main force before the Hops be gathered, and this is painfull to your self, hurtfull to your Hops, and a delay to your work.
Then must you lay these poles upon a couple of forked stalks driven into the ground, being two or three yards di∣stant one from another, as Spits upon Ranges, and so dispatch this businesse, if the weather be fair, if it be like to be foul, you must be fain to carry the Hops together with the pole
into your Barn or house, that they may not take wet, and so be made uselesse.
In any wise let not the Hops be wet when you cut them from the hills, neither make any delay of gathering after the same time of cuttings, for in standing abroad they will shed their seed, wherein consisteth the chief vertue of the Hop, and hereof I cannot warn you too often, nor too earnestly.
Now by order I should declare unto you the manner of drying your Hops, but because I must therewithall describe the places meet for that purpose, with many circumstances appertaining thereunto, I will be bold, first to finish the work within your Hop-Garden, and then to lead you out of the same, into the place where you must dry your Hops, &c.
When your Hops are gathered, assoon as you have leisure, take up your Poles and pile them (that remain good) as I have shewed you in the Title of Poles.
Then carry out your broken Poles, and your Hop-straw to the fire.
Now may you depart out of your Garden, till the March following, except in the mean time you will bring in dung, or good earth to the maintenance thereof, towards the height∣ning of your hills, or else will plow it, &c.
TO be curious in laying dung upon the hills in Winter, as to comfort or warm the roots (as some do) it shall be needlesse, rather pluck down the hills, and let the roots lye bare all the Winter season, and this is usually done where ••ops are best ordered, especially to restrain them from too rathe springing, which is the cause of blasts, and many o∣ther inconveniences.
If the ground be great that you keep, you shall be driven so to do, otherwise you shall not be able to overcome your work in due time.
In any case you must avoid new horse-dung as a very
noysome and pernicious things for your Hops.
Stall dung is the best that can be wished for to serve this turn, so it be throughly rotten.
Rather use no dung than unrotten dung about the dressing of your Hops, but omit not to bring into your Garden dung, that may there be preserved till it be good or needfull to be used.
ABout the end of April (if your ground be not rich e∣nough) you must help every hill with a handfull or two of good earth, not when you cut your roots, for then it will rather do harm than good, but when the Hop is wound a∣bout the pole, then should you do it.
IN March you may return to your Garden, and find it re∣plenished with weeds, except by tillage, &c. you have pre∣vented that matter already. It must, (as well therefore be∣cause the earth may be more fine, rich, and easie to be deliver∣ed unto the hils) be digged over or plowed, except in the case mentioned.
WHen you pull down your hills, (which if you have not already done, you must now of necessity go a∣bout to do) you should (with your Garden tool) 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 again removed away with your said tool, you shall discern where the new roots grow out of the old Sets.
In the doing hereof, be carefull that you spoil not the old Sets, as for the other roots which are to be cut away, you shall not need to spare them to the delay of your work, ex∣cept 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 the end of March, or in the beginning of April, and then remember the wind.
In the first year (I mean) at the first time of cutting and dressing of your roots, you must (with a sharp knife) cut a∣way all such roots or springs 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 Osiers head cut.
There groweth out of the old Sets certain roots, right downwards, not joynted at all, which serve only for the nou∣rishing and comfort of those Sets or principall roots, which are not to be cut off. There be other like unto them growing outward at the fides of the Sets. If these be not met withall, and cut asunder, they will cucumber your whole Garden.
Because it may seem hard to discern the old Sets from the new springs, I thought good to advertise you how easie a thing it is to see the difference thereof; for first you shall be sure to find your Sets where you did set them, nothing in∣creased in length, but somewhat in bignesse enlarged, and in few years all your Sets will be grown into one, so as by the quantity that thing shall plainly appear: and lastly the difference is seen by the colour, the old root being red, the other white, but if the hills be not yearly pulled down, and the roots yearly cut, then indeed the old Sets shall not be perceived from the other roots.
If your Sets be small, and placed in good ground, and the hill well maintained, the new Roots will be greater than the old.
If there grow in any hill a wild Hop, or whensoever the stalk waxeth red, or when the Hop in any wise decayeth, pull up every root in that hill, and set new in their places, at the usuall time of cutting and setting, or if you list, you may do it when you gather Hops with the roots which you cut a∣way, when you make your picking place.
Many men seeing the springs so forward, as they will be by this time, are loth to lose the advantage hereof, and more unwilling to cut away so many goodly roots, but they that are timorous in this behalf, take pity upon their own profit, and are like unto them that refrain to lay dung upon their Corn land, because they will not beray it with so un∣cleanly a thing.
And some that take upon them great skill herein, think that for the first year they may be left unhilled and uncut, &c. deceiving themselves with this conceit, that then the Sets prosper best within the ground, when they send least of their nature and state out of the ground. In this respect also they pull away or suppresse all such Springs (as soon as they ap∣pear) which grow more, and besides them which they mean to assign to each Pole, as though when a mans finger were cut off, his hand would grow the greater. Indeed if there be no hill maintained, then the more Springs are suffered to grow out from the principall root, the more burden and punishment it will be to the same. But when the Springs are maintained with a hill, so much as remaineth within the same is converted into roots, which rather adde than take a∣way any state from the principall root, in consideration here∣of, the suppressing of the Springs may not be too rathe, for whatsoever opinion be hereof received, the many Springs ne∣ver hurt the principall root, if the the hills be well maintain∣ed, but it is the cumbring and shadowing of one to ano∣ther, that worketh the annoyance.
When you have cut your Hops, you must cover them as you were taught in the Title of Setting, and proceeding ac∣cording to the order already set down.
SOme there be that despise good order, being deceived with a shew of increase, which sometime appeareth in a disor∣dered
ground, to them I say, and say it truly, that the same is a bad and a small increase in respect of the other.
I say also, that although disorderly doings at the first may have a countenance of good successe, yet in few years the same, and all hope thereof will certainly decay.
Some others there be that despise good order, satisfying themselves with this, that they have sufficiently to serve their own turn, without all these troubles, and surely it were pit∣ty that these should be troubled with any great abundance, that in contempt of their own profit, and of the Common∣wealth, neglect such a benefit preferred unto them.
NOw have I shewed unto you the perfect Platform of a Hop-Garden, out of the which I led you for a time, and brought you in again when time required, and there would I leave you about your businesse, were it not to shew you by de∣scription such an Oste as they dry their Hops upon at Poppe∣ring, with the order thereof, &c. Which for the small charges and trouble in drying, for the speedy and well drying, and for the handsome and easie doing thereof, may be a profitable pattern, and a necessary instruction for as many as have, or shall have to do herein.
FIrst a little house must be built of length xviii. foot or xix. foot, of widenesse eight, wherein must be comprehended three severall rooms.
The middle and principall room must be for your Oste, eight foot square. The fore part, which is to contain your dryed Hops, will fall out to be five foot long, and eight foot wide a piece.
The chief matters that are to be by me described herein, are the Furnace below, wherein the fire is to be made, and
the bed above, whereon the Hops mustly to be dryed: this I have chiefly to advise you of, that you build the whole house, and every part thereof as close as you can, and to place it near to your Garden, for the better expedition of your work, and somewhat distant from your house to avoid the danger of fire.
THe Floore or nether part of your furnace must be about thirteen inches wide.
The depth or height thereof must be thirty inches.
The length of it must be about six or seven foot (that is to say) reaching from the fore part of the Oste almost to the further end thereof, so as there be left no more room but as a man may passe between the wall and the end of it.
It must be made wide below, and narrow above, fashioned in outward shape somewhat like to the roof of an house.
It must have three rows of holes at each side, the length of one Brick asunder, and the bignesse of half a Brick, placed checkerwise. Before you begin to make your holes, you should lay two rows of Brick, and when your three ranks of holes are placed upon them, you must lay again over them ano∣ther row of Brick, and upon the same you must place your last and highest course, and they must stand longwise (as it were a tiptoe) the tops of the Bricks meeting together above (the nether part of them resting upon the uppermost course) and note that till then, each side must be built alongst direct∣ly upward.
You should leave almost a foot space between the mouth of your Furnace, and your rows of holes, especially of that row which is nethermost.
The further or hinder end of your Furnace, the which is opposite to the mouth thereof, must be built flat with an up∣right wall, and there must be holes also left as at the sides.
The Furnace in the top, (I mean from the upper course of holes) must be dawbed very well with morter.
And so upon the top of your Furnace there will remain a
gutter, (whereupon Flemmimgs use to bake Apples, &c.) and the highest part thereof will reach within two foot and lesse of the Oste.
Finally, it must be placed upon the ground in the middest of the lower Floore of the Oste, which Floor must be made
THe bed or upper floor, whereon your Hops shall lye to be dryed, must be placed almost five foot above the nether floor whereon the Furnace standeth.
The two walls at each side of the house, serve for the bed to rest upon two wayes.
Now must two other walls be built at each end of your Oste, whereon the other two parts of the bed must rest, and by this means shall you have a close square room beneath, be∣twixt the lower floor and the bed, so as the floor below shall be as wide as the bed above.
These two walls must also be made four foot above the bed (that is to say) about nine foot high.
At the one end below, besides the mouth of the Furnace, you must make a little doore into the room beneath the bed. At
the other end above the bed you must make a Window to shove off from the bed the dryed Hops, down into the room below prepared for them.
The bed should be made as the bed of any other Oste, saving that the Rails or Laths, which serve thereto, must be sawn very even one inch square, and laid one quarter of an inch asunder. But there may be no more beams to stay the Laths but one, and the same must be laid flat and not on edge, in the middest from one end of the room to the other, and the Laths must be let into the same beam, so as the upper side of the beam, and all the Laths may lye even.
If your Garden be very great, you may build your house somewhat larger, namely xxii. foot long, and ten foot broad, and then you must make in this Oste two Furnaces, three or four foot asunder, placing the doore betwixt them both, o∣therwise in all points like to that which I first described, and
The window pointed unto may not stand below in the nether room, but above as is before decla∣red.
And now once again wishing you to make every doore, Window and joynt of this house close, I will leave building, and proceed to the drying of Hops, saving that I may not o∣mit to tell you, that you should either build all the walls of this Room with Brick, or else with Lime and Hair par∣git them over: and at the least that wall wherein the
mouth of the Furnace standeth, be made of Brick.
And although I have delayed you from time to time; and brought you from place to place, and tediously led you in and out, to and fro in the demonstration hereof, yet must I be bold to bring you round about again, even to the place where I left you picking, from whence you must speedily con∣vey your pickt Hops to the place built and prepared for them, and with as much speed hasten the driyng of them.
THe first businesse that is to be done herein, is to go up to the bed of the Oste, and there to receive baskets filled with Hops, at the hands of one that standeth below.
Then beginning at the further end (left you should tread on them) lay down Basketfull by Basketfull, till the floore or bed be all covered, alwayes stirring them even and levell, with a Cudgell, so as they may lye about a foot and a half thick, and note that upon this Oste, there is no Oste-cloth to be used.
Now must you come down to make your fire in the Fur∣nace, for the kindling whereof your old broken Poles are very good, howbeit for the continuance and maintenance of this fire, that wood is best which is not too dry, and some∣what great.
Your Hop∣stalks or any other straw is not to be used herein.
You shall not need to lay the wood through to the further end of your Furnace, for the fire made in the forepart there∣of, will bend that way, so as the heat will universally and in∣differently ascend and proceed out of every hole.
You must keep herein a continuall and hot fire, Howbeit you must stir it as little as you can.
Neither may you stir the Hops that lye upon the Oste, untill they be throughly dryed.
When they are dry above, then they are ready to be remo∣ved away, and yet sometimes it happeneth, (that through
the disorderly laying of them) they are not so soon dry in one place, as they are in another.
The way to help that matter, is to tak a little Pole (where∣with you shall senfibly feel and perceive which be, and which be not dry, by the rattling of the Hops which you shall there∣with touch) and with the same Pole to turn-aside such Hops as be not dry, abating the thicknesse to the moist place.
When your Hops are dry, rake up the fire in such sort, as there may be no delay in the renewing thereof.
Then with exp••dition shove them out of the Window be∣fore mentioned into the room prepared to receive them, with a Rake fashioned like a Cole-rake, having instead of teeth a board, &c.
This being done, go down into the lower Floor, and sweep together such Hops and seeds, as are fallen thereinto, and lay them up among the dryed Hops, and then without delay cover the bed again with green Hops, and kindle your fire.
Lay your dryed Hops on a heap together till they be cold, and by this means such as were not perfectly dryed through some disorder upon the Oste, shall now be reformed.
If they have been well ordered, they will now be brown, and yet bright.
If they be black and dark, it is a note that they are dis∣ordered.
The Flemmings pack them not up before they sell them to to the Merchant, but lay them in some corner of a Loft, where they tread them close together.
SOme use to dry their Hops upon a common Oste, but that way there can be no great speed in your work, nor small expence of your wood, besides the danger of fire and ill suc∣cesse of your doings.
On this Oste you must have an Oste cloth, otherwise the Seed and Hops that fall down shall not onely perish, but en∣danger the burning of your Oste.
Upon this Oste you may not lay your Hops above eight or nine inches thick, which neverthelesse shall not be so soon dry, as they which lye upon the other Oste almost two foot thick, and therefore this way you shall make more toil in your work, more spoil in your Hops, and more expence in your wood.
Some use to dry their Hops in a Garret, or upon the floor of a Loft or Chamber, in the reproof whereof I must say, that as few men have room enough in their houses to contain a∣ny great quantity or multitude of Hops, so the dust that will arise shall empair them, the chinks, crevises, and open joynts of your Lofts, being not close byrthed, will devour the seeds of them. in the end the Leaves will endanger them with heating, when they are packt, as being not so soon dry as the Hops, which thereby will be utterly spoiled in colour, in scent and in verdure.
As for any low rooms or earthen floors, they are yet worse for this purpose than the other, for either they yield dust in drynesse, or moisture in wet weather.
And therefore if you have no Oste, dry them in a Loft as open to the air as may be: sweep, wash and rub the boards, and let your Broom reach to the walls, and even to the roof of your Loft, for I can teach you no way to divide the dust from your Hops, but so to prevent the inconvenience hereof.
Stop the holes and chinks of your floor, lay them not a∣bove half a foot thick, and turn them once a day at the least, by the space of two or three weeks.
This being done, sweep them up into a corner of your Loft, and there let them lye as long more, for yet there remain∣neth perill in packing of them.
If the year prove very wet, your Hops ask the longer time of drying, and without an Oste will never be well dryed.
SOme lay their Hops in the Sun to dry, and this taketh away the state of the Hoppes, contrary to the
purpose of drying, which is very prejudiciall to the Brewer.
SOme gather them, and brew with them being green and undryed, supposing that in drying the vertue and state of the Hop d••cayeth and fadeth away, wherein they are decei∣ved: for the verdure is worse, the strength lesse, and the quan∣tity must be more of green Hops, that are to be brewed in this sort.
In the first wort, which the Brewers call the Hop-wort (because the time of seething thereof is short) there goeth out of these Hops almost no vertue at all, and therefore ex∣perience hath taught them that are driven to brew with these green Hops, to seeth them again in the wort, which they call Ney-beere, where after long seething they will leave the state which remaineth in them, and that is not much.
IN the making of your Hop-sacks, use your own cunning or invention, for I have small skill therein, Howbeit I can tell you, that the Hop-sacks which are brought out of Flan∣ders, may be good Samplers for you to work by, the stuffe is not dainty where with they are made, the Loom is not cost∣ly wherein they are woven, the cunning not curious whereby they are fashioned, but when you have them, and are ready to pack your Hops, do thus.
Thrust into the mouth of your Sack (which must be dou∣bled and turned in strongly lest it break) four strong pinnes, a foot long a piece, placed in equall distance the one from the other, then lay two Bats, or big Poles crosse or thwart two beams or couplings of your house, which two Bats mustly no further asunder than the wideness•• of the Sacks mouth. Fasten upon each pin a Rope, and knit two of those Ropes upon each crosse Bat, so as the bottome of the Sack being empty, may hang within half a foot of the floore, then stand within the Sack, and receive the Hops, treading down very hard, and before the Sack be half full, it will rest upon
the ground, whereby you shall be able to presse them the har¦der together.
But the handsommer way were to make a square hole (as wide as the Sacks mouth) in the floor of the loft, where your Hops lye, and to hang down your Sack at that hole, and with a Scuppet or shovell to shove down your Hops therein∣to, and to receive them as is aforesaid: when the Sack is al∣most full, undo the Ropes, and wind those pinnes about for the harder shutting of the Sack, and fasten them therein.
If you please, you may sow (over the mouth of this Sack) another piece of Sackcloth, whereof you must leave a little unsowed, untill you have thrust as many Hops as you can between the Sack and the same, but in beholding the Hop∣sacks sent from Poppering, you shall better understand and learn the doings hereof.
For your own provision, you may preserve them in Dry∣fats, Barrells, or such like vessells, for want of room to leave them in, or Sacks to pack them in.
There is according to the Proverb, much falshood in packing, I am unskillfull in that Art, If I were otherwise, I would be loth to teach such dctorine.
But to avoid such deceit, and to make the more perfect and better choice, it is usuall and lawfull in most places, where Hops are sold, to cut the Sack that you mean to buy, in seven or eight places, and to search at each place, whether the Hops be of like goodnesse.
Such places as you shall feel with your hand to be softer than the rest, you should specially cut, where perhaps you shall find Hops of another kind, elder or worse than the rest.
TO reform a Garden where the Hops be wild, the work is tedious, and none other way remaineth, but to dig over the same with a Spade, so deep as you may search out and throw out every root, and piece of Root that
may be found in, or near thereunto, and then to plant accor∣ding to the order before declared.
TO repair a ruinous Garden, which through ignorance was disorderly set, and through sloth suffered to over∣run and decay, where neverthelesse, the Hops remain of a good kind (though somewhat empaired, as they must needs be by this mean) the very best way were to do as to the wild Hop.
The second way is to forget that it is disordered at all, ima∣gining that all were well, and to set your Poles in such order and so far asunder, as is prescribed in that Title, alwayes di∣recting them right with a line, so as a stranger beholding them, may suppose that your Garden is kept after the best manner, then lead unto each Pole two or three stalks, which you shall find nearest thereunto, and there erect a hill which you may ever after cut and dresse according to the rules be∣fore declared, and so by continuall digging, paring, and dili∣gence, you may at last bring it to some reasonable perfection.
If your Garden be very much matted with roots, so asit be too tedious to digge, set your Poles as you are already taught, and bring into your Garden, and lay near to every such place, where you mean to make a hill, one Cart load of good earth, with the which, after your Hops are tyed to your Poles, begin to make your hill, and proceed as in the Title of hills, alwayes cutting down such Hops or weeds as grow between the said hills.
If your root be set orderly, and your hills made accor∣dingly, and yet left undressed by the space of two or three years, it will be very hard (I say) to discern the Sets from the other later roots: neverthelesse if your ground be good, you may yet reform the inconvenience thereof, namely, by pulling down the hill, and cutting away all the roots con∣tained therein, even with the face or upper part of the earth, searching also each side, and digging yet lower, and round a∣bout
the root which remaineth, and to take away from the same all such roots as appear out thereof.
TO water your Garden, as to make the roots grow the better, it were more tedious then needfull, for the hil∣ling thereof serveth for that purpose, and there is time of growing sufficient for them betwixt the middest of April and August; and yet it never hurteth, but rather doth good, if it be before the hill be made.
To pluck off the Leaves, to the end that the Hops may pro∣sper the better, is also needlesse, and to no purpose, and rather hindereth than helpeth the growth of the Hops, for they are hereby deprived of that garment which Nature hath necessa∣rily provided for them, and clothed them with.
To flaw the Poles, thereby to prolong their continuance, is more than needeth to be done in this behalf, for it is too tedious to your self, and hurtfull to your Hop, and little a∣vailable to the purposes aforesaid.
To burn the nether part or great end of your Poles, as some do, to the end they should last or endure the longer, is also an unnecessary trouble, onely Willow-Poles you may so use, to keep them from growing.
So is it to weed the hills with the hand, whereas the same weeds shall be buried by the raising of the hill.
THus have you a brief and short Description of the Platform of a Hop-Garden: what ground is fit for them, as also the Scituation thereof, with the Proportion of ground a man may employ about Hops, which may either
be according to his own expending in his own private Fa∣mily, or else according to the charge which he intendeth to bestow about it, either of which will be well recompensed, if Gods blessing go along with the pains and industry of the Husbandman: for whose direction in the managing of his work, this small Treatise was compiled: for besides the Platform, fitnesse or unfitnesse of the Ground, &c. here. in you may learn how to choose, and set your Roots: the distance of the Hills one from another; the number of Hop-poles, which you are to set about each hills: in con∣clusion your Hops being come to perfection, the manner of gathering, drying and packing them up that they may con∣tinue long, and keep sweet. No man ever wrote more ful∣ly concerning the ordering of Hops from the first setting them into the Ground, untill the drying, and laying them up for store, than this Authour hath done, none with more brevity.
The Husbandmans due observation of these Directions is required, and without question he cannot fall short of his expectation.
Virgil.
Didymus, Plinius.