i4 The Culture of Hops.[July

ters of wheat are thus ſubtra@ed from the national produce. As it is at leaſt Z&ely(in the abſence of any deciſive experiments) that Quaſlia, or perhaps our native May-weed*, are full as good as hops in the brewery, there ſeems no reaſon not to conclude, that this heavy quantity of wheat is not diflipated for a trifling, at beſt, dubious purpoſe.

However, the increafing culture of hops plainly proves, that individuals gain‘by it. Their predile&ion for it may indeed be partly traced to the love of enterprize, which allures mankind to the lottery, ot the gambling table; for brilliant proſpeét and ex- ample of ſucceſs(however rare) will always induce mankind, confident in perſonal good fortune, to hazard property for un- certain hopes. But the general wealth of hop planting diſtricts, proves that the uſual price more than balances the expences 5 though it is pleaded, with ſome appéarance of juſtice, that thé day of ſuperior profit is paſt. This muſt be the caſe in every article of cultivation, when the demand has cauſed an adequate increaſe in the produce. A pamphlet was reviewed in your tenth number, which gave a lamentable picture of the ſituation of the hop planters. I colle&ed information from one of its errors; for it máde it evident, that there could be no more than 35,000 acres in England, though it aſſumed 45,000. For, even in the firſt ſuppoſition, gain was annihilated; the nature of things muſt pre- vent farther loſs. It is not ſo very difficult to grub up a hop ground, j/

The great objeâion to the hop culture is evidently the ex- treme uncertainty of the crop. This is known to be ſuch, that the greateſt attention and ſucceſs ſometimes obtains leſs remunera- tion than the moſt ſlovenly pradtice in a neighbour’s ground. It may even be obſerved, that the ſelf-planted hops in hedges often ſurpaſs in luxuriance the beſt ordered hop-ground. On theſe fas I would found a great alteration. As dung does not inſure a crop of hops, as its abſence does not ¿inſure a failure, it ſhould never be applied on ſuch a caſuaity. As weeds,‘and even buſhes, do not certainly choak this hardy plant; even careful cultivation ſeems not abſolutely neceſſary. But as both dung and culture are neceſſary to moſt other crops, änd in them inſure a certain proportion of retucn, on other crops they ſhould be uſed. The accidental ſucceſs of hops, which“ will come when it will come,?? deſerves proportional inattention. I think, that in ſuch a catch crop, the poles ſhould be the chief expence, becauſe the only indiſpenſable requiſite: dung ſhould never be expended on 2 dubious crop: and the cheap culture of the horſe-hoe, and once hilling, ſhould be the extent of expence in this cultivation.

* Called organ in ſome counties; elſewhere gooſe-vweed. It reſembles a large daiſy. A inan in Derbyſhiré has realized a conſiderable property by cultivating it for the brewers,