too close.

The last season has been a most anxious one for the growers-at one time threatened with almost total blight, then a ray of hope that we should grow a few. Those who resorted to syringing were equally dismayed. The blight was so tenacious that the operation was obliged to be repeated over and over again, without apparently any good effect. At last, however, perseverance was rewarded, and syringing prevailed. In the meantime, it will be remembered, great atmospheric changes took place the wind veered from the east to south, and then to west. Favoured with warm showers, the hops, not washed even, and not irretrievably gone, responded in a marvellous and almost unprecedented. manner. The district is certainly favoured, whether syringed or not; and growers can congratulate each other alike, and singularly enough, though we have experienced another blight, the advantages of syringing are much doubted and still remain subject for much discussion. It is a fortunate circumstance that those who syringed are satisfied, and those who did not are satisfied also. I can confidently tell anyone who may syringe in future that soft soap is all that is required, and that tobacco and other ingredients are an unnecessary expense. Mould is now very prevalent in the Weald of Kent, much worse than formerly, and it is to be attributed to various causes-firstly, to the introduction of new sorts; secondly, planting on land with too shallow soil, and using artificial manure almost entirely; and thirdly, planting kinds not adapted for the soil. The free use of sulphur is generally a remedy, but there are instances where it has had but little effect. My plan is to use about 50 lbs. of sulphur per acre on the first appearance of mould, and to

continue at intervals of about a week until the bur is breaking into hops. By adopting this plan, I have never had mould to do me injury. Other forms of blight I am happily not acquainted with, excepting red' spider or rust, which I am not much troubled with. If I should have it to any extent I should use sulphur, as I understand, if taken in time, it is generally effectual. It is important so to arrange our plantations as to have a succession of sorts judiciously selected, and sufficient oast accommodation to enable us to secure the whole growth with colour and in good condition. More oast room is required now than formerly, when good ripe yellow and rather brown hops were esteemed, but now are very unsaleable. Too early picking is no doubt wrong, although occasionally we may get a coloury choice sample, but the loss in weight, injury to the stock, and other drawbacks are incalculable. The drying or management of hops is perhaps more important than any part of the cultivation. Formerly, very poor accommodation was given for drying. With the hair but a few feet from the fire, a very short rafter, with very little air admitted, the hops were baked rather than dried. Although great improvement has taken place during the last few years in the picking and management, more kiln room is generally required to secure the crop in the best possible condition, and also to prevent excessive overloading, so injurious to the sample and the great disadvantage of the grower. There is a great difference of opinion as to whether the old cockle principle or open fires are best. I am of opinion cockles are best suited to the Weald of Kent. Less skill is required in drying; they are more economical in fuel, and, if not superior, a softer and equally good sample may be pro

E

duced, without the danger of scalding or burning which there is with the open fire. The plan I adopt, and which I think the best, is to load moderately, not to hurry the drying, but to keep the hops on the hair nearly twelve hours; not to turn them unless quite necessary, nor take them off before they are dried quite sufficiently, but lump them in the cooling room, well cover them with cloths, and allow them to remain until the next oasting is ready to come off. They are then uncovered, and, should there be any tough on the outside of the lump, they are raked off and put back on the kiln to come off with the next load. The lump is then removed for treading. I have pursued this plan for the last ten years, and during that time have not had a single pocket objected to or rejected on account of mismanagement. Some yearsthere being an exceedingly good growth, both for colour and quality-the presser has the advantage, but generally I am in favour of the old plan of treading."

In hop drying a good deal of difference still exists as to the comparative advantages of the round and the square kilns. The former is said to save much fuel; but whether round or square it should have an improved chimney, with plenty of length, and great draught at the bottom. So much, however, does not depend on the construction of this oast as on the merits of the hop dryer.

Formerly the dryers dried directly the hops were put in, and before the "reek" was gone off, and some of the old dryers do the same now. This custom caused the lower stratum of hops in the kiln to bake together, and the steam discoloured the upper portion. With a better mode of drying, a much better sample might be obtained with a

slight alteration of the old kilns. What is required is, that the fire should not be too brisk; it could not be too slow till the "reek" is gone off, and after that the hops could not well be hurt. The great thing is to get a good draught. Nothing is gained by lighting up the fire so early as is done by some of the old dryers, as the hops being caked up in a mass by the steam, could not be dried any the sooner for it. Probably in nine out of ten of the old oasts the "reek" could not get away.

The following estimate of the cost of raising and cultivating an acre of hops is given by Mr. John Buckland, the author of the Royal Agricultural Society's prize essay on the Farming of Kent; and, with some exceptions, it is a very close approximation to the truth; indeed, in Mid Kent even higher expenses have been incurred in forming and cultivating hop plantations.

It should be remarked that in Mid Kent the large item of 97. per acre for draining is not incurred, the subsoil being naturally porous and open, so that no draining is necessary; and even on the heavier soils so large an outlay as 97. per acre is not necessary to effect the most complete drainage, except, perhaps, in places where, from the flatness of the land, no good outfall for the drains can be obtained. There, in order to make an effective drainage by means of shallow drains, they must be more frequent, and consequently the expense will be greater. Neither, where draining is needed, ought it to be charged specifically to the hops, for all the land ought to be alike drained, whether used for hop growing or ordinary farming. Practically, on the heavier lands of Kent, draining is often confined to the hop plantations, and thus it does with a great many of the Kentish farmers, in fact, form a specific expense of the hop plantation.

2.-COST OF CULTIVATING FROM THE SECOND TO THE SIXTH YEAR,

Sharpening poles and poling, at 1s. 6d. per 100 0 15 0