FACTS FOR FARMERS. THE GEOLOGY OF HOP SOILS.

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 151, 26 April 1873, Page 2

FACTS FOR FARMERS. THE GEOLOGY OF HOP SOILS.

Mr Topley has frequent I j asked why hops are not grown in certain parts of England whose geological conditions seem to indicate that they might be cultivated satisfactorily. At one time Mr Topley suggested the Vale of Powwy as a suitable locale for hop growing experiments; and now recently, in his paper on " The Agricultural Geology of the Weald," in the "Journal! of the Rbjal Agricultural Society of Er gland," ho has BUggostod Oxfordshire as likely to produce good hops abundantly, because Mr C. S. Read, in his essay on the "Farming of Oxfordshire," tuns "the extraordinary luxuriance of the wild hop scorns to indicate that it is the natural soil of that plant, and peculiarly adapted for its growth;" and because hops do so well upon the upper greensand in the neighbourhood. of Farnham, they would certainly flourish in Oxfordshire , where the upper greensand crops out. But there is something required for hop growing beyond the mere soil or geological formation j as for instance, in the lower greensand and the Wealden formation, somo fields cannot be made to grow hops profitably, while in the next parish, or even o\or (lie hedge, the most luxuriant crops arc produced. A great deal depends upon situation, upon tho depth or arrangement of the surface soil, and generally upon J climatic conditions. There are many and various soils where hops grow* well under certain circumstances, as on the chalk in East Kent, where the finest quality is produced ; on tli* upper greensand, as in Hampshire; on tho lower greensand, as in Mid Kent ; tho Wealdon clay and Hastings sand in parts of Kent and Sussex ; but in most of these cases it will bo found that success in the cultivation of the hop depends upon some peculiarities, and it may almost be said abnormal condition of these formations; thus at Tunbridge and lladlow on the Weald Jclay, w lioro very heavy crops arc grow n, of better quality than ordinary Weald grown hop*, a bed of rich alluvial soil is superimposed upon tho ordinary Weald clay. And it will be found generally throughout that part of the Weald where Weald clay prevails, that the best hops arc produced wliero the day is covered by superficial deposits— as for instance on the banks of tho rivers Beult and Teisp, where there aro far-extending hu ors of loam and gravel beds, more or less deeply coverod w ith loam ; in the neighbourhood of JJetliersden, where there is a w ide spreading bed of a kind of limestone abounding with shells, whero tho celebrated Jlethcrsdcn marble is obtained ; and it may be shortly said of Weald clay pure and simple th»vt it; is not specially suited to the growth of hops— in the very large tract of it in West Sussex, running into Hants and Sun-ty, no attempts are made to plant them, mul it is believed that llorsliuni in almost the hop growing boundiin in the western part of the county. It is much to be wished that Mr Topley had subdivided thin division of his map more carefully, by giving the whole of the various superficial deposits, as it would have been mottt interest lug to see at a glance that where these occur hops nre generally and successfully grown. Mr To ploy states that there are but few superficial deposits in tho Weald clay, and he has given onlj two instances upon his nuip, m both of whicli districts the host and most abundant crops of hops arc grown, but it is quite certain that there arc many more, and it will be found thai experience aud practice have taught growers to plant hops elucllv in these placet*. Upon the adjoining formation, the I [astmgs gaud, where tho variations of soil, viz., clay and Mind, are accurately shown on MrToplej's map, it is remarkable to notice that the bulk of the hop grounds are in the eastern part of the district,, wlieie the clay, particular!*; Wailhurst clay, predominates, and that the parishes which arc Jaimhar as hopproducing are upon this claw To those who know nothing of the distribution of hop plantations tho curious distribution of elnvs iv these Hastings beds, as shown by MrToplfy, is most interesting. It will also be seen by reference to tho map that the soil of the "fdinonu dibtrict of Mid Kent," upon the ll v the beds of the lower greensand, is calcareous Hop groweri* will t-i-e also that tho good hop-growing district is coterminous with this soil, and that a» they know by pi actual expencuee, theaandj soil of this formation will not produce the same quality or quantit} ; but it is not to bo supposed that, the whole of this calcareous division of the lower giecnsand district will grow hops profitably. It is only in certain bituatiom -for instince, upon gentle slopes whero there is natural dramuj>e, when' the "mould" is fairly neep, und for (ioldmg«. wlicie Iho roots cut get dawn into the ragstone, or upon tlio •'' coomby " Imtotho hasoock

that hops do really well. There is much ground upon the lower greensand that will not grow hops, and much that will not grow them to yny, and it i» partly because to many renditions of soil, position, and situation arc required that planting has not succeeded in other counties. Experienced planters 1 ays tried to establish plantation* in various parts of England, but without success, although wild hops grow well, and the land seemed quite suited for thr production of the best. There is one other important rwon why Kent, Surrey, Hants, and Sussex moiiopoliso Jninetcnths of the hop acreage of the United Kingdom, which goes far to account for the failure in the attempt to grow liopa iv Oxfordshire ; m Wiltshire, where the l.itu Mr Bennett, of Pjt lfou-io, frive them a fair trial; in Essex, whereheaps of money have been lost in. attempting to grow them ; and in many ether English counties; this h, that the climate of these four south-eastern counties and notably that of Kent and Sussex, where at least 70 per cent of the h tp acreage of the L'nited Kingdom is situated, n mild and genial, and at the same time without an excess of rainfall,, as in tho south-weitern counties. In Kent and Sussex there are remains of terraced vineyards on the sunniest slopes of the Mjuthorn lulls, whore grapes ripened at a time when the climate, from causes which cannot be traced, was milder and tuinnier even tliaii> in those days ; and. even, now in fmorablo mmwuh grapes ripen well in the open air, and all fruits arc giown in the greatest perfection; so Lli.it.it nuist bo said that the temperate climate of Kent and Sussex; is first and fowmost among, tho causes of their successful hop production.