INTRODUCTION

TO THE

Management of a HOP-GARDEN.

T

HERE is nothing engages me to publish a Treatife of this

kind so much as the Opportu

nity I have of enquiring into fome particular Remarks of my Correfpondents in the Hop-way, and the curious Memorandums I have lately had occafion to look over concerning the Improvement of Ground by Hops, which are so good, and may prove fo useful to the Publick, that I should think it a Crime in me to let fuch useful Discoveries lie unimproved, or fuffer them to mold in the Chamber.

Many a fair Manufcript, as well as its judicious Compiler, has been loft to the World, either from Neglect, or from a covetous Zeal in the Discoverer.

Some who have been at the Trouble of making their Remarks, with an Intent of ferving the Publick, have either died, or changed their Fortunes, before they had compleated their Schemes; or otherwife have been fo proud, or fo much raised by the Curiofity of their Observations, that they have held them facred, and thought them unworthy the ungrateful World, as I have had some Instances.

But to fet the laft Part by unregarded, we have another fort, which are knowing, and expect Mints of Money to tum. ble into their Laps for a little Secret, and rather than divulge what they know without a large Premium, will die with their Knowledge.

Some of these, however, are fo kind to themselves that they will now and then, upon grand Discoveries, make Pock. et Memorandums, and when we lose the Man, we then begin to discover his Worth. This is like the Mifer, who is never fo poor as when he is rich; nor does the World enjoy any Benefit from him till he has nothing to give.

But

But I may mention a set of Men who are of the contrary Temper, and fomewhat, perhaps, like the first whom I have mentioned, viz.

Those who love to make their Obfervations regularly, and are too modest to offer them to publick View, even tho' they have brought them to the highest pitch of Perfection they were capable of.

So that through Covetoufnefs, ill Nature, vain Conceit, and Modefty, half the Knowledge of the World is loft to the Publick.

I mean fuch Knowledge as cannot prove of very extraordinary Advantage to the Discoverer, and by being communicated might be of Service to thousands.

If a man indeed has a Secret that he can live by, or proves a Principle in advancing his Fortune, let him keep it to himself, unless he meets a good Purchafer, or gives it to fome Friend when he dies; but it is barbarous, it is inhumane to die with a Secret that might be publickly useful.

Therefore I advise every Sort of Men to keep Memorandums of their several Improvements which are, or may be advantageous to the Publick, that the World may not lose any Branch of the Benefits now exifting in it, but especially to publish them when they are living, if poffible. Because, however clear and plain a Book may be written, fome or other will defire to confult the Author more immediately on the Cafe delivered in writing.

But it is time to leave this kind of Argument, to come more immediately to the Purpose of planting the Hop, which confidering the fmall Space of Ground it takes up, in comparison to other Plants, and small Expence of planting, the prodigious Profit to the Proportion, and the great Advantage it brings to the Crown of Great Britain, is well worth our Confideration.

These severally should be thought on, as fome of my Memorandumists have hinted; from whence likewise it will appear, that they had no lefs regard for Soil,

Situ

Situation, Pruning, Watering, and every other thing to be done towards the bring ing of good Hops to the Market.

As my Papers, which I have collected relating to this Plant, are extraordinary in their way, fo I have taken no small Pains to place them in the best Order they would admit of; withal adding my own Obfervations, where I found it necessary, to fill up the Chasms that might otherwise have been found by the Hop-planter in a Work that he ought to think should be compleat, as I have now endeavour'd to make it.

I cannot conclude this Introduction without observing, that I have been extremely beholden to many of the Gentlemen in Surry, as well as thofe of Kent, and other Hop-Countries, for their Remarks relating to the Improvements of Hops, which most of them judge is one of the moft beneficial Plants that can be set upon any Ground.

For even Ground that was never before efteemed worth a Shilling an Acre per Annum, is rendered worth forty, fif

ty,