Thomas Tusser

Directions for Cultivating a Hop-Garden

Whom fancy persuadeth, among other crops,      
To have for his spending sufficient of hops,      
Must willingly follow, of choices to choose      
Such lessons approved, as skilful to use.     
      
Ground gravelly, sandy, and mixed with clay,      
Is naughty for hops, any manner of way.      
Or if it be mingled with rubbish and stone,      
For dryness and barrenness let it alone.     
      
Choose soil for the hop of the rottenest mould,     
Well dunged and wrought, as a garden-plot should;  
Not far from the water, but not overflown,      
This lesson, well noted, is meet to be known.     
      
The sun in the south, or else southly and west,     
Is joy to the hop, as a welcomed guest;      
But wind in the north, or else northerly east,      
To the hop is as ill as a fay in a feast.     
      
Meet plot for a hop-yard once found as is told,  
Make thereof account, as of jewel of gold;      
Now dig it, and leave it, the sun for to burn,      
And afterwards fence it, to serve for that turn. 
      
The hop for his profit I thus do exalt,      
It strengtheneth drink, and it favoureth malt;      
And being well brewed, long kept it will last,      
And drawing abide – if ye draw not too fast.