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 do use.
Ground
gravelly, and mixed with clay,
is naughty for hops any manner of way;
Or if it be mingled with rubbish and stone,
for drines 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 meete (good)
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 northly east,
to hop is as ill as a dray in a feast.
Meete
plot for a hopyard once found as is told,
make thereof account, as of jewell to gold.
Now
dig it and leave it, for sun for to burn,
and afterwards fence it, to serve for that turn.
The
hop for his profit I thus do exalt,
it strenghteneth drink, and it favoureth malt.
And being well brewed, long kept it will last,
and drawing abide, if ye draw not too fast.
