DECEMBER. 



371 



I learnt that several kinds of hops are grown In this part of Sussex, 

 of which " the Grape" is considered the best. The kinds grown in 

 addition to this are " Colgate," "Jones's," and " Wildish's," and each 

 has its patrons. The value of hops is estimated by what is called 

 "condition," which is appreciated by the greater or less emulsion of an 

 oily matter, when squeezed in the hand. Some of the kinds are said 

 to have peculiar properties for resisting " the blight ;" but vegetable 

 physiology is at a discount amongst hop-growers, if we are to judge 

 from the sulphur question. 



The hop is a dioecious plant, and it Is customary In Sussex to plant 

 one male to about 100 females. Mr. Huggitt, the very clever and 

 most intelligent gardener at Buxted Park, has paid much attention to 

 the subject, and his opinion is, that the presence of the male is not 

 necessary to the hop, as far as its use in domestic economy is concerned. 

 Without its influence the seeds are abortive. But this seems to be 

 immaterial, if It is not desired to raise new kinds from seed. The ground 

 is prepared by trenching two spits deep, and well manuring it, the 

 patches, or "hills" of plants, being placed six feet apart. Three poles 

 are placed in a triangle, meeting at the top, round which they are trained. 

 The hop was introduced from Flanders In 1525, and three years 

 afterwards Parliament was petitioned to forbid its use as " being a 

 noxious weed, that would spoil the taste of drink, and prove prejudicial 

 to the people." Henry the Eighth prohibited its use by the brewers ; 

 George the Third used it as a soporific. That monarch succeeded in 

 obtaining refreshing sleep by using a pillow stuffed with hops wh§n 

 other opiates failed to induce it. Times are indeed changed, and now 

 large tracts of land are appropriated to the culture of hops in the coun- 

 ties of Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Worcester and Hereford. It Is regarded 

 as an indispensable ingredient in our national beverage, offers lucrative 

 investment to large capitalists, and affords employment and subsistence 

 to thousands of both sexes among the labouring population. 



The neighbourhood of Buxted is eminently rich In rare British 

 flowering plants and Ferns. I subjoin a hst of them : — 



Alchemilla vulgaris 

 Rudiola milligrana 

 Meiiyantlies trifoliata 

 Lysimachia vulgaris 

 Anagallis tenella 

 Jassione niontana 

 Viola palustris 

 Gentiana pneumenanthes 

 Linum catharticum 

 Drosera rotundifolia 

 Narthecium ossifragrum 

 Nffiottia spiralis 

 Adora moschatelina 

 Elatine hexandra 

 Oxalis acetosella, pink fl. 

 Sibthorpia europaia 

 Cardamine amara 

 Malva moscliata 

 Polygala vulgaris 

 Genista pilosa 

 ,, auglica 



Ornitliopus perpusillus 

 Polypodium vulgare 

 Blechuum boreale 

 Polystichum aculeatum 



„ angulare 



Lastrea oriopteris 



„ recurva 



„ spinulosa 

 Aspidium filix-mas 



,, „ var. Bonoi 



,, filix-foemina 

 Asplenium Adiantum nigrum 



,, Trichomancs 



„ Ruta ^turaria 



Scolopendrum vulgare 

 Ceterach officinanim 

 Hynienophyllum Tunbridgense 

 Osmunda regalis 

 Botrychiuni lunaria 

 Ophioglossuin vulgatum 



B B 2 



