32 Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



and some samples from that country are at the present day everything 

 that could be desired. 



Imported Varieties. 



Accordingly steps were at once taken to secure sets of some of the 

 best varieties for plantings including Bohemian, Bavarian (Spalt), 

 Kentish, and Calif ornian. The Agent-General consulted with several 

 experts at Canterbury and Maidstone in Kent, and acting upon their 

 advice the following varieties were sent out : — Bramling, Early Bird, 

 Cobb's Hop, Fuggle's Hop, Canterbm-y Golding. 



Mr. Geo. Mount, of Canterbury, who supplied the sets, advised as 

 to the best method for planting as follows : — " Make holes about 

 9 inches square with spade, put set in, top of set just level with 

 ground, put fine soil in and firm gently with your foot. 



" If for pole work, they are planted about 6 ft. 6 in. apart each way." 



" If for wire work I plant 7 ft. 6 in. one way and 3 ft. 3 in. the 

 other way, that is, along the wires." 



In some of the hop plantations here the distance between the 

 plants is 7 ft. 6 in. to 8 ft. 6 in., and sometimes 8 ft. 8 in., so as not to 

 interfere with the cultivation. 



The sets on arrival in February, 1901, were placed in charge of 

 Mr. Boyce, at Deepdene Nursery, where they were carefully planted 

 out and rendered available for distribution in July. 



A large number of hop-growers made application for sets, and 

 they were supplied as far as possible, but six stations were chosen in 

 different parts of the State for special planting, in order to have as 

 great a variety of soil, climate, and altitude as possible, viz. : — 

 Bairnsdale, Harrietville^ Timboon, Milawa, Coranderrk and Leongatha 

 Labor Colony. 



Several consignments of Bohemian and Bavarian hop-sets have 

 arrived here, but in every case they were dead. However, instructions 

 were sent as to the best mode of packing and treatment in transit, and 

 it is to be hoped they may yet reach us in a fit condition for planting. 



The sets, used in California have also been obtained, particularly 

 the variety known as the Large Gray American, and since the climate 

 there is somewhat similar to our own, their introduction is likely to 

 prove successful. 



Male and Female Plants. 



The Hop-plant belongs to the nettle family, and has the male 

 flowers on one plant and the female on another. The sexes are readily 

 distinguished by the flowers, since the male flowers are small, greenish- 

 yellow, borne on slender stalks and arranged in loose bunches, while 

 the female flowers are much smaller, without stalks, and arranged in 

 compact egg-like groups. If the male plants are allowed to grow they 



