H. WORMALD 195 



The extent of variation in the cultivated 3 hop from the original 

 (J of the wild Hiimulus lupiiJus has not been determined, as it is highly 

 probable that many of the "wild" hop-plants now growing in this 

 country, particularly in Kent and the other hop-growing counties, 

 are seedlings from the varieties cultivated. Mr Salmon, however, 

 has received from Professor P. A. Saccardo, who assures us that it 

 has been obtained from the true wild hop in Italy, seed of H. hpulus 

 labelled "Vittorio, ad sepes, omnino spo7ite, Oct. 1913. In Italia 

 Hmnidus non colitur^." Plants are being raised from this seed, and 

 when mature will be brought under observation. 



Scofe and Aim of Work on Male Hops. 



There are two distinct lines of investigation in connection with the 

 male hop. The first of these is concerned with the selection of those 

 forms which are most suitable for planting commercially among the 

 $ plants in hop-gardens. Obviously such plants must be selected 

 primarily for their time of flowering, for unless this coincides with that 

 of the $ plants among which they are growing they are useless, and 

 it is evident too that vigour (including suitability for different soils) 

 must be considered. The selection of those cuttings of male hops 

 sent out from Wye College to hop-growers for the purpose of providing 

 a supply of pollen is based on these two characters. 



The second line of investigation is to determine how o hops can 

 be used to the best advantage in breeding operations, that is to say, 

 how far a judicious selection of these plants for use in crossings will 

 result in a higher percentage of commercially valuable seedling ? hops. 

 This will involve (1) a comparison of the vegetative characters of the 

 (J plants with those of the ? plants to determine which of these 

 characters are associated with what are considered as good qualities 

 in the ? plant, (2) a selection of those S plants showing one or more 

 of the characters which are considered to be useful, in order that such 

 plants may be employed in crossing, (3) careful observation of the 

 progeny obtained from the crosses to determine the potency of the 

 cJ parent in transmitting desirable Cjualities to the ? offspring. 



The present paper shows that male hops exhibit definite variation 

 in several directions and that selection for one or more characters is 

 quite feasible. 



' See, however, Journ. of Bot. May, 1915, p. 135. 



