460 



The Agriculture of Worcestershire. 



a good way from the fire, to avoid all risk of burning, with plenty 

 of head-room for the escape of the vapour, as, if the steam falls 

 back upon the hops, it makes them of a dull colour. Another 

 practice to be much condemned is the old system of beating and 

 breaking the hops ; but this is gradually falling into disuse. 



The principal growers are Mr. Smith, of Wick ; Mr, Wood- 

 ward, of Bredon ; Mr. Twinberrow, Knightwick ; Mr. Walker, 

 Knightwick ; and Mr. Dix, Lulsley. 



Several attempts have been made to supersede hop-poles ; but 

 the result is yet undetermined. Cocoanut-fibre has been tried 

 Avith some amount of success ; but the likeliest plan is the use of 

 galvanised wire, as patented by Mr. Farmer, Kyre Wood, near 

 Tenbury. Mr, Farmer claims these advantages : — That the hops 

 ripen earlier, are more equal in size, and of greater bulk ; that, 

 clinging firmly to the wire, they are less injured by high winds; 

 that they can be cut higher with less damage to the root ; that 

 the yearly expenses of pitching, tyeing, and piling the poles is 

 saved, " The essence of the invention consists in arranging ver- 

 tical or nearly vertical wires between horizontal wires for the 

 training and growing of hops," The following illustration shows 

 this plan as commonly pursued : — 



At each end of every row of hops is placed a strong pole, 

 similar to a telegraph pole, but stronger : these poles are sup- 

 ported firmly by stays, with a similar but smaller pole at a distance 



