HOP 41 



depends upon the season and the locality. When the 

 flowers do appear they last but a very short time. The 

 young cones are of a bright green colour, but as they 

 mature they become brown. They are of a fragrant odour, 

 and especially when at all bruised, and are somewhat 

 harsh and astringent to the taste, owing to the presence 

 of a peculiar bitter principle which is termed by the 

 analysts lupulin. 



Botanically the hop is the Hamulus Lupulus. Its 

 generic name, it has been affirmed by one authority, has 

 been bestowed upon it from the rich soil ^ in which the 

 plant flourishes ; but this idea is quite scouted by another 

 authority, who declares that as the plant without external 

 support could only grow along the ground, it derives its 

 name from the Latin word for soil, humus. It is really 

 difficult to decide which of these two explanations is the 

 more unsatisfactory. The Latin word does not emphasise 

 any special richness in the soil, while the second explana- 

 tion may be paralleled by saying that if a sailor did 

 not go to sea he would be a landsman, and therefore In 

 any case we may call him one. The hop has far too fine 

 a perception of taking care of itself at the expense of 

 other things to be ever found rambling helplessly over 

 the ground. Lupulus was at one time the officinal name 

 for the hop, and we find it so called in monastery records. 



' Meete plot for a hopyard once found as is told, 

 Make thereof account, as of jewell of gold. 

 Tusser, in June's Husbandrie. Elsewhere he says — 



Ground grauellie, sandie, and mixed with clay. 

 Is naughtie for hops any manor of way ; 

 Or if it be mingled with rubbish and stone, 

 For driness and barrennes, let it alone. 



