162 THE HOP. 



ing their development, the leaves turn from pale green 

 to dark green, and assimie a peculiar tint, indicating a 

 less active circulation. The odor of the cones, pre- 

 viously herbaceous, becomes distinctly aromatic, and 

 in some districts this odor is so strong as to inconven- 

 ience persons passing in the neighborhood of the hop 

 yard. The umbels, or cones, change from pale green 

 to a bright yellow and green color. They are closed 

 and the green scales alternate with the yellow ones. If 

 the scales are stripped off and rubbed between the 

 hands, they impart a sticky sensation, but without any 

 trace of moisture. The cones now possess considerable 

 elasticity, as may be easily tested by the hands, and 

 the extremities of the scales become brittle." Later 

 the scales turn a deep red color, and the aromatic odor 

 is still further accentuated, but the lupulin adheres less 

 firmly and the quality of the scales deteriorates. The 

 hop is then over-mature. But hops "go off" so fast 

 that they often have to be picked before showing the 

 signs of maturity, while if any light colored hops are 

 desired, picking begins before they are ripe, ''though 

 this entails a loss of weight and brewing powers." 



It is therefore of utmost importance that the crop 

 should be picked at the precise moment of maturity. 

 If picked before they are perfectly ripe, the cones pos- 

 sess a beautiful green color, but lose m.ore weight in 

 drying than if picked at maturity; they keep badly and 

 contain less lupulin, and the lupulin is less adherent. 

 A large proportion of lupulin thus disappears during 

 the different processes of picki-ng and packing, and 

 finally the grower has to submit to a reduction in price, 

 corresponding to the loss in weight and quality, on 

 hops picked too early. If picked too late, the cones 

 lose their beautiful yellow-green color, so much 

 esteemed by brewers. 



In picking, the cones should not be detached in 

 bunches, but two or three at most may be gathered 



