42 STRONG DRINK AND TOBACCO SMOKE. 



Knowing from observ^ation how carefully the lupulitc 

 granules are lodged on the fruit, I have frequently been 

 at the pains of examining the "spent hops" on the 

 refuse heaps at breweries. I have found a large pro- 

 portion of the granules perfectly intact, that is to say, 

 not burst, or in any way having yielded their contents ; 

 and I may safely affirm that, under the present system 

 adopted at most breweries, of boiling hops without any 

 further separation of the leaves of the fruit than such as 

 is eftectcd by that process, not mare than half their 

 lupulite is made availahle. I am not aware that 

 any use has been found for hop leaves, but from the 

 abundance of the lupulite granules on them it is reason- 

 able to presume that, wdth better knowledge, it will be 

 found that they are not amongst the things which should 

 be thrown aside as useless. 



There was at one time an interest of a peculiar kind 

 attaching to the hop plant, one pertaining to the pockets 

 of the British public. Every one has seen, at some time 

 or other, the leaves of roses and other trees swarming 

 with quiet, stupid-looking, green insects, familiar to most 

 under the name of " blight ;" but called scientifically 

 plant lice or a^jhides. These creatures have not been 

 objects of my own special study, but I wall quote a passage 

 or two relating to them from a most interesting book, 

 " The Letters of Eusticus," by Mr. Newman, which 

 contains an admii'able description of these minute 

 creatures, and how, by their formidable depredations, 

 they actually at one time controlled a large share of 



