482 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



HOPS. 



HOPS grow wild in the northern portion of the United States and Europe. There 

 seems to be but one botanical species of this plant, but numerous varieties have 

 been produced from this by long cultivation. The root is perennial, but the vines 

 are killed by the frost every autumn, new shoots starting up from the roots in the spring. 

 It is a climbing vine, with rough leaves and stems, grows rapidly, and always twines around 

 its support from left to right, or following the course of the sun. In its wild state, it often 

 climbs high up among the branches of tall trees, and when cultivated requires tall poles or 

 other substitutes for this purpose. Different varieties, however, differ in this respect, some 

 requiring longer supports than others. 



Hops have become an agricultural product of considerable importance in many countries. 

 They are chiefly used in the manufacture of beer, although to a certain extent, for domestic 

 purposes, such as the making of yeast, and for their medicinal properties, etc. The portions 

 of the hop-flower which enter into the composition of beer are the seeds and the yellow 

 matter which surrounds the outer covering of the seeds, and the base of the petals. This 

 yellow, glutenous material emits a very pleasant aroma, and has an exceedingly bitter taste. 

 It is also quite volatile, and unless packed very closely as soon as the hops are dried, this 

 principle is in a great measure lost. For this reason, hops that have been kept more than a 

 year are of considerable less value than new. The new product is essential to the manufac 

 ture of beer of the best quality. This bitter principle is of more delicate flavor in some 

 varieties than others, and in proportion as the seed is developed. In selecting varieties to 

 plant, three considerations should be taken into account; these are the delicacy of flavor, 

 yield of the crop, and time of maturing. As a general rule, the strongest growers are the 

 largest yielders, but have not that delicacy of flavor that characterizes the smaller and less 

 prolific varieties. Early maturity is desirable in localities subject to early frosts. On farms 

 where hops are extensively cultivated, it is well to plant varieties maturing at different times, 

 as the picking season will be long. By this means the early varieties may be harvested first, 

 and the later varieties will not become over -ripe before being gathered. 



Varieties. In England the Farnham, Canterbury whitebines, and Goldings are most 

 extensively cultivated. These are strong-growing, prolific vines, that require poles from 

 fourteen to twenty feet long. The grape varieties, of which there are several, are smaller, 

 and are so called because their blossoms, or the hops, grow in clusters. These require poles 

 of from ten to fourteen feet in length. In this country some of the grape varieties are quite 

 extensively grown, although many of the large varieties, embracing those of greater or less 

 local popularity, are also cultivated. 



The hop is not only grown as a field crop, but it may be made to subserve the double 

 purpose of utility and ornament, by being trained on supports for ornamental purposes. 

 There are few plants that have a better foliage, or that cling more tenaciously to any support 

 provided for them. When in full blossom, it is certainly a graceful plant, while its pleasant 

 aroma also renders it attractive. When grown for ornamental purposes, there are many 

 ways in which it may be trained that are suited to render it graceful and truly beautiful, the 

 use of the straight, upright pole for this purpose being anything but graceful or artistic. For 

 the country home, they make a very pretty arch when trained to span the walks in the 

 kitchen garden, and may be mixed with other vines, such as the clematis or woodbine. A 

 rustic trellis, with arch made for their support, will thus be transformed into a beautiful 

 ornament for the home surroundings, and, if desired, may be utilized to supply the family 

 with all the hops necessary for domestic use. They also add a beautiful feature to gardens, 

 by planting them where they can run wild over old fruit-trees, trunks of dead trees, or even 



