352 BRITISH HUSBANDRY.' [Ch. XXX. 



observations upon a subject of such interest to the grower, we shall, with 

 his permission, make a few extracts*. 



"The seed sown were the 'goldings,' selected from plants grown in a 

 hedge, where there was a male plant. As the organic structure of the hop 

 may yet be unknown to many, it is proper to state that the blossoms of the 

 male and female grow on different plants, the male having its flower or 

 pollen previously perfected, so as to impregnate the stigma, or burr, of 

 the female as soon as it is ready ; which inoculation gives that energy and 

 vitality to the seed, without which it would not produce its kind. This it 

 is which gives great weight to the hop ; which gives the fine aromatic 

 bitter to the production of the bine, and more fully so to the seed — the 

 petal or leaf of the flower containing but little of the astringent quality of 

 the hop. We therefore do strongly recommend all cultivators of the hop 

 to have many male plants in their ground, and particularly to encourage 

 them around their plantation in the hedges, where no ground will be lost. 

 Let there be some in all situations, so that, let whatever wind blow, the 

 pollen may be wafted to the female. We write from experience, having 

 raised very many plants from seeds, which are found to be much more 

 energetic and vigorous in the growth and produce than if raised from 

 cuttings. We have had a hill produce 3^ lbs. of hops, weighed after drying, 

 from a plant the third year after sowing. 



" The hop-plants raised from seed surpass those which have been raised 

 from cuttings, their luxuriant growth enabling them to withstand the eff'ects 

 of blight. Tiiey are found to have a seed at the bottom of every petal of 

 the flower, of a most pungent aromatic flavour ; while those hops grown 

 in the usual way, without the necessary quantity of male plants, have scarcely 

 any seeds, and these are mostly abortive. In fact, seed gives weight and 

 flavour to the hop, and constitutes the vitality of the plant, or the condition 

 or strength of the hop ; and where there is most seed, there will be the most 

 condilionf. We therefore say, that the grand object in hop-growing should 

 be to get as much seed as possible. Indeed, seeing that the fructification 

 of the plant cannot be completed without the male bloom, it is most incon- 

 gruous for hop-planters to shut their ears against the voice of reason and 

 nature, and care nought about the male plants ; yet they grub them up, 

 wherever they find them, as useless lumber, saying — 'their fathers got 

 money without male hops, and so can they ; for why should they pretend 

 to be wiser than their forefathers ? ' Nature, however, makes nothing in 

 vain ; and if the service of the buck be necessary to propagation in the 



* See a tract by him entitled the "Golden Farmer," published iu 1831, and Baxter's 

 Library of Agricultural and Horticultural Knowledge. 



f " A specimen of the hops grown at Lewisham was exhibited at the Mailing Agri- 

 cultural ftleetiug, a:id were allowed by all judges to be the most pungent and aromatic 

 sample in the booth ; the strength of them for the brewer was considered to surpass all 

 otliers ; although the colour was not of so delicate a hue.'' — Golden Farmer, 7wte Z.O. 



" The weight of hop-seeds without the leaves having been accurately ascertained, 

 those grown at Lewisham — being the fourth year from the sowing of the seed, and 

 having a male plant close to them — weighed at the rate of 351bs. per bushel; and the 

 same quantity (by old measure) from Mr. Love's ground at Shoreham. raised from cut- 

 tings, and grown near male plants, weighed at the rate of 3:jlbs. per bushel. T!ie hop- 

 leaves, without seed, from Mr. Jorden's at Oxford, where the male plants are always era- 

 «licated, weighed at the rate of '221bs. per bushel when closely pressed. 



'• Hop-seeds being severally put into rain-water, most of those produced by plants 

 raised trom seeds, and grown near male plants, sunk in the water; while most of those 

 grown in grounds that had not any male plant near them, and which had been raised 

 from cuttings, swam on its surface." — Ibid, fiote Y, 



