14 



differ very considerably in these respects. Some sorts have from 

 20 to 25 per cent, more petals than others for the same length of 

 strig. 



Fully developed " seeds " should be few in number, for apart from 

 their increasing the weight of ineffective brewing material, they are 

 said to impart an objectionable flavour to beer. 



There is no room in the present article to deal with the smaller 

 botanical distinctions between the many varieties of hops in the 

 market. It is, however, useful to point out that those of the best 

 quality which combine both richness in lupulin and excellence of 

 aroma and flavour possess thin, smooth bracts with slender veins. 

 Moreover the colour is more uniform all over such hops, both seed- 

 bearing and seedless bracts being similar in tint ; even the smaller 

 bracts at the base are of good colour. Hops of inferior quality, 

 especially so far as aroma is concerned, have coarse, stiff bracts, with 

 prominent strong veins, which are not so much branched as in good 

 varieties. The bracts are also more corrugated or wrinkled than 

 those of good hops. The shape of the " petals " or bracts of the hop 

 appear to be associated with quality. Among the English varieties 

 those of the best quality have broad bracts with rounded tips 

 ig. C, 3 and 4). The bracts of the poorer varieties are long and 





& 



FIG. C. 



i and 2 Seedless and seed-bearing petals of a poor English hop. 

 3 and 4 The same of a good hop. 



narrow, and more or less pointed at the tip (Fig. C, i and 2). The 

 colour is generally darker than that of good hops, the petals at the 



