88 HOPS. 



considerable extent in parts of the United 

 States. The English seem not to have been 

 aware of its use, until they learned it from the 

 Continent, in the reign of Henry VIII. With- 

 out the dried flower-buds of this plant, which 

 are the hops of commerce, barley-wine, or ale, 

 would be unpalatable, and a quickly-spoiling 

 drink ; so that, unless some substitute for hops 

 were used of old, the "nut-brown-ale," of which 

 the ancient English ballads tell, could scarcely 

 have been entitled to the praise which it has 

 received. 



I suppose I scarcely need say, that this is a 

 winding, climbing plant, arising from a root that 

 continues many years in the ground, although 

 the plant itself perishes at the close of every 

 season. A hop-plantation requires several sum- 

 mers' growth, before it is in good order for 



