90 HOP-PICKING. 



last, forced into bags by the foot and leaden 

 weights. The persons who perform this are 

 called packers. 



The best hops are put into finer bags, which 

 are called pockets ; the inferiour sort only are 

 called bags. When the picking is accomplish- 

 ed, the binds, or stalks, are cleared from the 

 poles, which are stacked or piled together, for 

 future occasions. The haulm, or straw of the 

 plant, is used by the poorer classes in England 

 for fuel, and is sometimes burnt on the soil for 

 manure. 



Hops are a very uncertain crop; and there- 

 fore a most anxious speculation to growers, 

 in England, whose chief support is derived 

 from this branch of business. 



A heavy duty is laid upon them in England ; 

 consequently, the excise officers watch the 



