254 UETICACEJ2. 



tied from time to time, and the ground weeded, and in due 

 time the male and female flowers open on their separate plants. 

 Then the cone-like clusters form, and the bines grow tall, and 

 become more graceful every week. When the Hopping season 

 has come, every man, woman, and child forsakes the villages, 

 of course excepting those who have some pressing occupation. 

 Invalids are dragged to the Hop gardens to breathe the salu- 

 brious aroma, and all hands apply to the work. A whole 

 family pick into one measure, and each little child can earn 

 something. The Hops are carried from hence to an oast-house, 

 where they are spread upon a grating, underneath which stoves 

 are burning. When sufficiently dry, they are closely packed 

 in sacks, and are ready for the market. The bracts of the 

 calyx are studded with glands containing a bitter aromatic 

 principle, on which the virtues of the Hop depend, and which 

 gives the flavour to beer. The plant is wild in many parts of 

 England Wiltshire, Warwickshire, Yorkshire, &c. 



The Hemp, representing another family in this Nettle order, 

 can hardly be called a native plant, though it is cultivated in 

 some districts for its fibre, from which cordage, ropes, and 

 coarse linen are manufactured. The seed is a favourite food 

 for birds. The flowers have the stamens and pistils in different 

 blooms, and the wand-like stems and palmate leaves look stately 

 enough. 



