144 



THE HOP. 



We find comparatively little in English or German 

 methods to add to the foregoing, and the latter may 

 well profit by American experience. Kentish planters 

 take more care than others to prevent vines being too 

 thick, and emphasize the fact that plenty of sunshine 

 among the leaves is one of the best safeguards against 

 lice and mold. A Washington farmer sets two or three 

 rows of tobacco plants about his hop yards, which seem 

 to attract the winged lice on their way from the plum 



FIG. 74. HOP VINE AFFECTED BY NEEDLE-NOSED HOP BUG. 



Showing "scars" on hop vine. a, Due to the Calocoris; b, holes in leaf due to 

 punctures by the AntJiocoris, a somewhat similar insect. 



tree to the vines, and cause them to die after feeding 

 on the tobacco. In 1895, much injury was done in 

 England by the needle-nosed hop bug (Fig. 73), which 

 with its long, sharp proboscis (Fig 73, b) punctured the 

 tender parts of the vine (Fig. 74), not only drawing 

 out the sap, but leaving a wound that bled and weak- 

 ened the vine. The only thing that disabled them was 

 12 pounds of soft soap to 100 gallons of water (or of 



