48 CULTIVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE HOP. 



too close. The last season lias been a most anxious one for 

 the growers- at one time threatened with almost total blight, 

 then a ray of hope that we should grow a few. Those who 

 resorted to syringing were equally dismayed. The blight 

 was so tenacious that the operation was obliged to be repeated 

 over and over again, without apparently any good effect. At 

 last, however, perseverance was rewarded, and syringing pre- 

 vailed. In the meantime, it will be remembered, great 

 atmospheric changes took place the wind veered from the 

 east to south, and then to west. Favoured with warm 

 showers, the hops, not washed even, and not irretrievably 

 gone, responded in a marvellous and almost unprecedented 

 manner. The district is certainly favoured, whether 

 syringed or not; and growers can congratulate each other 

 alike, and singularly enough, though we have experienced 

 another blight, the advantages of syringing are much doubted 

 and still remain subject for much discussion. It is a fortu- 

 nate circumstance that those who syringed are satisfied, and 

 those who did not are satisfied also. I can confidently tell 

 anyone who may syringe in future that soft soap is all that 

 is required, and that tobacco and other ingredients are an 

 unnecessary expense. Mould is now very prevalent in the 

 Weald of Kent, much worse than formerly, and it is to be 

 attributed to various causes firstly, to the introduction of 

 new sorts ; secondly, planting on land with too shallow soil, 

 and using artificial manure almost entirely; and thirdly, 

 planting kinds not adapted for the soil. The free use of 

 sulphur is generally a remedy, but there are instances where 

 it has had but little effect. My plan is to use about 50 Ibs. 

 of sulphur per acre on the first appearance of mould, and to 



