HOP CULTI7KE IN AUSTRALASIA. 109 



is exceedingly favourable for the culture of the hop, the 

 mean diurnal range for the first four months of the year 

 being only 18, yet a cold night occasionally occurs ; and 

 should the ground at that time be fully irrigated, the flow of 

 sap is sure to be arrested and stagnation produced, causing a 

 condition of foliage favourable to the development and increase 

 of the spider. % Sulphuring has been tried as a remedy, but 

 without success, though whether the experiments were carried 

 out to a reasonable extent is doubtful. The usual plan is 

 to gather the hops as soon as possible from the infested 

 plants, and by destroying the plants preventing the insects 

 from spreading. It is highly important that irrigation should 

 be commenced in time, before the natural moisture of the 

 soil is exhausted ; and it is of equal importance to leave off 

 at the right time, though occasionally the water is let on to 

 plants not quite ripe, in order to keep them green, when 

 pickers are scarce. The common method of poling is still 

 all but universally prevalent, though Coley's plan has been 

 tried by Sir R Officer and a few others, and liked by all ; 

 but the greater expense in the first instance is acting as a 

 deterrent, and permits but a very slow extension. Manuring 

 is another very important element in the attainment of suc- 

 cess, for without an abundance of manure of some kind hops 

 cannot at all be grown successfully for more than a few years, 

 even on the richest soil. 



Mr. S. P. H. Wright has a very promising and well- 

 managed hop ground, in a well-chosen situation on the banks 

 of the Derwent, and close to the main road from Hobart 

 Town. A creek flows through the ground, and supplies water 

 for irrigation. The total area of the ground is 34 acres ; 



