122 HOP CULTURE IN INDIA. 



The first attempt to introduce hop culture in Cashmere 

 was made by Captain (now Colonel) Montgomery, of the 

 Trigonometrical Survey. His hop garden was of very 

 humhle dimensions ; but the plant thrived satisfactorily, 

 and flowered regularly even after he had quitted Srinuggur. 

 The flower and quality of these hops were pronounced excel- 

 lent by the manager of the Murree Company, who had 

 obtained a small sack of them ; the only deficiency he 

 observed was that they were wanting in the pollen or yellow 

 dust, which is supposed to be an important ingredient of the 

 genuine Kentish brew. It was suspected that the pollen 

 had evaporated through solar exposure, and to ensure its 

 retention kiln drying will therefore have to be employed. 

 The encouraging success attendant upon Colonel Mont- 

 gomery's trial hop garden induced Mr. Whymper, manager 

 of the above Brewery Company, to start the experimental 

 gardens referred to. 



The experiment of growing hops on a sufficiently large 

 scale is now being tried at Srinuggur, on three separate 

 localities in the Cashmere valley, the exceptionally temperate 

 climate of which renders it highly suitable to the growth of 

 the plant. Operations were commenced early in the spring 

 of last year. About six hundred roots were planted in a 

 plot at Srinuggur, obtained by favour of the Maharajah, and 

 a quarter of these are reported to be in a thriving condition, 

 and are already breaking into flower. Another plot, of 

 larger extent, comprising some twelve acres, has also been 

 planted ; but the soil is unfavourable, being low and swampy. 

 For this garden 60,000 roots were despatched from Eng- 

 land early in the year, and arrived at their destination in 



