108 AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURE. 



feet is made use of where the growth is rank. The 

 reason for planting in triangle position is because the 

 poles are " pitched " or sloped at an angle of about 

 ten degrees from the vertical ; and if the " sets " 

 are allowed to come with their crowns towards each other 

 the bines would soon meet, grow twined together, 

 and so, from the first " tying up," be an endless source 

 of trouble and breakage, in separating them. When 

 the plants are poled, which ought to be as soon as the 

 shoots or "bines" appear in the yearling plants, the space at 

 level with the tops of the poles ought to be equally divided. 

 Each plant, if growing strongly, will have a spread of two 

 feet all the way up, and require as much sun and air as 

 can possibly be provided for it. 



Harvesting. Hops begin to flower, or " bell," in the 

 colonies about Christmas. In a week or two the seeds may 

 be felt between finger and thumb, and in a month after, when 

 the weather is favourable, the clusters of flowers will at 

 first become a pale yellowish or straw colour, and then a 

 lightish brown. At this stage they can easily be broken 

 up in the palm of the hand, emit the familiar fragrance of 

 the mercantile hop, and the sooner they are harvested and 

 dried the better. Gathering hops, or " picking " as it is 

 called, is usually done by women and children by contract ; 

 for this reason it is advisable to form plantations in locali- 

 ties where such labour is obtainable, for delay in this 

 operation is ruinous. A grower must have everything in 

 readiness for his harvest ; his cribs must be made, and an 

 " oast " or kiln prepared. 



Drying. Kilns are used for this purpose. Hops ought 

 to be dried, if possible, within twelve hours after being 

 picked. This is an important point, as the aroma of the 

 flower is very volatile, and in it lies the " strength " and 

 flavour of the hop. They must not be put in large heaps 

 prior to drying, for although of a brownish colour and 

 apparently ripe, they are full of sap, and will "heat " readily 

 if thus placed, and materially decrease in value. The 

 drying must be carried on day and night until all are 

 finished. The fires (of charcoal) must not be very fierce at 

 first, but the "floorings" will need constant stirrings. A 



