I50 HISTORY OF AGRICULTURE 



and Flemish hops had to be imported, though not nearly so 

 good as English. A great deal of dishonesty, moreover, was 

 shown by the foreign importers, so that in 1603 a statute 

 (i Jac. I, c. 18) was passed against the 'false packinge of 

 forreine hops,' by which it appears that the sacks were filled 

 up with leaves, stalks, powder, sand, straw, wood, and even 

 soil, for increasing the weight, by which English growers it is 

 said lost ;^20,ooo a year. Such hops were to be forfeited, and 

 brewers using them were to forfeit their value. The chief cause 

 of their decrease was that few farmers would take the trouble 

 and care required to grow them, in spite of the often excellent 

 prices, which at Winchester at this date averaged from 50J. 

 to 80s. a cwt., sometimes, however, reaching over 200s., as in 

 1665 and 1687, though then as now they were subject to 

 great fluctuations, and in 1691 were only 31J. Many, too, 

 were discouraged by the fact ' they are the most of any plant 

 that grows subject to the various mutations of the air, 

 mildews sometimes totally destroying them,' no doubt an 

 allusion to the aphis blight. Hop yards were often protected 

 at this early date by hedges of tall trees, usually ash or poplar, 

 the elm being disapproved of as contracting mildews. Mark- 

 ham ^ says that Hertfordshire then contained as good hops 

 as he had seen anywhere, and there the custom was 250 hills 

 to every rood, ' and every hill will bear 2^ lb., worth on an 

 average 4 nobles a cwt. (a noble = 6s. Sd.) ; ' hills were to be 

 6 ft. apart at least, poles 16 to 18 ft. long and 9 or 10 inches 

 in circumference at the butt, of ash, oak, beech, alder, maple 

 or willow. 



Some planted the hills in ' plain squares chequerwise, which 

 is the best way if you intend to plough with horses between 

 the hills. Others plant them in form of a quincunx, which 

 is better for the hop, and will do very well where your ground 

 is but small that you may overcome it with either the breast 

 plough or spade.' The manure recommended by Worlidge 

 ^ Ed. 1635, Book i, p. 175. 



