USE OF SULPHUR. 379 



Great care and judgment are required in the drying; 

 damaged li ops may be improved and the best hops be spoiled 

 by the manner, judicious or otherwise, in which they are 

 treated. When the floors are first charged, the heat should 

 be applied very gradually, and increased only towards the 

 end of the operation, which generally occupies from six 

 to eight hours, when they should be removed to the 

 cooling room, as much injury is sustained by leaving 

 them in the kiln after they are ready for moving. This 

 is ascertained by the feel far more than the appearance, 

 and can only be acquired by careful observation and 

 experience. They should feel perfectly dry to the hand, 

 and yet should retain a soft silky feeling to the touch. 

 Sulphur is very generally made use of in this part of the 

 preparing process. It certainly does not add anything to 

 the intrinsic value of the hops, but its peculiar bleaching 

 properties are made use of for the purpose of improving the 

 colour of hops, which, either from their natural process of 

 maturing, or from other causes, have become too brown or 

 dark coloured to satisfy the market eye. It thus gives them 

 a fictitious value in the market, and the grower is well 

 remunerated for his outlay in sulphur. Great care, how- 

 ever, is requisite in its administration; it should be 

 applied in small quantities at a time, commencing as soon 

 as the vapour begins to arise from the floor, and continued 

 only as long as the escape of moisture is visible. 



From the kiln the hops are removed to the cooling 

 room, where they are spread thinly on the floor, prepara- 

 tory to packing or bagging. This should be done as soon 

 as they are sufficiently cool to press well under the feet 

 without breaking to pieces, or "mudging," as it is generally 

 termed. If, however, they get too cool, and particularly if 

 they have not been thoroughly dried, they are apt to 

 become clammy, and although they press close and well, 

 they stick together too much, and have no rise or spring 



