380 THE HOP CROP. 



in them, which spoils the sample for the market. It is 

 generally considered good management to get the first 

 "casting" packed before the third comes off the kiln, and 

 so to continue at that rate through the whole produce. 

 When dried, cooled, and packed in quick succession, the 

 sample is sure to handle better than where any delay 

 occurs between the operations. The ordinary method of 

 packing, which is still largely followed, notwithstanding 

 the improved mechanical arrangements that have from 

 time to time been devised for the purpose, is to tread them 

 down into the pockets or bags with the feet. A hole of 

 suitable diameter is made at one end of the cooling floor, 

 with a frame or curb raised about a foot above the level 

 of the floor; a round hoop being first fastened in the 

 mouth of the bag, it is let down through the hole, the 

 hoop resting on the curb, on which, owing to its diameter 

 being a little larger, it rests. In some houses a stout 

 framing is fixed to keep the bags in a proper shape. Into 

 this bag or "pocket" the hops are poured by a boy from 

 a basket or scupper, and as they fall in they are trodden 

 down by a man who remains in the bag until it is filled 

 with pressed hops up to the floor line, when it is removed, 

 and the top stitched down with strong twine, or " coped 

 up," as it is technically termed. Pockets and bags are 

 used indiscriminately by some planters ; the finest samples 

 and best qualities are, however, more commonly packed in 

 pockets, and the coloured and coarser varieties in bags. 

 It is admitted that hops keep better in bags than in 

 pockets. The excise regulations in regard to the net 

 weight, however, which affects both the grower in regard 

 to the duty, and the consumer in regard to the real 

 weight, are more favourable to the pockets than the bags. 

 There is a great difference of opinion as to the relative 

 advantages of packing by the old method, and by the use 

 of the different machines which have been introduced, 



