192 THE VALLEY OF THE TEME 



air instead of by the old-fashioned kiln in which the 

 products of combustion passed through the hops. It 

 is more than possible that these innovators are upon 

 the wrong track, and ought instead to be reforming 

 their natural draught kilns as the most economical tool, 

 thoroughly efficient if properly constructed ; but at any 

 rate the search after a more intensive and controllable 

 plant may be taken as an indication of enterprise. 



The Worcestershire hops are almost wholly grown 

 upon wire and string, being planted closely to- 

 gether, not more than 3 ft. to 3 ft. 6 in. apart in 

 rows from 7 ft. to 8 ft. wide, and trained at a very 

 slight angle to two wires running nearly above the 

 hills. The close planting is favourable to heavy crops, 

 while the upright string saves some expense in train- 

 ing. But if the hops do grow rather more readily 

 in the fine soil and kindly climate in the west, they 

 are subject to more prolonged and intense attacks 

 of blight than prevail in Kent and Sussex. The 

 eastern grower may sometimes think that green fly 

 cannot be more persistent in its development than 

 with him, but without doubt the attacks are generally 

 heavier and more lasting in the deep and close valleys 

 of Worcestershire and Hereford. In 191 1 we were told 

 that the men in the Teme Valley had been compelled 

 to spray their hops as many as nine times to get 

 them clean, whereas the attacks, if for a time heavy, 

 yet passed away quickly in Kent, where few men 

 washed more than twice or three times. 



The varieties of the hops grown are practically the 

 same all over the kingdom ; it is true that the western 

 country has developed two fine hops the Mathon 

 and Cooper's White which are in some respects 

 distinct ; but they are true Goldings, and have not 

 diverged far from the parent stock which gave rise 



