16 HOPS. 



The stems are hollow, except at the parts where the 

 leaves take their rise — the joints or nodes — and the inter- 

 nodes increase in length, from below upwards, until the stem 

 has attained about half its final length, internodes above this 

 point being shorter again. In warm weather the free apex, 

 of the stem moves in a circle, two hours and eight minutes 

 being required for a complete revolution. 



The leaves of the hop are opposite, and start from the 

 nodes, but exhibit no uniformity of shape. They are covered 

 with hairs on both the upper and lower sides, those on the 

 former being tougher than the others. Under the leaves 

 are found large numbers of small resinous dots. The funda- 



PiG. 5. — Leaves and stipules. 



mental shape of the leaf is the cordate (heart-shaped) form ; 

 the lower leaves are the largest and have five lobes. Higher 

 up the stem, and particularly on the laterals, three-lobed,. 

 and not infrequently simple, leaves occur. The edge of the 

 leaf is coarsely serrated. Occasionally, abnormally devel- 

 oped leaves are encountered of highly diversified form. 



Corresponding to its extensive root development the hop 

 plant produces abundant foliage, the total superficial leaf area 

 being, according to Fleischmann, about 120 square feet. In the 

 axils of the leaves are situated the buds from which spring 

 the laterals ; and on the same level as the main leaves, but 

 at right angles thereto, are two lanceolate stipules with entire 

 margins (Fig. 5). 



