114 HOPS. 



of the garden becomes levelled off — of course, provided flat 

 cultivation is adopted. 



As far as possible the plants should not be cut 0& from 

 the lovs^er stem at gathering time, vphether during the first 

 year or afterwards ; because, though the cones are ripe, the 

 vegetation of the plant is still far from concluded, and the 

 leaves continue to elaborate materials, which, when the 

 plant dies down naturally, are partly carried down into the 

 roots, and become available for the plant in the succeeding 

 year. On the other hand, if the stems are cut whilst still 

 green, a certain quantity of fodder is obtained, but the 

 portable matter in the leaves and stein is wasted so far as 

 the plant is concerned. For this reason it should be laid 

 down as a fixed rule that the bine, after the cones have 

 been picked off, should not be cut until the leaves have 

 turned yellow or brown. 



'Work to be Pbefoemed Annually in the Hop Garden. 



Naturally, the task of the hop-grower is by no means over 

 with the planting and first year's cultivation of the garden. 

 On the contrary, when the ground is to become permanently 

 productive, a series of operations must be repeated every 

 year ; and though the time at which the various tasks are 

 performed differs according to the district, and the means 

 employed are not everywhere the same, still the objects in 

 view are practically identical throughout. These regular 

 annual tasks appertaining to the hop garden are : working 

 the ground, cutting the stocks, manuring, training the bine, 

 pruning, trimming, and gathering. 



Working the Ground. 



It goes without saying that no invariable universal rules 

 can be laid down as to the working of the ground in hop 



