CULTIVATION. 129 



rootlets, and facilitates the solution and assimilation of pre- 

 viously insoluble plant food in those layers. 



4. The old bine removed by cutting also bears a few 

 internodes bounded by fresh eyes, and here and there tiny 

 roots. The cut portion is distinguished by great vitality, 

 and, if planted, will rapidly grow to form a separate plant, 

 which will often produce blossom and fruit in the first year 

 and not infrequently be in full bearing by the second year. 

 Given equal conditions of environment, the quality of the 

 produce is equal to that of the parent stock, and for this 

 reason the best uninjured cuttings thus obtained are used 

 as a convenient and advantageous method of propagation. 

 When such cuttings are unprocurable recourse must be had 

 to raising plants from seed or to planting root stolons, etc., a 

 more tedious performance. 



5. The removal of the cover of soil before cutting afforda 

 the best opportunity for the application of the necessary- 

 manure — in the form of stall manure, compost or concentrated; 

 artificial — near to or against the roots, thus making sure that, 

 the dressing will be utilised by the hop plant alone and wilt 

 therefore prove more efi&cacious in action. 



6. Finally, another useful result of cutting is the possi- 

 bility it affords of destroying insects injurious to the plant, 

 such as caterpillars and wireworms, which are got at in the 

 quickest possible mariner by uncovering the rootstocks. 



The Non-cutting System. 



Notwithstanding all the above-mentioned advantages of 

 cutting the rootstocks of hop plants, a proposition was made 

 a few years back by a large Wiirtemburg hop-grower 

 (Hermann) to abolish the practice on account of certain 

 objections to the system, which are now reproduced in full. 



1. Hermann claims that cutting the stocks every year 



causes extensive wounds, which .never fully heal up, and, in 



9 



