138 HOPS. 



Wherever possible none but the most skilful and trust- 

 worthy hands should be employed in cutting, and they 

 should not be encouraged to work too quickly. Each man 

 being provided with a well-sharpened hop knife, a small hoe, 

 and a hand basket, is set to work at a separate row, and 

 properly instructed as to the manner of dealing with 

 each special case. The first thing to do is to carefully clear 

 away the soil from round the stock, with the hoe, that portion 

 immediately covering the root being removed with the 

 fingers or a small stick. As soon as it is so far uncovered 

 that the older and darker portion is distinguishable from the 

 light-coloured one-year's growth, the upper parts of the 

 lateral roots will also be visible : a condition absolutely 

 essential for the proper performance of the task in hand. 

 Attention is now bestowed on the condition of the root- 

 stock, its strength of growth — determined by the thickness 

 of the visible lateral roots as well as by the strength and 

 number of the last year's shoots. Furthermore, the stock 

 must be examined for the presence of weaker subsidiary 

 shoots which carry buds and are often branched, especially 

 when the ground is in good heart. Having now convinced 

 himself of the soundness and vigour of the stock, the cutter 

 kneels down, knife in hand, and begins his work, the weak 

 outside shoots preventing access to the main stock being 

 taken off first close to the butts, by short cuts with the end 

 of the blade, care being taken to avoid severing any of the 

 true roots. This is termed "trimming the stock". The 

 true roots are distinguishable from the injurious stolons in 

 that, unlike the latter, they do not remain of equal thickness 

 or increase in diameter the further they extend from the 

 plant, but taper away from the stock, subdivide into branches, 

 and grow downwards instead of approaching the surface. It 

 often happens that the small lateral roots are cut off inten- 

 tionally, under the erroneous impression that the stock 



