CULTIVATION. 147 



coming up in the spring, they may be heightened by means 

 of the long cut, leaving one, two, or three internodes on the 

 stem. 



(d) The Topping Gut, 



For this cut it is unnecessary to uncover or open the stock, 

 the ground being merely scraped away by means of a small 

 hoe so as to expose the topmost internode of the underground 

 stem. This internode is then cut off above the second pair 

 of buds, only the topmost pair being removed. 



It often happens, when late hops are introduced from 

 other, especially more southern, districts, that the new sorts 

 do not properly develop their cones, but yield unsatisfactory 

 results, even for several years. In order to accelerate the 

 adaptation of these varieties to their new environment, the 

 topping cut, applied in the autumn once or in two successive 

 years, will afford effectual assistance. 



Before a hop garden is grubbed up the topping cut may 

 be practised either in the last year, or even in the penultimate 

 year as well, this method being preferable to leaving the 

 stocks uncut, because the topmost pair of eyes produce stems 

 that yield very few cones. Even when the hops are left un- 

 cut the shoots from these top eyes are seldom used, since they 

 easily break in training them on to the poles ; consequently, 

 in such event, topping would prevent a waste of material. 



From the foregoing examples it is evident that the selec- 

 tion of the various methods of cutting the hop stock depends 

 on a number of conditions, and that the choice is not an 

 immaterial one in so far as the effect on the development of 

 the plant is concerned. Particular care is requisite in cutting 

 the stocks in young gardens, because of the immature develop- 

 ment of the rootstock ; whereas in older gardens a little 

 irregularity is less injurious. 



