CULTIVATION. 159 



protecting the grower against a complete failure of crop. 

 This solitary but very weighty circumstance is sufficient 

 to remove all doubts as to the utility of autumn cutting.^ 



The repeated proof that autumn cutting is capable of 

 largely increasing the yield in years when spring cut hops 

 seriously fail is a reason for warmly recommending the 

 former system, though no guarantee is given that an equally 

 favourable result will necessarily be obtained under different 

 conditions. 



Briefly, every grower will do well to make a trial of 

 autumn cutting in part of his hop area, provided the afore- 

 said essential conditions to success are present. Finally it 

 may be remarked that autumn cutting should never be 

 performed while the bine is still green and sappy, but 

 naust be deferred till October, and later if possible, by 

 which time the eyes will be so well developed that they 



^ Zelinka states that h.e also shared these doubts, and, until taught better 

 by striking facts, could not for a long period regard with favour the com- 

 pulsory adoption of regular autumn cutting, notwithstanding the convincing 

 statements of Strebel and Fruwirth to the efiect that autumn cutting is less 

 weakening to the plants, in that it does not deprive them pf the reserves of 

 material, which by the time spring has arrived have ascended from the stock 

 into the stems before the latter are cut ; further, that the eyes left from the 

 autumn cutting develop better during the winter, so that the plant gains a 

 start in the spring when vegetation rewakes, etc. 



In 1894 and 1896, two years in which the Russian hop crop was greatly 

 affected — partly by the long-continued drought, from the commencement of 

 vegetation to the middle of June, and partly by continuous and protracted 

 wet weather — the following results in lb. per acre were obtained from the 

 two moieties of one and the same hop garden ; — 



Kind. - Autumn Cut. Spring Cut. 



1894. 1896w 1894. 1896. 



Early hops . . 556 lb. 520 lb. 250 lb. 82 lb. 



Late hops . . 785 „ 950 „ 300 „ 145 „ 



In point of quality, also, the autumn cut hops were superior, especially 

 in 1896. Although yielding six and a. half times as many cones, the latter 

 plants were not more fully developed than the spring out vines, which were 

 lemarkably luxuriant in foliage, though cropping badly. 



