194 HOPS. 



At the present time the number of suitable types of 

 frame for hop-training is large. Without taking any 

 account of the material on which the bines are trained — 

 such as wire, string, old bines, etc. — or of which the pillars 

 of the frames are made — wood, iron — these systems may 

 be classified, according to the method of training and the 

 height of the frame- work, into the following groups : — 



According to the Method of Training : — 



(1.) Frames with vertical training, the bines climbing 

 on perpendicularly stretched wires (string or old bine), e.g., 

 the Schwend method. 



(2.) Frames with inclined training wires, running on 

 the slope, as in the Wirth system. 



(3.) Frames with mixed vertical and inclined training, 

 e.g., the Haupt system. 



(4.) Frames combining the vertical or inclined method 

 with horizontal training, e.g., the Hermann system. 



According to the Height of the Frames : — 



(1.) High frame-work, the longitudinal wires being at a 

 height of 20 to 26 feet above the ground (Wirth's system). 



(2.) Medium high frames, with wires 13 to 20 feet high 

 (Stambach's and Haupt's systems). 



(3.) Low frames, the longitudinal wires being 7 to 13 

 feet above the ground level (Hermann's system). 



A distinction is also drawn between lightly constructed 

 frames and such as are storm-proof. 



The earhest frames actually used were of the high, 

 vertical-wire type. On these the bine climbs vertically 

 just as on poles, but, owing to the small diameter of the 

 supports, less frequent tying is required. The high system, 

 however, suffers principally from its insecurity in case of 

 stormy weather, and as it was recognised that to overcome 

 this defect would necessitate a large outlay, the use of 

 lower frames came into favour. 



