226 HOPS. 



Pruning, Cropping, Topping and Leaf-stripping the Hop 

 Plant. 



By these operations the grower is enabled to exercise 

 considerable influence on the growth of the plant, and the 

 formation and development of the cones. If the trained 

 plants are left alone it will be noticed that tke lower laterals, 

 up to a height of about 80 inches, will bear only a few im- 

 perfect and inferior cones, if any at all, the true bearers 

 being the higher laterals. If these under-laterals are re- 

 moved by pruning the stems the sap is necessarily con- 

 veyed to the higher portions of the plant, the result being 

 a more vigorous development of the laterals, and conse- 

 quently a more plentiful crop of better formed cones. This 

 fact is recognised, and the practice of pruning is therefore 

 pursued regularly with good results, the lower laterals being 

 cut off with the shears or a sharp knife. It is inadvisable 

 ±0 break or tear off the laterals, because of the large wounds 

 thereby inflicted on the bine. 



The laterals may be also shortened by cropping, the 

 effect of which is to induce the production of fruitful 

 branches. This operation can, however, only be carried 

 out conveniently in low- or medium-frame gardens, since 

 in the case of poles or high frames the aid of a ladder is 

 required and the work becomes tedious and more ex- 

 pensive. 



It is very important that the cropping should be done 

 just at the right time, neither too early nor too late. As 

 a rule it is commenced when the laterals have put forth 

 four to six pairs of leaves, the branch being then cut off 

 just beyond the last pair. For red hops the work should 

 be over by 1st July, and for green hops a fortnight later; 

 otherwise the uniform flowering of the plants will be dis- 

 turbed, and the cones will ripen irregularly. Eeliable men 



