228 HOPS. 



Of course the removal of leaves in order to prevent the 

 spread of disease is a different matter altogether, since in 

 such cases, unless this course be adopted, the crop may be 

 entirely or partly ruined; whereas, if the infected leaves 

 be stripped off in good time and a barrier thereby opposed 

 to the extension of the disease, the plants not infrequently 

 recover so far as to produce a better crop than they would 

 have done had the leaves been left on. 



Picking. 



Eed hops are ready for picking in the second half of 

 August, whilst green hops are not ripe, as a rule, until 

 early in September. 



The outward signs indicating incipient and full ripeness 

 in the cones are as follows:^ 



1. The cones begin to close up in a manner peculiar to 

 each variety, and the colour gradually becomes yellowish- 

 green to golden. 



2. Seeds, when present, will indicate the approach of 

 full ripeness by their colour change to brown. 



3. The cones feel greasy, crackle when squeezed, and the 

 peculiar odour of the lupulin becomes prominently notice- 

 able. The formation of lupulin granules ceases when the 

 cones are ripe for picking. 



4. The lower foliage leaves assume their autumn colour- 

 ing and drop off. 



If picking be delayed beyond the proper time the bracts 

 spread apart, the cones open and look shrivelled, whilst a 

 large proportion of the lupulin falls out, and the quality 

 of the produce is thereby impaired. The colour will also 

 be inferior to that of hops picked at the proper time, the 

 bracts having a reddish (foxy) tinge ; and the goods suffer 

 in value from their inferior appearance. 



