230 



HOPS. 



handsomest and best developed cones first and the poorer 

 ones afterwards, or else by having two baskets, into one of 

 which the best cones are dropped, whilst the other serves 

 to receive the foxy, loose, short and inferior specimens. 

 The former method is preferable, as in the other there is 

 more likehhood of the two qualities becoming inadvertently 

 mixed in the hurry of picking, and consequently the uni- 

 formity of the samples is diminished. 



As a rule hops are picked at a fixed rate, averaging 2d. 

 to 2Jd. per bushel. As a bushel of fresh cones weighs 



Pig. 65. — Wolfi's hop picking and sorting macliine. 



about 5 lb., the cost per cwt. amounts to between 4s. and 

 5s.^ A good picker will gather 16 to 22 bushels, or 65 to 

 10.5 lb., per diem. 



Warm dry weather is the principal desideratum at picking 

 time, but even with the most favourable weather it is better 

 not to set to work until the dew is off, since wet or damp 

 hops dry badly, and easily get off-coloured. 



' Three and a half lb. of green hops yield 1 lb. of dried cones, so that the 

 cost of picking works out at 14s. to 17s. 6d. per cwt. of dried hops. 



