CULTIVATION. 233 



and the state of the weather, the hops will be dry enough in 

 four to eight days for the depth of the layers to be increased 

 to 4 inches ; and in two to four days more they will be ready 

 to throw up into heaps, or even bagged. 



Apart from the time and large amount of floor space 

 entailed by this method, it is attended by the disadvantage 

 that the frequent turning and stirring breaks up a large 

 number of the cones, and wastes a high proportion of lupu- 

 lin. A better method is that of drying on hurdles or frames, 

 which are placed on floors, granaries, or — where the quantity 

 is large — in special sheds. The hurdles are single frames of 

 wood, strengthened at the corners with wooden triangles, and 

 the inside space covered with rushes, matting, wooden rods, 

 wire, or coarse canvas, rush hurdles being appreciated for 

 their lightness, cheapness and smoothness. These hurdles 

 are made in different sizes, usually, however, about 64 inches 

 long by 82 inches wide, the cost of such a rush hurdle being 

 about ninepence or tenpence. Wired hurdles and those made 

 of rods are more expensive and heavier, wire being also liable 

 to rust and rods having nothing special to recommend them. 

 Canvas hurdles, though inferior to those of rushes, are most 

 frequently used. 



The hurdles, which are covered with a 2-inch layer of 

 hops, are either mounted on racks; so as to leave an inter- 

 vening space :of 12 to 20 inches betw een each hurdle and its 

 neighbour, or else are hung on cords from the-TOof of the 

 shed or drying room. Sometimes the cords are arrahged 

 as ladders, a pair of such ladders being set rather closer 

 together than the length of the hurdle, whilst the steps are 

 as long as the hurdles, are broad. Another plan is to provide 

 loops on the cords, and hang the hurdles thereon by means 

 of nails projecting from the frames, from three to six hurdles 

 being suspended one above another, according to the height 

 of the room. Again, thehurdles may he provided with small 



