296 HOPS. 



VIII. Siebenbilrgen cmd Hungary. 



IX. Auscha Green-hop Land {Hirschberg and environs, Dauba and 

 environs), and Upper Austria (inferior soils). 



This classification is of course not absolutely accurate 

 and invariably correct, since fluctuations in point of quality 

 will occur in every district, according to the situation and 

 the conditions of the season. Nevertheless, the preceding 

 hst admirably serves the purpose of general guidance. 



Fr. Chodounsky ^ recently pubhshed an article on judging 

 hops from their outward characteristics, in which stress is 

 laid on the form of the strigs (spindles). He says: "In its 

 fundamental shape the strig is either bent in an irregular 

 zig-zag fashion, or exhibits uniform windings of varying 

 pitch, six to nine in number (or ten to thirteen, and even 

 more, in heavier hops). The strig, especially in the best 

 varieties, is covered with fine whitish grey hairs; but in 

 others these hairs are lacking, and in such case the brown 

 colour of the strig becomes more apparent, the striated 

 surface being then visible, whilst in wild hops the strig is 

 blackish and nearly smooth. The bracts rest on more or 

 less tender stumps, which are barely discernible or else 

 slightly project, and apparently run in a spiral line towards 

 the apex of the cone. 



" The typical form is the fine strig of the best old Bohe- 

 mian red hop, or of the excellent Spalt hop, with numerous 

 close windings, on which the stumps appear as mere inocula- 

 tions. On the other hand, the shape alone of the coarse 

 strig indicates opposite properties." In concluding his paper 

 Chodounsky recommends judging by points, the following 

 twelve characteristics being taken into consideration : ' ' Size 

 of cones, colour, lustre, uniformity, absence of injury, form 



^ Berichte der Versuchsanstalt fUr Brauindustrie in BOhmen, II. Decenmum, 

 Part II., Prague, 1898. 



