THE HOP TEADE. 329 



■developed in the district, especially among growers. He is 

 of opinion that serious differences would arise in the case 

 ■of such a sale association working on a large scale, with the 

 result that both the sale association and the Hopgrowers' 

 Union would suffer great injury, if not disruption. Accord- 

 ing to his view, it would be better to begin experimentally 

 on a small scale ; and when the producers have found good 

 results to follow, the shrub will soon grow into a large tree. 

 Where the district is too large to centralise the work in 

 ■one association, a number of smaller associations could be 

 affiliated. 



Since 1897 a Hop-marking Institute, on the same lines 

 as that at Saaz, has been in work at Spalt, and comprises 

 100 localities, 26 belonging to the inner zone, and the others 

 to the outer zone of the Spalt district. 



Other institutes, in larger number but less strict in their 

 regulations, exist in Germany, especially in Bavaria, where 

 hops are marked with seals lent by the Administration. 

 At present about 130 of these seals are in use in Bavaria. 

 Each sealed package is accompanied by a weight certificate, 

 usually impressed vdth some special design representing 

 some notable object, such as a church, a castle or landscape 

 view, in the producing community. These sealing associa- 

 tions have their own presses and kilns, and some of them 

 also their own warehouses. Those lacking the necessary ap- 

 pliances are liberally subsidised by the Bavarian Government 

 -and the sale associations, and can acquire loans free of 

 interest. 



In conclusion it seems advisable to refer to the means 

 whereby the hop-growing industry may be furthered and 

 ■directed into a better and healthier course. These com- 

 prise : — 



1. A restriction of the area under inferior sorts in favour 

 ■of the better varieties. 



