' HOP-MOULD * 753 



this matter have been carried out. Possibly lime might help to 

 destroy the spore-cases. 



{b) Certain varieties of hops seem to be specially liable to 

 suffer from this trouble, but apart from possible inherent 

 differences in the plants, more careful manuring should be 

 adopted in order to produce a healthy growth. Excessive 

 amounts of highly nitrogenous manures make the leaves more 

 readily attackable by 'mould.' Anything which reduces the 

 vitality of the hop — such as cold and damp nights, long 

 continued drought, or wet weather and want of proper 

 amount of sunshine and fresh air — indirectly aids 'mould' in 

 its ravages. 



It is generally in ' housed-in ' parts, where the air is still and 

 damp and where light does not easily penetrate, that the worst 

 effects are seen. Systems of training hops should aim at re- 

 ducing these drawbacks to a minimum. 



Early trimming of the lower part of the bine diminishes the 

 likelihood of attack from the soil and also allows of better air 

 circulation. 



{c) The 'hop-mould' fungus not only lives upon hops but 

 also upon many wild plants — groundsel, dandelion, strawberry, 

 avens, meadow-sweet, and many others. There is little doubt 

 that it. is from such sources outside the garden that many 

 attacks of the parasite are begun, especially those which are 

 observed to strike the outskirts or upper parts of a garden 

 first. Weedy railway banks adjoining hop gardens, where 

 trains pass frequently, are often subject to 'mould,' which 

 appears to be due to the repeated movement of air laden with 

 spores blown from the fungus growing upon weeds in the 

 neighbourhood. 



Hedges should be kept as clean and as free from weeds as 

 possible, and an application of wash to dirty hedges when 

 spraying the garden is well worth the trouble and expense, both 

 for ' mould ' and vermin of various kinds. 



