1922.] 



895 



stems instead of in the root-stock; in the root-stock it provides 

 a reserve of food for next season's growth, wliereas the " straps " 

 are cut off and so this reserve is wasted. 



Cutting. — This operation is earned out for the purpose of 

 keeping the hills in their place and preventing them from 

 straggling all over the alley. It is desirable to keep the crown 

 of the hill just level with the general surface of the ground. Two 

 parts have to be cut off : the ' ' straps ' ' and the runners ; on the 

 Pacific Coast of America, where the hills are not earthed in 

 summer, the operation is done with a sharp-edged spade ; this 

 is operated mainly for the purpose of cutting the runners, the 

 spade being used to cut obliquely downwards and away from the 

 hill. Under English conditions the hill is first cleaned from soil 

 which has been put upon it during summer and then the 



straps " and runners are cut off one by one with a sharp knife. 

 The best time of year for this operation is during favourable 

 w^eather in February or March, but may be carried out in autumn 

 or as late as mid April. 



Workmen often do much damage in cutting hops, being 

 too severe on weak hills and too merciful to strong ones. The 

 hops should be cut so that the cro^m is left just above the surface 

 of the ground, in w^hich position the young shoots are less liable 

 to be attacked by wire worms. It is a frequent practice to scratch 

 a little loose earth over each hill after cutting with the idea of 

 protecting it ; this idea is fallacious, for the stems arising 

 from " hills " unprotected in this way are generally more firmly 

 attached to the parent plant and less easily attacked by 

 wire worms. 



At the time of cutting attention should also be given to 

 replanting any dead hills. 



Cultivation. — The standard winter cultivation consists of two 

 ploughings. The first ploughing is so managed as to turn the 

 furrows towards the hills and so leave an open furrow down the 

 centre of the alley. In the case of clay soils this first ploughing 

 should be carried out very early in autumn so that the work may 

 be done before the land gets wet and the open furrow may seiTe 

 to keep the hop-plants drained through the winter. In the case 

 of the more friable soils, where catch crops of rape and mustard 

 are commonlv sown before picking, the ploughing is delayed 

 till the crop has been folded. 



The second ploughing is carried out in spring as soon as the 

 land is sufficiently dry for the purpose ; this ploughing 



gathers " the furrows to the centre of the alleys and levels 



