268 



Spurious Measures often taken against " Mould/' — (1) 



SulpJiur in the " Hill." — In the mistaken belief that " mould " 

 lives on the hop-phmt in the " hill " during the winter months, 

 applications of sulphur (usually in the form of black sulphur," 

 sulphur vivum or " green sulphur ") are given to the crown of 

 the " hill " in early spring. Since the " spawn " of the hop- 

 mildew does not occur in the " hill " or on the crown, it is 

 mere waste of labour and material to apply sulphur (or any 

 proprietary article) in this manner. Sulphur, and chemical 

 substances generally, are not able to kill the winter-spores in the 

 conceptacles, which may be lying on or in the soil around the 

 " hill," owing to the thick, impervious " corky " walls of the 

 conceptacle. 



(2) Use of Gypsum. — Although gypsum (sulphate of lime) 

 may under certain conditions act as a fertiliser when applied to 

 the soil and so promote the general growth of the hop-plant, 

 there is no scientific warrant for the belief held by some farmers 

 and fostered by the sellers of gypsum, that the sulphur contained 

 in gypsum is taken up by the plant which then becomes proof 

 against " mould." This theory probablv dates from the period 

 when " mould " was generally believed to be due to the diseased 

 condition of the sap of the hop-plant. 



The practice of using gypsum in the " hill " (usually at the 

 time of " dressing " or " cutting ""> is. for the reasons given 

 above (1), only a waste of labour and material. 



