1922.] 



Cultivation of the Hop Crop. 



1097 



at the present time, though a few grounds may be found in 

 which two poles are placed to each " hill " and string led from 

 a height of 3 ft. 6 in. on the poles of one row to the tops of 

 the poles in the next. 



Systems of Wire-work. — Generally, at the present time hops 

 are grown upon one of several systems of wire-work. The wire 

 consists of galvanised stranded wire composed of 3 to 5 or 7 

 strands according to the strain which it will be required to 

 support. The wire framework is carried upon stout poles cut 

 generally from larch, Spanish chestnut, ash or occasionally 

 spruce and other woods. Before use, the poles should be roughly 

 shaved of their bark, seasoned and dipped in hot creosote, 

 2 ft. 6 in. to 3 ft. high, so that the pail most likely to decay — 

 just above and below the surface of the ground — may be ade- 

 quately protected. With the softer woods, such as spruce, the 

 poles should be dipped from end to end or their " life " will be 

 short. The poles are sharpened and set from 18 in. to "2 ft. 

 in the ground, and vary in height from 11 ft. to 10 ft. above 

 ground and in a few cases are even higher. 



This wire-work supports the string, upon which the hop-bines 

 climb. In England the string is universally made of coconut 

 fibre, which is rough; in America cotton string is more fre- 

 quently used because it is cheaper there, but cotton is smoother 

 and the hops do not cling so well in windy weather. The string 

 should have a breaking strain of 50 to GO lb., and should be 

 uniform and run out at least 100 yards per pound. 



Butcher System of Training Hops. 



AA, top wires : BB. middle wires : CC, bottom wires ; XX, cross strain wires 



H. hop hills ; 8. strings. 

 Fig. 1.— End view. Fig. 2.— Side view. 



