i9io.] 



Hop Cultivation. 



897 



effectually, especially by horse-machines, and if allowed to 

 remain form a breeding-ground for the hop aphis, while 

 they also enable the hop mould to spread. On the other 

 hand it should be remembered that these leaves are of great 

 value to the plant since they are able to take in carbonic 

 acid gas from the air and utilise it in making food material 

 for the rest of the plant; therefore, when these leaves are 

 stripped off the growth of the bine is checked to a certain 

 extent. As a general rule the lower leaves should not be 

 stripped before the bines have nearly reached the top wire. 

 Experiments* upon the effect of stripping carried out at Wye 

 College during the years 1898 to igoi showed that in years 

 when there is a big crop and a free growth of bine, 

 stripping affects the crop but slightly, but in years when the 

 bine is scanty, injudicious and early stripping may reduce the 

 crop by 20 per cent. 



The training proper is carried out by men or women with 

 short ladders or stools; it consists in just twisting up any of 

 the shoots that have failed to climb the string naturally or 

 have been blown away by the wind ; the more nearly the 

 slope of the string approaches a vertical position the less 

 training do the hops require, and vice versa the flatter the 

 slope the more training is necessary. 



This operation of training is most important, and careless 

 or neglected training may result in a loss of crop of 2 or 3 cwt. 

 per acre. 



Hop Washing. — In a previous articlef in this Journal by 

 Mr. Fred. V. Theobald, the life-history and habits of the 

 hop aphis have been described in detail, and the best remedies 

 have been there indicated. It will not be necessary to go 

 over the ground again, but the practical side of hop washing 

 will be dealt with. 



In the article above referred to, the writer recommends a 

 wash composed of soft soap and either nicotine or quassia 

 extract as being the best remedy for this disease. Unfor- 

 tunately, nicotine is very costly and is therefore not much 

 in use ; the majority of growers, who prepare their own wash, 



* A. D. Journal of the South- Eastern Agricultural College, 1902. 



f /our. Board of Agric, Nov. 1509. 



3 R 



