9Q 



Picking, Drying, and Packing Hops. [may, 



result is no less serious. Over-ripe hops soon "lose colour " ; 

 in other words, the colour changes to a reddish-brown, parti- 

 cularly if mould is present, or in the event of a wind, and 

 the value of the hops is greatly reduced. 



Tests for Ripe Hops, (i) Colour. — The colour of hops 

 during the time that they are actually growing and until they 

 begin to ripen is bright green ; as the cones ripen this colour 

 gradually changes to a greenish-yellow, and at the same time 

 becomes paler. 



(ii) Texture. — Unripe hops when pressed between the 

 ringers feel soft and flabby ; as they ripen the hops become 

 more crisp, and rustle when pressed. 



(iii) Seeds. — The condition of the seeds is one of the best 

 guides to the ripeness of hops. Hop seeds are at first quite 

 soft and contain a whitish watery substance. The seeds of 

 ripe hops, on the other hand, are purplish in colour, quite 

 firm, and contain a nutty kernel. 



(iv) "Condition." — The amount of lupulin, often called 

 "Condition," is comparatively small in unripe hops; it 

 gradually increases in amount as the hops ripen. If a ripe 

 hop is broken open and the strig and bases of the petals are 

 rubbed with the fingers, the lupulin from the hop makes the 

 fingers sticky. This stickiness may be used as an indication 

 of the ripeness of the hops. 



Other Factors Influencing the Date of Picking. — 

 There are several other factors besides the ripeness of the 

 hops that a grower has to consider when fixing the date of 

 picking. 



(i) Size of Crop. — Picking must be started early in years 

 when a large crop is grown, and late when a small crop is 

 grown. If the crop is a large one, it is better policy to pick 

 a few unripe hops at the beginning of picking than to 

 risk losing some of the last pickings entirely, through the 

 hops being over-ripe. On the other hand, in the case of a 

 short crop there is no danger of the hops becoming over- 

 ripe, and all efforts should be directed to securing the crop 

 at its best. 



(ii) Disease. — If, in spite of all precautions, a few lice 

 remain in the hops, which are just getting ripe, picking 

 should /be commenced earl)*. A few T lice in the early pickings 



