Report upon the Exhibition of Hops at Kilburn. 
683 
in our awards several very good samples, and notably those in the East and 
Mid Kent classes, and also Worcester and Farnham. In the former of these, 
the judging was rendered very difficult by the fact of so many samples being 
nearly alike as regards flavour and management. 
We consider it our duty to protest strongly against foreign samples being 
exhibited by others than the growers, while in the case of the English entries 
a certificate and guarantee are required in every instance that all samples 
shown are actually grown by tlie exhibitors. 
We also think it objectionable that the prizes on Foreign Hops only should 
be exchangeable for medals, which option is denied to the English exhibitor. 
It is needless to point out the great commercial advantage thus furnished to 
the foreign exhibitor (he not being a grower) to the prejudice of his English 
competitor. 
In the Foreign Class the samples were mostly inferior, the curing and 
management very indifferent, and, with one or two exceptions, not suitable 
for English requirements, rendering it a matter of doubt to us whether we 
ought to have made our award of prizes in that class at all. 
j. t. noakes, 
Wm. Gkidlet, 
July 6, 1879. M. Trier. 
There were eleven entries in the class for East Kent hops. 
These were for the most part sound and very useful hops, and 
of good quality, considering tlie nature of the season. Some of 
the samples had pretensions to the brilliant colour of East Kent 
hops grown under highly favourable conditions. Mr. Gambrill's 
first-prize sample possessed great brewing value, and showed 
signs of care and judgment in the growth and picking and 
drying of the hops. The second- and third-prize samples, be- 
longing to Messrs. Marten and Neame, gave evidence of high 
cultivation and judicious manipulation, and the whole class fully 
exercised the skill of the Judges. 
Only five entries were made of Mid Kent hops, for the blight 
sorely vexed this district. There was not much trouble in 
deciding that Lord Darnley's rich, thick, well-managed sample 
was worthy of the first prize, nor that Mr. Freeman's hops 
ranked next in point of flavour and quality and skilful treat- 
ment. As there were only five entries in this class, the Judges 
could not award a third prize. 
Although many good hops were produced in the Weald of 
Kent in 1878, only two planters entered for competition. Mr. 
Buss of Horsmanden was awarded the first prize for his de- 
serving sample, which evidently had been most ^fairly selected 
from out of a very large growth. 
The two lots which represented the whole Sussex district, 
comprising 11,000 acres, were of poor quality and indifferent 
colour, besides being badly " crusted " from having been kept 
in a damp storeroom, so that the Judges did not consider either 
worthy of a prize. 
It was most disappointing to see only four pockets of Earn- 
