Fifty Years of Hop Farming. 
327 
Attempts have been made to grow Goldings in Sussex, but 
without much success. At the same time there has been much 
improvement in respect of the general quality of the hops of 
this county. The Colegate, within the recollection of many 
persons, was the chief sort cultivated. Grapes and the Jones 
were also grown ; these now predominate, having been con- 
siderably improved in important characteristics. Fuggles' " Bates' 
Brewers" have been tried latterly with much advantage in 
Sussex, as well as a variety known as Hobbs'. All these have 
Golding qualities in some respects. In no part of the hop- 
growing districts have greater endeavours been used to level 
up the hops to the changed requirements of the brewers than 
in Sussex. 
Not much change has taken place in Hants and Surrey as 
to sorts, except that the more common kinds have been grubbed 
up in the best districts. The Whitebine, known as the Farn- 
ham Whitebine, or Williams' Whitebine, is the leading kind 
on the choice soils, and hops having Golding features are gene- 
rally more cultivated. 
There has been a considerable grubbing of low-class hops in 
Herefordshire and Worcestershire, especially within the last ten 
years, and upon the best land. Mathon's Whites, Brandings, and 
Whitebine Goldings have been chiefly planted in their places, 
and a certain quantity of the Mayfield Grape, which is a valuable 
kind for picking late. It may be said that there has been more 
improvement in the condition, quality, and general appearance 
of the hop samples produced in these two counties within twenty- 
fire years than in any other hop districts. This is owing in a 
degree, no doubt, to the selection of better sorts, as well as to 
improved management. 
Planting. 
Hop plants are not put so close together as in earlier periods, 
because it has been found that a larger return may be had 
caeteris paribus from, say 1,030 hills or plant-centres to an acre, 
than from 1,400. For the most part, the hills or plant-centres are 
now put 6 feet 6 inches apart, and planted " on the square," 
which would give 1,030 hills to the acre, or six feet apart, 
giving 1,210 hills to the acre. 1 This is better than planting 
triangularly, as was once the fashion, for purposes of culture, 
and what is more important still, for washing the plants when 
attacked by aphides, and for sulphuring them for mildew. 
1 In Worcestershire and Herefordshire, the plant-centres are in many cases 
put 7 feet apart each way, or only ,889 to an acre. 
