Itefort the Steivard of Farm Produce at Windsor. 755 
the Steward of Hops " materially tended to prevent hop-planters 
from entering samples, as, however good the management of 
hops may be in the oast-house, condition and colour cannot bo 
imparted to them unless they have been grown under the 
influences of favourable weather; and those who gi-ew their hops 
badly in 1878 did not clio. se to risk their reputation by showing- 
blighted, mouldy, or rusty samples." 
The show of hops at Windsor was, however, larger than 
that at Kilburn. There were 54 entries at Windsor, and 47 of 
English hops at Kilburn. It was larger than the show at 
Maidstone, in the heart of the hop-producing districts, in con- 
nection with the Bath and West of England Society in 1884, 
at which there were 47 entries. At the Royal Show in 1860 
at Canterbury, another important centre of hop cultivation, 
there were only 30 entries. In short, the exhibition of hops at 
Windsor was the largest ever held in this country. 
A question arose during the judging as to the right of a 
planter to enter more than one pocket in a Class. In two cases 
it happened that an individual planter had shown two pockets in 
one Class, which were distinctly the best, and the Judges appealed 
to the Steward as to the course to be adopted. As there was 
nothing in the regulations to prohibit planters from entering two 
or more pockets in a Class, it was held that the First and 
Second Prizes should be aAvai'ded to these planters. 
The Council afterwards held that this decision was right ; 
but it appeared, from correspondence with these planters, that 
in one case the two prize pockets were from the same " oasting,'' 
or parcel of dried hops, and were therefore identical. Upon a 
representation being made to this planter, he at once ceded the 
Second Prize to the Reserve Number. In the other case it was 
shown that the hops represented by the First and Second Prize 
pockets were from different oastings and different hop grounds ; 
therefore these prizes were both retained. 
It will be necessary in future hop competitions to have a 
regulation to meet this point, not, perhaps, preventing planters 
from entering more than one pocket in a Class, but requiring a 
declaration that the hops in each entry were grown in distinct 
grounds. 
A short report from the Judges is appended here : 
Report of the Judges of Hoj)s. [Classes 62 to 67.] 
We are of opinion that tlie Hop samples shown at Windsor were, pro- 
bably owing to the unfavourable season of 1888, with a few exceptions, of 
inferior quality. Many of the pockets had been badly kept. We also think 
that, looking at the liberal prizes oiiered, the competition was small, 
Ambrose Waede, 
Joseph IMatihews, 
JoHK Norwood, 
