Hop Cultivation. 
22 o 
Varieties of Hops and Modes of Planting. 
It is well known in practice that the seeds of hop plants cannot 
be depended upon to reproduce plants similar to those from which 
the seeds are taken. New varieties are by chance occasionally 
obtained from seeds, but no attempts have been made in the 
direction of artificial fertilisation of hop plants to obtain new 
sorts. These have been evolved by careful and close processes 
of selection, by means of which desired characteristics, as early 
and late maturity, and variations in the form and arrangement 
of the strobiles or cones, have been acquired. White’s Early 
Golding was developed thus, and the Buss’s Golding of late habit ; 
also the Fuggle’s Golding, which has now again become the 
fashionable variety, on account of its success in 1892. There 
are not many varieties of hops in this country, though it is said 
that there are as many as 1G0 different varieties in the world ; 1 
and it is thought that valuable kinds might be obtained by cross- 
ing approved varieties. 
Sets are cut in the early spring from the hills, or stocks, from 
the strong fibrous growth at the bases of the bines of the previous 
season. Lengths of from six to eight inches of these are put in a 
nursery at once, and are fit to plant out in the subsequent autumn. 
Planters are in these days very particular as to their sets, and 
are careful that those they plant and those with which they re- 
place the dead stocks are good and true to variety. Experience 
has taught them that this is of the first importance in ensuring 
a “ level growth ” and a series of uniform samples. 
Sometimes when sets are very dear the pieces of root cut off 
in the spring are planted out at once without having been put 
in a nursery. This is risky, especially in a dry summer season. 
Two bedded sets 2 of fair size are quite sufficient to form a 
stock, and are much better than three or four sets. 
The fashion as to varieties changes in accordance with the cir- 
cumstances of the demand. Until the last year or so hops of the 
finest quality w r ere required by the brewers. Land which pro- 
duced these was at a premium. The East and Mid Kent and 
Farnham planters were in the ascendant and planted the best 
varieties, as Bramlings, and others of Golding character. Pro- 
ducers of more common hops, in the Weald of Kent, Sussex, and 
elsewhere, were disposed to consider their occupation gone, and 
made some efforts to improve their quality. But now this has 
1 The Varieties of Hops. Photographed and published by H. Braungart, 
Weihenstephan, Germany. 
2 Bedded ” sets are those which have been grown in a nursery. 
