HOP APHIS. 
55 
the soap. We, however, first steep the quassia in cold water, as it is 
said the properties are extracted better by cold than hot water, as the 
heat tends to expand the wood, thus preventing the water penetrating 
into the chips. But we find we get a very strong extract from chips 
which have been previously steeped in cold water by very rapidly 
steaming for a couple of hours.” 
Taking the measure of water at 100 gallons for the sake of com¬ 
paring proportions, the above quantities give from about 3 lbs. to 6 lbs. 
of quassia and from 3 lbs. to 4f lbs. of soft-soap as the proportions 
used. Conjecturally the great difference in amount of quassia may 
arise from different methods of preparing the infusion. 
The remaining point of practical interest which has been brought 
forward relatively to the treatment of Hop blight during the past 
season is the introduction of washing by steam-power. Through the 
courtesy of Mr. Levett, and Mr. Walter Arnold, of Frant, near Tun¬ 
bridge Wells, the inventors of the process, I have been furnished with 
details of the method of operation, of which the following is an 
abstract:— 
The steam apparatus consists of a pump driven by a steam-engine, 
which pumps the water from a stream or reservoir into a large tub. 
From this another pump forces the water (to which the soft-soap, &c., 
has been added) along a one-inch iron gas-pipe. This pipe is laid 
between the rows of Hops, and is furnished (at intervals of sixty feet) 
with taps and unions, to which lengths of 180 ft. of india-rubber 
tubing are attached. To the end of these tubes smaller tubing is 
fixed, so that each 180 ft. tube is supplied with two free ends, which 
are furnished with nozzles, and worked in the usual way by men or 
boys. The amount that can be washed per day by ten jets with this 
apparatus is reported at 7% acres, and the cost per acre to be some¬ 
what less than six shillings. 
As yet the plan has only been tried on a limited extent of ground, 
but so far it is reported to be successful. Should it prove so on more 
extended trial the large amount of acreage which can thus be washed 
per day will be a great recommendation, and, where water supply is 
available, the method of operation appears capable of being adapted 
to field use for the prevention of such other insect-attacks as we know 
to be checked by sudden and violent rain. 
The main points shown by the observations of the season appear 
to be that first attack was found as early as March coming up from 
the Hop-hills in the form of wingless females with lice, and that this 
was both confirmed on a broad scale and method of prevention shown 
by the circumstance of the acre of Hops which was dressed in spring 
with various applications (specified) to prevent attack remaining quite 
clean (though the rest of the garden was attacked), until the “ Fly ” 
