The Hop Picking Year

"In The Summertime"

The photos here depict a series of different jobs carried out on the hop farm during the summertime.

Chemical defoliants (Photo from Mick Breeds)

Chemical defoliants were applied to remove the lower leaves of the hop plant.  I'm not sure why, now I am writing this, but think it may have something to do with air circulation.  Can anyone help me with an explanation?

Powdering a grassed down garden (Photo from Mick Breeds)

Spraying the hops with various chemicals was a regular chore during the summer months.  I'm not sure what the chemicals were but they were probaly quite nasty by todays standards.  They were to combat various "bugs" and mildews.  I think this is Henry Brimm on the tractor.

This photo (and the following one) shows Bill Dawson and Geoff Luck putting up the lewing around the hop garden. [note the number 1 on the pole.  This was to indicate where the first cant started - a cant was a division of a hop garden containing about 1000 hills.

Formalin dips to prevent the transfer of disease from one garden to another (Photo from Mick Breeds)

Irrigation using lightweight aluminium sections which easily clip together (Photo from Mick Breeds)

Tractor powered pumps often used water from the local river (Photo from Mick Breeds)

Or pond.

A sprinkler in the hop garden.