RESEARCH WORK in HOPS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25554, 23 July 1948, Page 9

RESEARCH WORK in HOPS

ROOT DISEASES AND DRYING METHODS . WELLINGTON, July 21. brewers 6 «S"iT St o£ . hop growers and arS W ?S De P ar tment of Scientific !2fL In !* u ' tna l Research has'begun a to vestigations into the probthe drying hops, said „® er „ m charge of the DepartMcCombs) to-day. T2L®^. ndustry had been concerned in riTJfli. y ® ars °y the ravages of root thl commercial gardens, with that hops had had to be rri*??. 1 } e. l n s ? !p ? seasons from the ta£es at h’Sh cost. It was also leix tnat more economical drying processes could be developed, giving a better quality product. To foster research, the department -®„ p a .h°P research committee with representatives of interested parties. A. S. Nash, formerly senior agronomist at the agronomy division of uie department, had been appointed airector of a hop research station to be set up m the Nelson district and was at present studying hop research P .-England. A research programme had been mapped out in which the Lawthron Institute and the chemical engineering section of the Dominion Laboratory would collaborate with the director of the station. The Cawthron Institute had already begun an investigation of the root diseases of the hop plant and would also rn ?f e w. a BUrve -V of hopgrowing soils, said Mr McCombs. The chemical engineering section of the Dominion Laboratory, after investigating existing hop-drying practice in Tasmania and New Zealand, would build a model kiln to facilitate the precise study* of all factors affecting drying. The research station would conduct field experiments on cultural, manurlal, and disease control practices and would seek to improve varieties. The station would have' the brewers’ cooperation in assessing the quality of hops from variety trials and other experiments.

Tasmanian varieties of hops were to be imported and established in quarantine in Levin and, if they proved to be free of disease, would later be transferred to Nelson for further study. Approximately half the cost of the research programme would be met from a special levy agreed upon by the hop marketing committee and the Brewers’ Association.