Page:Circular, United States Department of Agriculture, Division of Botany.djvu/177

 that English and American hops contain quantities of seed even as high as 6 and 7 per cent. The effect of the seeds in the brewing process is not known to me; the idea, however, as expressed by Bohemian hop growers, is that they give a peculiar flavor to the beer, which is more objectionable to the Continental beer drinkers than to the English.

In Saaz there are very few varieties of hops cultivated, the Auscha Red hop being almost universally grown. The preference is given to this variety because of its great productiveness, although it is exceeded by the old Saaz variety in fineness of aroma and bitter flavor.

It is an interesting fact that every year thousands of cuttings of this Auscha Red hop are imported into Saaz. Two-thirds of the hops cultivated are from these imported cuttings, and the yield from them as compared with that from home-grown cuttings is as 13 to 7, and sometimes quite double. The average production from this variety is 110 pounds per 420 plants, but sometimes 240 plants produce a centner (110 pounds). The claim is made that the first and second years after their introduction into Saaz, the plants grown from Auscha cuttings do not produce a hop that is equal to that from the old Saaz plants, but that, gradually, they become ameliorated by growth in the wonderful Saaz soil, and later yield a product quite up to the standard. The bearing capacity gradually decreases, however, and it is considered necessary with every new planting to import afresh the Auscha cuttings.

This Auscha Red hop, above referred to is known among Auscha hop growers as the "Semsch" hop, having been found in a garden near Auscha by a peasant of that name. In recognition of the value of his discovery the hop growers of Auscha, rather tardily, it must be said, presented his son, now an old man, with a medal or diploma. No systematic attempts to breed new varieties of hops seem to have been made in these regions, notwithstanding this interesting discovery.

This Semsch hop is superior to American varieties as known in Bohemia. The attempts which have been made to induce the Bohemian brewers to utilize our much cheaper American hops, have utterly failed. The brewers declare that American hops are worth less for brewing such beers as they have a market for. One of the best firms in Auscha informed me that in rating American hops they would class them on a par with Belgian hops, which are noted as the worst of all European varieties. On the American market small quantities of the Semsch hop were sold by this same firm last year, and brought 58 cents per pound, while American hops were selling for $19 1⁄2$ cents.