HOPS
                                        ====

                                    CULTIVATION:
     Hops  is a hardy, climbing perennially vine resembling grape. Mature vines
     often teach 25 feet in height. Flowers are greenish-yellow.

     Hops  needs  a sunny location. The soil  should be fertile and deeply dug.
     Divide  roots and separate root stems and suckers in spring. Take cuttings
     in early summer. Avoid sowing, as plant gender cannot be distinguished for
     2-3  years.  Only  the flowers of the  female  plant are used. Grow 3 feet
     apart against support.

     Pick  young  side-shoots in spring. Gather  young leaves as required. Pick
     ripe flowers in early autumn, and collect stems in late autumn. Dry leaves
     and  stems.  Harvest the female flowers in  fall when they feel firm, turn
     amber-color,  and are covered with yellow dust. Dry them immediately in an
     oven no hotter than 150 deg. F.


                                  CULINARY  USES:
     Young  shoots  and  male flowers may be  eaten  in salads, the same way as
     asparagus.


                                   MEDICAL  USES:
     Hops  can be used alone or in  combination with other herbs as a soporific
     in  insomnia and restlessness, however the active ingredients are unstable
     and  there is some doubt that commercial dried hops can actually provide a
     sedative effect.

     A  way to use hops to help induce  sleep is to brew an infusion. Steep 1/2
     ounce  of  the dried fruit in a pint  of boiling water for 5 minutes. Hops
     taste warm and pleasantly bitter.

     Hops  fruits contain a form of alcohol, fresh hops contains little of this
     alcohol,  but allow hops to dry  at room temperature and the concentration
     of this active ingredient increases, reaching its peak in about 2 years.

     Hops  contain  two  chemical called Humulone  and  Lupulone  that can kill
     bacteria  that  cause spoiling. These bacteria  fighters  in hops also may
     help prevent infection. One study shows hop effective against tuberculosis
     bacteria, lending some credence to one of its traditional Chinese uses.


                                      WARNING:
     Hops  contains a chemical similar to the female hormone estrogen, Pregnant
     women should not use it.


                                    OTHER USES:
     Most  widely employed in brewing. Boil dried leaves for a brown dye. Stems
     once used in basket and wickerwork.


                                  COSMETIC  USES:
     The oil is used in some perfumes. Add hops to a bath, this will relax you,
     and relieve tension.