It has been shown that hops can be grown satisfactorily in grass swards, but the practice cannot be generally recommended to commercial growers. Where irrigation is given, however, grassing‐down has some complementary advantages. Vigorous swards of clover have been maintained for several years, notwithstanding heavy applications of mineral nitrogen. With close mowing and generous manuring,Poa annuaeventually becomes completely dominant and can be regarded as the characteristic grass of hop gardens and orchards which are given these two treatments. The results suggest that a closely‐mown cover of herbage between crops may have advantages in countries where soil erosion is more severe than in Brit