HOOVER, HERBERT CLARK. an American public official and philanthro pist. Born at West Branch, Iowa, in 1874; he attended Leland Stanford Uni versity, where he graduated in 1895. Learning mining engineering in Cali fornia, he set out upon his career as a prospector which carried him to China, Russia, and finally to England. He had already acquired a considerable fortune when the World War broke out in 1914. He took charge of the work for Belgian Relief and became chairman of the Com mittee for the Relief of Belgium. His energy and organizing ability wrought a wonderful work in feeding and clothing a whole people who were practically des titute. When America entered the war President Wilson appointed him food controller, and by his application, en ergy, and foresight the European allies were fed and the prices of foodstuffs kept within reasonable limits. His mar velous work in these two offices made him a formidable, though unsuccessful, candidate for the Republican nomina tion for President in 1920. He con tinued his work of feeding the destitute peoples of central Europe, more espe cially the children, during 1919, 1920, and 1921. He became Secretary of Com
merce in the Cabinet of President Hard ing on March 4, 1921.
HOP, in botany, Munnlus lupnius, the only known species of the genus Ha mu /z(s. The root, which is perennial, annu ally sends forth long, weak, rough, twin ing stems. The leaves somewhat resem ble those of the vine, but are rougher. It has an aromatic odor, sent forth by glands containing a resinous secretion. The hop is indigenous in England, but grows also in the United States, in Bel gium, and Bavaria. Bryonia dioica is sometimes called wild hop. The native hop of Australia is (1) Dodoncea, the seed vessels of which are there used in the manufacture of beer; (2) Davicsia lxtifolict. Hops are boiled with the wort in brewing beer. They impart a bitter taste and aromatic flavor, and prevent fermentation from being too rapid.
In pharmacy lupulus is the designa tion of hop. The dried catkins of the female plant of H. lztpulus are from the common hops. They are used to prepare infusion of hop, tincture of hop, and ex tract of hop.