Ok folks, I'm the infamous cousin with the mystery hops plant that we need help with...sorry for the wait. I'm going to try to explain and post pictures, but please bear with me as I'm a nube.
The hop in question was planted in 1926, but we have no idea what kind it is. We are of German ancestry, I know that someone had asked. This poor plant has had no care for at least 25 years, probably alot more. There used to be a tree growing up through the middle (you'll understand when you see the pics) but dad took it out the other year. He thought when he pulled out the tree that he might have killed the hops by accident, but it came back. I read on the internet that you're actually supposed to cut it off at the ground level at the end of the season and it will grow anew the next spring...didn't know that!
Anyway, it has never been trellised or anything, but gets full sun and seems to be very happy where it is. It has a three lobed leaf, and the other day bkelley and I went to look at and crushed one of the hop cones...it kinda smelled like marigolds, if that makes any sense. Strong, pungent, slightly stinky...
If anyone can help identify it, and/or give us any kind of suggestions on where to go from here, we'd really really appreciate it. Dad and I are slowly trying to get the farm back in order and we'd like to see this plant get the attention it needs to be something great. Pappy was proud of it many years ago, and it always takes first place at the Fair.
Gonna try to post some pics...