The Express.
London, England, 1852-08-17 00:00:00

lIOP INTELLIGENCE

MAIDSTONE, August 16.—We have seldom had to record
such extensive havoc in the hop plantations as has been
caused by the gales of the lest week. Our accounts from
all quarters report a fearful devastation—amounting, it is
estimated, to from forty to fifty thousand pounds of duty
"blown away." The injury is the more destructive as
hands cannot be spared at this busy season to " set up "
the prostrate pol s. An old and experienced correspondent
says : " The wind has, to the best of my judgment, destroyed
about one-fourth of the hops, and I fear injured the growth.
On grounds free from mould we should have had a splendid
crop, but now, though wo shall yet, I hope, grow many
good hops, the growth cannot be a tine one. Many grounds
are very backward, which is also against them. In the
greater evil we lose eight of the lesser. The mould in
many grounds will binder the hops from coming out. This
is not general, but it extends further than people like to say."
Loom—Our hop grounds have undergone a serious'
scourging since last report, and, instead of having a prospect'
of a large, it looks likely to end in a very small crop, as the
wind has bruised the bine and burr to a considerable extent
—they cannot recover without the most favourable weather.
The mould keeps off so far.
EAST PECK NAM.—The wind has done a great deal of da-
mage—l should say 20,000!. duty less than would have been.
Many of the poles cannot be put to rights.
nornxis.—The high winds of the last week have
blown the poles down very much, and caused considerable
damage to the bine, bat the hops are not out sufficiently
to injure them so much as if the wind had been a fort-
night later.
E.23161N0, SEAL, AND OTFOIID.—The wind has "taken
the shine" out of the grounds. Calculation as to damage is
atpresent vague, but from a pocket to a bag per acre is
within bounds. _ _

'Lisa StiTION4 AND BOVORTON MONCHELSEA.—The
violent winds of Wednesday last most seriously damaged
the bops in this district. The damage done becomes more
evident daily. In the more exposed grounds three pockets
an acre have been blown away, and the poles that are down
show that the mould prevails much more generally than
was supposed.. Without a great change in the weather our
prospects of a good crop will entirely disappear.
STAPLZUUDAT.—The past week has been very unfavour-
able, some of the groudds in exposed situations presenting
a complete wreck from tho boisteroas weather on Wednes-
day and Thursday.
DIAILDES.—The line is very much injured by the wind.
Mauy poles arc blown down, and the branches brokeh off.
CRANBILOOK.—The last week has been a trying one for
the hop plant; the " to and fro conflicting wind and rain"
has very materially detracted from the previously pro-
mising and beautiful appearance of the grounds. On Tues-
day and Wednesday particularly, the plantations sustained
a severe battering in their " contention with the warring
element ; " poles have been prostrated, the bine find.
lated with unusual austerity, and the butt, now just de-
veloping itself into flower, sadly damaged by the storm.
RULVENDEN.—The winds of Wednesday last have made
sad havoc in our hop gardens. Much damage has been
done, and the duty must be less by 15,000/. or 20,0001.—
Maidstone Journal.