The Sun.
London, England, 1847-09-09 00:00:00

HOP INTELLIGENCE.

ALTON AND COUNTRY DISTRICTS, SEPT. 7.—Hop
picking has partially commenced in Alton and the
country districts, and will be very general next week.
We shall be able to speak with more certainty of the
prospects of crops in our next report.
BRENCHLEY.—The cold nights of the past week
have greatly retarded the growing out of the hops,
and the planters' estimate of last week cannot be
realised. We have had a white frost, which has tinged
some to a brownish colour, and caused a kind of pre-
mature ripeness. Picking partially commenced yes-
terday. Mr. Samuel Bates has received from his
hop-factors (Messrs. Doggett and Harryman) an ex-
cellent gold-laced hat, as a prize for his first new
pocket sent to London market this year,
CRANEROOK.—The ungenial state of the weather
we have experienced for the last few days has mate-
rially retarded the progress of the hop towards per-
fection, and we find on the most minute examination
into some plantations, combined with an extensive
inquiry among those who have been hitherto consi-
dered good judges of the plant, that we shall not grow
so many, by a considerable quantity, as we did last
season.

DARLINGTON AND ASIIBURNHAM.—The crop in
these parishes will come down short ; it being esti-
mated at less than two-thirds of last year.
IGHTHAM AND SEAL.—The hops have certainly
gone back the last few weeks, but some few grounds,
where the bine was backward, in the damp situa-
tions, are still in a flourishing state; but upon the
whole they cannot grow what was expected some
weeks ago.
MAIDSTONE.—The hops have not made that pro-
gress which could be desired, yet most of the plan-
tations are doing well. The weather has kept them back
from coming to perfection. It is to be hoped the
planters will not begin picking too soon. Next
Monday appears to be the day fixed for general be-
ginning.
OFFHAM.—Our hops will be good in quality, but
the parish will certainly not average more than two-
thirds of the growth of last year.
TESTON, WATERINGBURY, MEREWORTH, 84c.—The
hops have been sadly injured by the cold nights,
both as to quality and fitness for picking ; and the
general observation is, the hops want picking but
are not ready. The picking will be delayed a week
or ten days in consequence of the unfavourable state
of the weather, and it is very plain that the crop
will fall short of what was generally expected a fort-
night since.
TICHHURST.—A succession of cold weather having
stopped the growing of the hops, many of the back-
ward sorts will be small. Picking in this neighbour-
hood will partially commence about the Bth or 9th
instant, and generally in the following week.
YALDlNG.—Picking was begun here by two or
three planters yesterday, and will be general by the
end of the week. The mould is progressing rapidly
in some ground.—Maidstone Gazette.
BATTLE.—The hops appear very good in quality,
but the quantity will be something less than last
year's growth, the atmospheric change from warm to
cold having produced such a state of stagnancy among
them they will not do much more in respect to size.
Fifteen cwt. to the acre will be a first-rate crop ; but
they appear well equalised; or every planter will get a
quantity proportionate to the culture and richness of
his lands.

BILEDE.—The hops in this parish, excepting some
gardens, have very much improved, and look well
and healthy. There is every appearance at present to
grow nearly as many as last year. Picking will com-
mence in about a week.

BRIGHTLING.-Our report this week upon the hops
is changed. The very singular weather we have had
during the week, cold, hot, windy, and rainy, has
retarded the progress of the hops in this parish. The
rust is coming on, and some kind of insect making
great ravage among them, giving but a faint prospect
of improvement ; therefore the thought of growing as
many as last year must be done away with, and the
duty must come down. Several Ns ill begin picking
before next week is out. . .

. _
BURWASII.—The past week has been a most un-
genial one for the hops. Even in the best plan-
tations they have made, apparently, no progress at
all. " They are going back ; they really seem every
day to get smaller instead of larger ; in many gar-
dens they are going off too, getting brown, and in
some places mouldy," Such is the tale told now by
almost every planter. Report Teaks of the same
being the case in many parts of Kent. Picking will
commence here in a few days, and will be general in
about a week.

Elyruoaximv.—The din of preparation among our
hop-growers is now actively going on for the ap-
proaching picking, which will, hereabouts, be pretty
general before the close of the present week. The late
hard frosts have been anything but favourable to their
ripening well.
FARNHAM.—Some of our planters have com-
menced picking, and they quite answer their expec-
tations. I think it will not become general till the
latter end of the week, as those groands which were
much blighted are considerably backwarder than
those more favoured. Our duty is estimated at
5,500/.
FLETCIIING.—Hop-picking will commence pretty
generall7 in this parish in the course of the ensuing
week. the hops are small, and scarcely an average
crop.
HURSTGREEN.—The high winds and cold nights of
this last week have considerably injured the hops in
this neighbourhood. Some grounds do not took
so flourishing or so good a colour as they did a
week ago. The hop-picking will commence this
week.

MATFIELD.—The hops have improved but little
during the past week. The weather has been very
cold during several nights pasts, attended with
frost. The picking will become general this week,
and the crop will fall very far short of last year's
produce.

INEwlcK.—Our hops continue to look well, and
p
ir commence
oai
ncukdr
hopngnog
groundsednoeurbaltl,y waaboutshalli
lthe
looking
willwe produce more upon an average than last year.
fairer
-r
crop and a good sample. We expect picking will
maNrkabliyELwDerl,
commence in some gardens this week.
NORTH
im.--The hops have much improved, and
are now ripening fast. The picking
commence the latter end of this week, and will become
general by the middle of the week following.
ROTHERPIELD.—The hops in some gardens in this
fneecitgi
ohnb o uwrhhiocohd hwaasv e na
no
tt
ca
irpraat
ee
dd,
atvhi
na tg. s
bt aeteeno fs
epi
se
er
with mould. Picking, in some instances, has com-
menced, and will become general by the middle of
the week.
TusnainGs.—We perceive a slight change in some
grounds, which are not looking so bright ; we hear
the mould is making its appearance. Notwithstand-
ing, our hops generally are getting into good condi-
tion, andj if the weather continues favourable, will
come down well.
UCILFIELD.—Our hops have not been doing much
to boast of during the past week—the cold winds and
frosty nights will prevent their growing much more,
notwithstanding, we shall grow a good crop at last,
e
aobhbeuaeilvten.vint
Adgo
The
so commenceHhuneuedge
Rgni
cold
majority
uao.
se
considering the blight we have had. Picking will
tfoe%tvheddayusty, w. hen we shall be better
dh Opsai unni :doe
Picking
unkindly
thiskrpeoislpnaisdsnityr willef report or rbttdeh;iess
ttmhrhiaeCol
atmosphere
tct
nothaveomoscompared
rah
rneoerowdet
will
with last year.cicommence about the
9th inst.

An esteemed correspondent of considerable authority
on the subject on which he writes, has kindly forwarded
us the following analysis of the amount at present cal-
culated as the probable duty. Ile estimates the seve-
ral districts as under—
Kent ••• ... £127,000
Sussex ..• ••• ••• 51,000
Worcester ... •.• 4,500
6,500
Farnham. 1,000
Kingdom
£190,009
—Sussex Advertiser.