The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-16 00:00:00

HOP INTELLIGENCE.

(From the Maidstone Journal of yesterday.)
MAIDSTONE.—AIthough our hop•plantations have had
such a severe blight to contend with, they are now, with
the assistance of hot weather, doing all they possibly
can, and are showing burr where it never was expected.
The grounds that are clear are looking beautiful. In
many there are hops to be found thus early. The land
generally is in a very bad state, the season having been
so much against either winter, spring, or summer culti-
vation. We had rain on Friday last, which was very
acceptable.
The duty is roughly set as follows :—Rochester,
30,000/.; Canterbury, 33,0001.; Sussex, 50,0001.; Wor-
cester, 15,000/.; Farnham, 10,000/4 Kingdom, 2,000/.

Total, 137,0001.
BOXLEY, AYLESFORD, AND BURHAISI.—The hops in
these parishes, humorously observes our correspondent,

are in deep mourning, I suppose for the serious loss they
have sustained from Sir B. Peel's last measure. Some

few of the plantations are endeavouring to put on their
former green garb, but the shock is so severe that it is
not very likely they will rally for a year.
OTHAM.—Our best plantations do not look so well,
and certainly are getting much blacker ; the branches
do not look so healthy as they have done ; on some of
our lower grounds, where the fly and lice have been most
prevalent, there will be almost a total failure.
THORNHAM.—The hops in this parish are as bad as
they can be, many acres not a bin will be put into them.
BEARSTED.—Hops are very bad, with the exception
of a few grounds near and adjoining the turnpike road.
EAST FARLEIGH.—The greater part of this parish is
looking bright and beautiful; but there are exceptions.
WEST FARLEIGu.—The principal part of the planta-
tions are very bad.
YALDING.—The upper part of this parish on the hill
is very good—the luwer very indifferent.
MEREWORTH.—A great improvement has takeli
place here. Since the late rains the bine seems to re-
cover, and the young shoots look healthy, and are
putting out burr very fast. Should the weather prove
favourable, there is a
,prospect of three or four bags per
acre throughout the parish.
WEST PECKHAM.—The hops are quite as good as at

Mereworth.
CHART, BOUGHTON, LANGLY, OTHAM, LEEDS.—The
lower grounds very bad. No chance of growing any-
thing. The upper parts of these perishes are better,
however, and will grow a small crop.
BRENCHLEY.—The major part of the plantations are
decidedly blighted, and in those which have hitherto
looked more tavourably there is a fresh attack of fly.
ROLVENDEN.—In looking through this parish and
upon inquiries I find the hops partialy improving ;
though some grounds, cannot be calculated to do much,
there are some very good grounds among them, Messrs.
Bishops, Mr. Robert Radwells, Mr. A. Dunk, and Mr.
Corke, who may consider themselves favoured.
WuoTHem—No alteration.

TUNBRIDGE.—Thy. hops in this neighbourhood are
now looking in a woful plight, many grounds turning
quite black. The bine still continues loaded with ver-
min, which cover the young shoots as soon as they come.
In many places farmers say they will not be worth
putting bins into the grounds, for a farmer told us yes-
terday there were places where they would not get 2cwt.
off the acre.
EYNSFORD, SHOREHAM, OTFORD, KEnvuzga, SEAL,
SEVENOAJES, CEIEVERINO, Si7NBILIDGE, BRASTED, WES-
TERIIAM, FIAASTED, AND CIIELEIFIELD.—We had hoped
to have made to you an improving report from the
heavy storm!, &c., of the last week, but, having
most carefully inspected the above-mentioned parishes,
we do not find anything like a duty of
even 120,0001., as mentioned by some of your
contemporaries, much less 140,0001. The result
of our observations is, that in all gardens where
the bine is strong, although there is an immense quan-
tity of vermin, there may yet be a slight top crop. In
the weak bine gardens by no possibility can there be
anything like a " tithe part of a crop.' As we have
before mentioned, the clearer the plantation the better
the plant. In wooded districts, particularly those small
beautiful valleys found on the " Ridge," the whole of
which are bounded by oak timber trees, the
vermin are millions strong, the , bine, although
strong and vigorous as a planter could desire, being
almost black, In the northern portidn of_Holmesdale,
upon the rich soil, the hop-leaf is completely crum-
pled (many dropping off), and, withrrbao
hopsfew n the
excep-
tions,o entirely worthless as to a crop.
Chalk Range are very slack, the bine poor ; the Mid-
summer shoot has not developed itself so well as could be
wished ;in cases where there is bine a tenth-rate top
crop may yet be expected. The Low Hill (clays) hops are
generally bad. A few pieces on the Sandstone are look-
ing tolerably well.
CANTERBURY,—The hops exhibit great improvement
on the past week. The vermin is decreasing, the plants
are now tolerably clear, the bine is vigorous, and the
burr just showing itself. There are a few suffering
from honey dew. The duty is set at 135,0001. General
accounts state that the bine mostly looks healthy, and
bids fair for a moderate crop ,• and the duty is variously
laid from 140,0001. to 150,000/.
FARNHAM—Our town grounds are looking well and
clean; but the country is, in many instances, very slack
of bine.
CAUTION TO Hor-onowEns.---All hop-growers w'

do well to rememb(r that during the present month they
must deliver to the proper officer of Excise a true entry,
in writing, of the number of acres in plant ; also all
oast-houses, oasts, and store-rooms intended to be used
by them for tho purpose of curing and storing hops ; a
neglect of which will subject them to heavy penalties,
under the Act 4 and 5 Will. IV., cap. 51, s. 5.

IRON TUNNEL ACROSS THE MENAI STRAITS. Mr.
Stephenson, in order to set at rest the doubts expressed re-
specting the practicability d this scheme, has had an iroa
model of his intended tunnel, 20 feet long and 4 feet high,
made and fixed at an engineering factory at Millwall. Yes-
terday extensive experiments were made on it in the presence
of several distinguished scientific gentlemen, with the most
ligidict9rY Mite.

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