The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-28 00:00:00

HOP INTELLIGENCE.

CANTERBURY. —•With the splendid weather of the
last week or ten.days a very extraordinary change
hai taken place in the hop plantation in this ♦i-
cinity ; in fact, blighted grounds, which were given
up as lest, biti-fair to produce two or three eat. per
acre. Those grounds which looked somewhat pro-
mising are now doubly so, and soma of the beat
gardens look to produce a ton per acre, as in these
the hops are grown out to au unusual t,ize, and
seem full of condition. Picking will pat tially com-
mence next week.

BRENCHLEY. —Although a considerable portion
of our hops are worthless, there is certainly an ex-
traordinary improvement in those which were not
quite given up. After all we shall get a sprinkle
where we did not expect any, and think 4 cwt. per
acre through the parish is not much overrated.
CRANBROOK.—Our grounds are now in full hop,
and present a luxuriant appearance ; there is also
an improvement in those wirdens which were but
slightly stricken with the blight.
E &ST RECKLIAm. —0 u r hops continue to improve.
Many grounds will bear an average crop ; the hops
are growing out large, are of good colour, and it is
anticipated the quality will be excellent. Picking
will be general about the Ist of next month. Mr.
lienham commenced picking his forward hops ou
Thursday list.
GOUDIEURST.—Within the last fortnight the
plantations have improved considerably, and even
where the attack of the blight was severe, and it
was thought that the little burr could not come to
maturity, the hops, though small, will be worth
picking. We have noticed hops nearly four inches
long at the top of the poles and burr upae the same.
HOESMONDEN.—Our hops have within the last
fortnight undergone a wonderful improvement,
resulting from the fine showers and high tempera-
ture. Without doubt we shall average from 6 cwt.

to 7 cwt. per acre.
MA IDSTO NE. —The hops in this district have
grown much since the rain ; but many griunds are
greatly infested by flea, which will came picking to
begin in numerous cases before the hops are fully
ripe. It seems to be the choice sorts which suffer
most from this pest, the coarser kinds being com-
paratively tree. The flea appears to eat out the
substance of the hop, which is thus mid° to look
as if aff-cted with red-dust, and does not attain its
natural growth. The crop, therefore, where this
insect prevails, is seriously deteriorated. The duty,
it is thought, will amount to between 150,0001. and
160,0001., but the hops, generally, in years of
blight, make a show of larger crops than they
really yield. The hop-picking will be earlier tban
usual. In most places it will be general at the be-
ginning of next week, and in some grounds a com-
mencement has already been made.
A/tumbril—ln this neighbourhood one or two
grounds are so infested with flea that the hops are
fast wasting ; but, generally spe .king, we are bid-
ding fair for a crop, and look for a higher duty.
MARDEN.—Oar hops have improved very much
during the last week, and some of the blighted gar-
dens will have more than was expected.
MEREWORTH. —The hops how present a most
beautiful appearance, and picking will be general
about the beginning of September. The sample
and quality have been spoken of in previous years
as excellent, but the crop is said to be far superior
this year.
PLAXTOL.—There is some more improvement in
our hops since last week, but they are stil very
bad, and the gathering must be very short. Pick-
ing will be early.
ROCHESTER. —The plantations around this city
have certainly improved in appearance since the
late storms, but there is no doubt whatever that
the crop will be miserably deficient. In many of
the grounds the hops have been entirely destroyed,
while others present a very fair improvement. It
is expected that picking will commence in some
gardens next week.
SE VENOAIES. —Our hops are still progressing, and
it is expected that picking will take place in a few
WATERINGEHRY, NETTLESTEAD,
AND TESTON. —The hops grow list and freely, and
are of a larger size in many grounds than is
usual.
We are all looking for a good crop. The flea has
made its appearance in some grmin& ,
and in some
MEREWORTH,
cases it is very destructive to the hop itself. We
have heard some persons have been catching them.
The late J. Ellis, Esq., used to do th s years age.
WROTIIA.M.—The hops continue to progress fa-
vourably, and look splendid. Picking will begin
in the course of ten or twelve days.
YALDINCt AND kitlizoN..Our hops are getting