The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-04 00:00:00

HOP INTELLIGENCE.

BunwAsH, AtG. 31.—The somewhat showy appear-
ance which the forward sorts of hops are assuming in
some of our plantations, is beguiling many people into a
belief that we shall get this season a somewhat heavy
crop. The eye of the experienced planter, however, de-
tects deficiencies in our prospects which escape the ob-
servation of persons less watchful, because not so im-
mediately interested in the progress of the plant. He
will tell you that, in his opinion, we shall get a " top
crop" merely ; that in many gardens the lower leaves
are turning yellow ; that the less forward sorts are, in
most places, still in burr ; and where in hop are making
little apparent improvement, they seem so " buttony,"
so stinted. The sorts, too, that are more advanced, are
not, he says, likely to be full of condition—their growth
has been too sudden. The duty is thought, about here,
to be over set. _ _ _

HEATHFIELD, AUG. 30.—Notwithstanding the wea-
ther is now more dry and settled, and peculiarly favour-
able for the harvest, the cold nights, accompanied with
strong and at times violent north-easters, so retard the
growth of hops, that many are of opinion the backward
burr of the grape hops can never develop themselves.
In most gardens there are numerous stages of growth,
from the tolerably large hop to the smallest sickly-look-
ing burr, and while the more advanced stages are appa-
rently forcing their way to maturity, great numbers of
those in the rear will evidently be light and useless.
HORSMONDEN, AUG. 30.—The hops in this parish will,
we believe, equal, if not again surpass any parish in the
kingdom. The late fine weather has brought them ge-
nerally into full development. The Jones's in many
gardens are splendid • the Colgate's and grape are also
very good. The above remarks do not apply by any
means to the plantations in Kent generally, as a great
portion of them will exhibit a great falling off in the
quantity anticipated six weeks ago, many of the grounds
being still only in burr.
MAYFIELD, AUG. 29.—The hops have improved this
week, and should the present fine weather continue there
is a chance of a fair crop. The grape are in a very
backward state, but the Jones's are in a more forward
condition, are remarkably full of fruit, and present a
most luxuriant appearance. It is remarked by some of
the planters, that they never witnessed a season • when
they were so full of hops before.
RYE, Atm. 30.—The bleak easterly winds of the last
three or four days have proved a considerable check to
the development of the hops, which the few previous
days of warm weather had so much accelerated, and it is
now feared that they will not have time to grow out, as
the period is fast approaching when they should be ready
for the oast. A pocket of hops was picked in the gar-
dens of Mr. Winton, of Beckley, on Wednesday last,
and despatched to London on Wednesday, for which
81. ss. per cwt. was obtained ; the pocket weighed 1 cwt.
2 qrs. 161bs.
TICEHURST, AUGUST 31.—The last few days have, it
is evident, been greatly in favour of the hops ; but the
cold nights and mornings very much retard their growth.
The Jones's are looking very well, but the grape are, in
many places, scarcely in. burr. I think, after all, we shall
have a pretty fair crop, but, it is clear, not so large a one
as was at first anticipated.
MAIDSTONE.—The last few days' fine weather has
done wonders for our hops,—the burr is now fast turn-
ing into hop, but they cannot be large or weigh well,
having so little time to grow. We learn that the mould
where it has appeared has decreased on the leaves,
and there is less than might. have been expected on
the hops. They are still a fortnight later than
usual ; but, as a correspondent remarks, the old-
fashioned hoppings were generally a late cold job,
though the great improvements that have recently been
made in the oasthouses have very much expedited the
matter. The duty a few days ago went down to 170,0001. ;

it has now risen to 180,0001. again.
BOXLEY, AYLESFORD, AND BURHAM.—The hops have
not made that improvement which might have been ex-
pected from the fine weather of last week. If they were
capable of doing anything the hot sun would have made
them do it, but they still hang in burr, or, where hops
have come out, they look anything but kindly. The pre-
sent appearances are all against the crop.
YALDING.—We don't expect above half a crop here,
notwithstanding the late fair weather. They hang in
burr, and look anything but kindly.
THE SUTTONS.—The hops are not going on at all well.
On the hilly districts they do not grow out, and it is not
probable that we shall get anything like an average crop.
MEZEWORTH, WATERINGBURT.—OUr hops exhibit
some slight improvement, but are still very backward.
STAPLEHURST.—The hopping, though late, will still
be productive. The following statement of the date of the
commencement of hopping in this parish during the last
twelve years may be interesting to some readers :-
1835, August 31 ; 1836, Sept. 5 ; 1837, Sept. 4 ; 1838,
August 29 ; 1839, Sept. 9 ; 1840, Sept. 7 ; 1841,
Sept. 6 ; 1842, August 29 ; 1843, Sept. 4 ; 1844,
Sept. 2.
CRANDROOK.—The late fine sunny days have made a
little better appearance in most of our hop grounds.
SEVENOAKS.—We are sorry to notice this week that
the hops make very little way, they hang so long
in burr ; in fact, we have noticed several gar-
dens where this burr has from the continued

cold and wet dropped off, and that to a great extent ;
still there are individual pieces in the neighbourhood,
particularly on the lighter soil, getting nicely out in
hop, and with warm nights and sunny weather, the crop
would probably be an average one. The duty in this
neighbourhood is called 160,0001.
EDENBRIDGE.-We can find a considerable improve-
ment in our grounds ; since we have been favoured with
such fine weather for the last three days, the burr is
coming out generally very nicely.
CANTERBURY.—With the exception of Tuesday, the
weather of this week has been partially favourable for
the hops—not, it is true, so warm as could have been
desired, but still sufficient to help the development of the
burr. A few fine specimens were exhibited in our mar-
ket on Saturday se'nnight. We fear that the heavy
rains and hurricane of Tuesday will be found to hav-,.,
blown the poles about considerably. The duty is voted
at 175,0001.
WORCESTER, AUG. 27.—The hops are gone fhtn bad
to worse, and the crop is now likely to be very deficient ;
the vermin having in many places increased to an
alarming extent, and completely destroyed the hopes of
the planters. The duty is now currently estimated at
12,0001. ; and the market continues brisk at an advance
of 10s. per cwt., fine samples being readily sold at 61.
to 61. 108.—Sussex Advertiser.