Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1842-09-30
VOL. IX.-NO. 5.
From the Lowell Journal.
THE HOP-GROWERS.

IlE HOP-GROWERS.
As have recently heard complaints from
brewers and purchasers of hops, that there
was not sufficient care taken in picking them,
and that the consumers of the article suf-
Tered much loss from stems and leaves, and
the grower has lost also from the same cause,
by the lower marked quality of the hops,
would respectfully suggest to growers that
great care should be taken to have their
hops as free from stems and leaves as posi-
bic. Too early picking also, is injurious TO
the strength aud quality of hops. The fol-
lowing is specimen of communications,
which have received on the subject
b. FARNSWORTH, Inspector of Hops
To Benjamin Farnsworth, Esq Sir:
The undersigned, brewers of the city Of
Philadelphia, having been informed of your
appointment to the Office of Inspector of
Hops for the State of Massachusetts, feel
encouraged to address you briefly on the
subject For some years past, the. hops
grown in the Eastern States have seriously
declined in character We believe this TO
be owing chiefly, if not solely to gross care
lessness, to say no worse, on the part of the
grower at the time of gathering and not TO
any deterioration in the quality Of the plant.
Vicious habits of picking have been fos-
tered by careless system of Inspection
Hops are annually shipped from Boston and
other Eastern ports, as first sort and pur-
chased by the consumer at the highest prices
which upon examination, are found TO con-
tain such large quantities of leaves and
stems as to render them unfit for the brewers
use in manufacturing the finer qualities Of
liquor In this way the purchaser not only
suffers positive loss in weight, but The eff
feet Of those extraneous substances, when
applied TO manufacturing purposes, is de-
itrimeutal in the highest degree, and not UNI
| frequently the cause Of irretrievable injury.
1t is to this abuse we would invite your at
tention, for we feel assured that any reform
must originate in nice distinction Of quail
iy on the part of the Inspector As
long as the producer is offered premium
for mismanagement and neglect, by having
his inferior article passed current, as prime,
it seems evident that remonstrances alone
will not have much effect on his conduct
The ultimate policy of this system may wen
be questioned, however advantageous, i
may seem at first sight indeed. its effects
are already visible, in the increasing demand
for hops raised in Western New York, and
the advance in price which they generally
command. This preference we think is in
some measure attributable TO the care be-
slowed in the picking and the superior con-
dition in which they are brought to market.
The benefit resulting from more rigid sys-
TEN Of inspection would not be confined ex-
clnsiveIy TO one branch Of trade, gradual
approximation in quality TO the English
standard, might reasonably be expected as
the natural tendency Of jrdicious reform,
and in time of foreign demand, the interest
of the merchant would evidently be promot-
ed, and permanent advantages finally accrue
to the grower. Believing simple statement
of facts and their more obvious results to be
the most judicous appeal to a candid and
honorable mind, we respectfully commend
our cause and IFS merits to your favorable
construction. ngu Yours, &c. tb
M. l.. Dawson g. Co., Francis g. VIM.
!, s. Kerot, Frederick Gaul g. Sons, w. G..
Budman, Abbot g. Newline, Gray, White
g. Co., Smith g. Socktol, r. b. Taylor. p