Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-09-07
Hops How 60 secure them, and How
40 Dispose Of thsm.
TO TIM CoMMEBcIAL EBITon

DEAR sIR.-As the time for Hop-picking approach
es / beg leave TO offer through the medium Of your
valuable paper, few Suggestions To growers on the
subject Of picking and preparing their Hops for mar
No particular branch of Hop culture throughout
this country is seriously neglected as that OF clean
picking while in England and Germany, growers
take great pride in doing this part of their work
well.
gained by clean picking, than the fact that foreign
Hons always command higher price In our markets
than Hops Of native growth This increased value Of
foreign Hops Is attributed by Hop dealers to their
Greater cIeanliness and 20 any superiority in the
Hop ITSELF as climate sad the fertility Of our soil
is surpassed by that OF no other country.
There is no good reason Why should not be able
| to compete with foreign growers, in producing as
| good Hops as they, good grown in the
world since it is we'll known fact that the Ameri-
can Hop, in point Of strength and richness OF flavor
always exccrd those OF foreign countries.
Farmers, in excuse for not picking their Hops
eIea, saw il cannot be done in yards light growth
where the Hops are few and scattering MAINTAIN IL
| can be done, IN al yards.
The Helps IN this country neusr tD-Te pce clean
not even m the Of 1860 and 1862, when the
| average yield was a ton to the acre.
have watched the process of picking, in yards of
all grades AMI sses throughout this State, and have
observed, that in mort instances the Hops instead
of being picked off by one stripped on, to-
gether with leaves and stems by the handful
Ten cents per 10 or $50 per bale ought TO pay the
grover well enough to secure more in having his
Hops carefully picked. L have known instances in
which an increased price Of ten cents per TO.
has been obtained on lots, when there no sppar-
| e4nt difference in their quality.
If the present system OF picking Hops at stipu-
4 lated price per box were abandoned, and liberal
wages nv the day substituted. 40 would tend TO do
away with eager desire pickers otherwise have, to
make big days job, BY picking fast and filling
| up with leaves and stems. .H
| The wages per day could be governed by the care
| exercised by each picker IN doing her or his part
| we'll, and not by the number Of boxes picked
Too much attention cannot be given in properly
curing Hops The practice Of using sulphur TO give
Il HON a hriu eFN
if INDUCED in, to too great an extent, the natural
rich favor and aroma Of the Hop destroyed.
/ Many growers, anxious to get their Hops into mar
ket early hurry the drying process fast to
the Hops 70 become scorched The stoves heaters
never should be allowed to get red-hot. Smoke from
the bnrning fuel shoud also be guarded against.
moderate, uniform heat gives the Hop more natu
raj cure. Then again, IL is very important that Hop
should be sufficiently dried before being bailei 9th
erwise there is danger of their sweating and heat in
Most growers claim to thoroughly understand al
these pO ints, but the most experienced often fail
| cure their Hops properly Bales should be put up I
| weigh as near 200 lbs as possible; when large
quantity is compressed In bale Of the ordinary size
the Hops deprived of the necessary circulation
| air and are liable 20 heat ~
The best three-ply Irvine should be used in baleing
/ as poor article Is apt 20 break when bales al
. roughly handled, thus allowing waste of the Hop
ETgry grower should provide himself with steiner
plGle, bearing the initials Of his name, and STAN
I | each bale
ner as 10 render IL unnecessary for the Hops 10
q | stamped down with the feet. Broken Hops do NJ
= sample sell 50 we'll as those which Kept who'll
Growers should never refuse 10 sell their Hops
: | home when they get the market price. Wht
. they can't sell at home TO advantsge, they shOu
! consign TO some reliable Commission Dealer WI
{ makes Hops speciality, and who deals strictly
: i COM pa4zsi5s.
: Hops should never be carried over from one seasS
: 20 another the deterioration IN value and quail
a is about SO per cent. after the frstyear
An experienced Commission Merchant should ne
n be subjected 20 restrictions on the price 10 be
aimed for the Hops Ii he Is worthy Of cOnhdenC
he should be allowed 90 exercis his best judgment
effecting sale and being in constant communicate
with the general trade, his facilities for Judging
/, market prices generally better than the grower
whose experience Is limited TO the dealings they m
9 have Ia the yeaFly sale Of their own produce.
2 many cases favorable offer il lost by decline In
Va market before the consignee can communicate W
n the owner. Respectfully, yours, 1921
'ut 90 q EMMETT WELLS,
~ Commission Dealer in Hops, exclusively,
v No. 43 Front Street, New York