The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1868-11-28
From the Farmers Gazetts.I
Hop Culture.

The introduction of this article as a field
product - the South has already attracted
the attention of {. .97teTprising agriculturalists
The experience maSs by Us, from which
two satisfactory crops have been marketed,
has convinced Us, and a few others wno have
carefully watched its progress, that there Is
nothing In soil or climate TO prevent its be-
coming staple crop IN Virginia, while the
many reasons why it should succeed are con
elusive, and among them, are the cheapness
of land, of poles, Of labor, Of transportation,
and, above all, the advantage Of one months
monopoly Of the market in the early season,
that being fully equal to 80 per cent. over
labor prices
1t concentrates labor and capital, furnishes
labor IN MAY and August to women AMI
children In the training and picking and
furnishes early and quick returns to the hard
pressed farmer.
The high prices Of the last ten years have
induced many persons to engage in their
growth, in localities where low and even
fair prices will IN a year or two cause them
to cease their cultivation The large crop
of the present year has already reduced
prices and it is expected that for two or
more years they will rule low. This fact,
however is no impediment here At prices
which would quickly impoVerish Central
New York or the Eastern States, the South
ern planter thrives. At ten cents per pound
the crop would pay in Virginia, when at
twenty cents the old hop districts of New
York, New England, or Great Britain,
would find It necessary to plow up their
yards.
During twenty years there has been six
unaccountable failures In England and Ger
many, and nearly as many in this country,
of the hop crop; but these failures have
never extended to the new districts, and
during that twenty years the average price
has been 27 cents per pound The lowest
price has beer SIX cents and the highest 70
cents.
American hops are exported In large
quantities TO England, South America, and
the West Indies, thus furnishing an outlet
for any surplus we may produce. We men,
ton these facts to satisfy skeptics that the
consumption is net local and liable to fail.
There are advantages to be derived from
low prices, as settings are much lower, and
where last Spring 80 cents per acre for set
tings was low, We can undoubtedly furnish
them for twelve cents per acre another year.
The rapid increase of their consumption
Is a matter of surprise. From 1850 to 1855
the census statistics show an increase in the
United States of l85 per cent, and from
1855 to 1860 an increase of $50 per cent.
Ihe entire product OF the United states
in 1867 was 800 900 bales, or 6O,000,000 lbs,
and the estimated product of this year Is
$50, 900 bales A continued increase in
cOnsum ption may be relied on, and the de-
mand brought up to our productive capacity.
The culture is sufficiently scientific to pre-
vent every farmer from engaging in 1t, and
the capital required is another preventive to
overriding the business.
The time for setting is in early Spring
and Autumn setting will fail whenever tried
The English Cluster" and " "Golding"
varieties are the only reliable varieties.
4" Palmer's Seeding is on trial, and will in
a few years undoubtedly be added to the
list of good and productive varieties of the
hop
The wild hop found in gardens in Virginia
are too late and too shy bearers for profit.
In another letter we shall be happy TO
furnish instruc Jions for setting, preparing
SOIL etc. NEWBERRY 81 RAULsToN.