Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-09-24
THE HOPCROP.

snterestlns stsslsties for oxford County.
The intimate relationship Of our own
country with England, in almost every
phasccf commercial life. renders informa-
ton respecting the relative yields.of any
specific crop, whereby we can arrive at 4
iolerable correct estimate of the marketa-
bile value Of The commodity, q nnttsr OF
general public interest. Hops are among
the many products common to the two
nations and affecting the interests in both.
Il is not always true that the larger the
crop the greater the gain to the producer
as the experience Of any practical agricul-
turist can abundantly testify; yet it can
not be denied that crops, universally
Abundant. are great national blessings
alike to the rich and the poor.
The hop crop in England is ordinarily
a good one, hut this ycarreports from the
whole country show most conclusively.
that although without blight, the yield
is '.fabby" and generally deficient. The
grounds have been badly attacked with
Nv, there has been considerable rust, and
the cold winds late into the season, pre-
vent thorough maturing of the plant.
In Kent the produce was better than else
where though fortune WAS remarkably
tickle even there; one plantation was good
while another Immediately adjoining was
scanty and but half developed. In the
West of England. in Worcester and
Hcrelordshres, where the best Colgate
and Grape Hops are produced, the yield
was small but exceedingly good. These
two kinds Of hops, it may here be re-
marked are generally the most prolific
aud valuable, and are extensively used in
the manufacture of the best "bitters" and
tor dycing purposes. At present quota
tons English hops are fetching from forty
to sixty shillings q hundred weight. or in
American currency, about Sls for every
ll2 pounds.
1t does not appear, according to the
most recent adyices, that Germany and
France have escaped the malcfic in
nuences common To England. In the
large hop district of Spalt heavy rains
and cold nights have injured nj critica!
period, The small crop which has this
year been grown. The growth through
out the German hop growing States Is eS-
,imatcd 10y some at half and by others nj
one third of crop; while in France the
most favorable accounts place the yield nj
only two-thiris OF last Year.
From the several hup.producing dis
trictS in this country there is by no means
a luNuriant crop, though il is safe TO say
the WELD has been good. but still probably
not greater than the requirements OF the
country. II this he so our foreign exports
will be smaller this year than even las,
year. The English market is now pretty
we'll under the thumb Of foreigners, not
understanding \ large quantity OF unsoId
hops is still on hand and which must have
some influence in checking the demand
for imports 1t is feared also that III c
main properties of bitter beers are now
supplied, not from the "lupuline' OF the
hop. bnt from some less wholesome mar
coiic which, if true, would still further
diminish the demand. Weighing careful
ly the various reports which have reached
us respecting the European crop, our adj
vice 10 large producers would be not to
expor, ut present prices, because equal il
not greater profits can be obtained ut our
own doors.-Portland Advertiser.