The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-09-23
Preparing Hops for Markell


Aside from the importance cf curing
hops properly, there is no branch Of the
culture in which the, grower should exer-
else more care than IN picking. All foreign
substances, such as leaves and stems,
should be kept from the hops. Instead of
stripping the hops OFF from the vines and
tendrils with the hands, as is too much the
custom, each hop should be picked of
separataly-eve when in clusters, they
should be separated. The advantages Of
clean picking were fully experienced in the
introduction and use Of foreign hops dur
ing the season of 1867. The quality and
flavor OF the American hop fully equaled
that of foreign; yet, by lack of clean pick
ing, our hops did not bring as high prices
by five cents per pound as the foreign.
The rule applies to any season, and hops,
in order to sell well, should be eleanly
picked. This year there threatens to be a
great many burTs and immature hops on
the vines at the time of harvest. Great
care should be taken 70 instruct piekers to
reject burrs and hops just starting, for by
mixing those with matured fruit, the value
of the stock viii be much impaired. b..
CURING. may do her part well,
and the grower may have secured large
-
perience in the art of curing the hops may
be ruined, either by over-drying or by not
driving enough. The hops, BY being high
dried and scOrched, lose their natural rich
flavor and aroma, while those not sufi-
ciently dried are liable to heat in the bale
and become worthless.
The best time to bale is on rainy day,
as the hops are more piiable and pack bet
ter. 1t is important that hops be put up
in the best possible shape. Shaggy, loose
packed, irregular shaped bales are almost
invariably thrown out, and rejected by the
inspector. Many growers are apt TO rely
too much on their own ingenuity IL the
construction of hOp-presses, paying too
little regard to the proper dimensions and
shape of the bale prOdueed. There would
be no objection TO growers exercising their
inventive powers In the construction of
hop presses, were more regard TO good
shaped bales taken into consideration.
Several patent presses on the lever plan,
are III use, the cost ranging from. $40 to
$50. Every grower who can afford It,
shonld have one Of these presses. In dis
triets where but few hops are grown, it
would be good plan for growers TO club
together and share the expense Of G patent
press. The several varieties of petentsin
use al turn out about tho san1e sized bales,
viz: q feet il length, q feet wide, and Is
inches thick.
Hops should be put up to weigh as near
200 pounds to the bale as possible. Slack
pressed, or light bales do not sample or
sell as well as those properly put up. When
compressed so much as 20 exclude the cir,
hops are quite liable to heat IN the bale
in baIing, none but the best three-ply
twine should be used.
We would particularly urge upon grow
ers and lOrWarders Of hops, the necessity
of plain marking. No grower should be
Without'a stencil plate, bearing the initials
of his name The full name, ifnOt a long
one, would be better. These plates can be
gotten up at small cost, cut from sheet
brass. and Of sufficient durability to last q
grower a lifetime, The letters should not
be over three inches square. The best
material for marking is turpentine and
lamp black a large amount Of American
hops have been rejected in the London
market, on account OF the use OF kerosene
oil with lamp black es a marking ma
teriaL The unpleasant odor of Che oi
striking through the hops, depriving them
Of the natural favor No marks or Ship
ping directions. should be sput upon the
end Of the bale; for the reason that when
stood on end on muddy wharfs, the marks
are liable to become delsced. The. proper
place to mark, is on the narrow SIDE near
the top Of the bR'a.' f''i a."
On day Of shipment, eonsignors sno1ld
send invoice by 4 Ail, stating how and by
what line shipped II the shipment con,
sists- of more than one growth, 1T should
be so specified, with the number OF bales
eaon, marks of each, &c.
n. Y, Aug 10. EAsiET WELLS
Commission Hop Merchant