The daily gazette., 1877-04-16
Hops Cheap and Plenty.
A REASON FOR Low-PRlCED BEER-THE
CROPS IN AMERICA AND IN EUROPE.

hEASoN FOR LOW-PRlCED BEER-THE
CROPS IN AMERICA AND IN EUROPE.
The almost unprecedently low price of
hops in this country and in England,
coupled with the general stagnation in
the trade, is causing dismay among the
spectators, whose salvation lately has
depended on an advance. The price
tumbled in the winter, and the decline
has been steadily continuing, so that the
common sorts, which ranged in Septem-
Der from % to 81 cents, and tbe medium
and choice from 20 to 81 cents per pound
now command but 8 to II cents for the
first named. and 13 to l6 cents for choice.
Country bankers and merchants of the
hop districts of the State and the West
| feel the effects of the dull season, as they
made heavy advances to the growers, ex-
pectlng the price to run to SO and 40 cents
| About the only gamers are the brewers,
| who are reported to be getting in large
quantities, which will serve them this
| and part of the next brewing season.
The hop crop of last year was the larg-
est ever grown in this country, being
fully 10000 bales more than was needed
for home consumption. OF this quantity
1000 were shipped to England, which
left surplus of 80, 900, which gluts the
| market and causes the general decline
| The expectation to England varies ac-
cording to the crops in that country. AS
list season was peculiarly favorable there,
| a heavy crop was raised, which, with the
American article already sent, renders
the trade as dull and as Improbable ss
in the States. The expectation to Liver
pool in 1875 amounted to $500 bales.
Some seasons, as in 1871, English hops
are sent to this country. The hops of
the two countries are about equal in
quality, the only difference being that
the English growers cultivate them bet
ter, take greater pains to pick them, and
cure, them SO artistically, that once in the
market, they command higher prices.
A year ago the German crop was a fail
ure, and spectators bought up large
quantities in America, and shipped to
Bremen and Hamburg; but the venture
proved a failure, as the German brewers,
! after a trial, declined to use them a sec4
| ond time. saying that they favored the
| beer so peculiarly that their customers
| were not satisfied.
New York takes the lead of the hop
growing States, her quota lest season
| amounting to 20, $50 900 pounds. Wis
consin follows next, with nearly 13,000,-
900. Michigan previous to 1874 was third
| on the list; but during the past two sea-
sons California has forged ahead, send
| ing last year to market nearly $4,000
bales, an increase of 49, 400 bales in two
years. The soil and climate ofthat State
anu oregon are particularly favorable,
and English roots are cultivated as in
England. Consequently the product
ranks in Liverpool and London with the
| best article grown over there. The only
drawback is the distance and the freight
age from San Francisco to New York
and the English markets. Large quanti-
ties of hops are annually raised in Maine,
Massachusetts,, and Vermont, finding a
market in Boston. In all the States the
roots are planted either in the fall or
| spring. The first year they do not yield
The second they grow an average crop,
but in the third year they are in their
prime. They wane during the fourth sea-
son, and at the end of five years the poles
are taken down, the roots grubbed up,
and new field is selected in order tc
give the old ground rest. Hop raising
requires an extensive system of manur-
ing, which, with the labor of the growers
is about the only expense attached to the
production, and in fair seasons the grow
ers realize large profits. The picking
season in this country is in August and
and September. In England the hop
fields are not disturbed until the latter
part of September or the first of October
As an illustration of the low price ofhops
dealers show that bales that commanded
$65 last fall are now offered at $25.