The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-12-23
Fortunes in Hops,

| Montgomery, IS the greatest hOp-raiSinO
region in the United States. There is
no market or trade that affects the mer-
chants in this section 50 directly or in so
marked a degree as the hop trade.
Great as is the interest in the products of
the dairy, trade here is but slightly in
huenced by the rise or fall in the dairy
market. But when the price of hops
reaches fifty cents a pound, and es-
pecially at this time, when growers have
realized, in many instances, one dollar
pound, or nearly 700 per cent. on the
cost of production, the Injuries of life
meet with ready and quick sales in this
part OF the country, and everybody has
plenty of money.
Extraordinary stories of fortunes ac-
quired in hop raising are told by the
people of Central New York. Men,
women and boys are pointed out, as they
pass along the street, as having made
fortunes varying from $1,000 to $780,
900, during the past two or three
months. Indeed there has not in years
been the excitement in this section in
any trade that now exists among the
hop men, and hop farms have this fall
actually doubled in value, with ready
and even eager buyers. Many appear
to have actually gone daft on the sub
iect and are laying great plans for
another year. Growers have refused to
make any contract for next years crop,
even when offered fifty cents a pound,
although all admit that a largely in
creased acreage will, in all probability,
produce much more. abundant crop
next year. This hopeful feeling is par
TALLY explained by the expectation that
natural causes will remove many old
yards. The more cautious, however,
speak discouragingly of the coming few
years.
''The history of the past is a promise
of the future they say, land when the
new yards that will surely be planted
this spring shall bear fruit, hops must
take such tumble as to completely
wreck those who are now thoughtlesslv
and extravagantly paying 5000 an acre
for hop FARMS
One dealer in this city has already
made contract with a Western brewer
to furnish his supply fhops for the COM
ing two years at the following rates:
Next year, sevcnty-tiye cents per pound;
1884, fifteen cents per pound. One thing
that may serve as check upon those
DESTROYS of becoming hop growers is the
difficulty experienced in obtaining poles.
At present all hop poles come from Can
ada, and unless the winter brings an
abundance of snow il will be next to inn
possible to supply the demand. Last
NJrIntnr 1AnlAS Iollnl fn,. h.,
could be furnished. The duty on the
poles is considerable, and therefore hop
poles form no inconsderable part of the
expense of running yard.
Utica is naturally the center of this
hop region, ut Wateryille, Oneida, Coop
erstown and Oneonta are also important
markets, In Utica are found, perhaps,
the largest dealers, with one or two cX-
ceptions in the country This year the
price started at fifty cents and gradually
increased until eighty cents was offered,
and then jump was made to one dollar.
At present the market is comparatively
dull and inactive. There are very few
good hops left in the hands of growers,
and those who have "held on are dis.
posed to talk of great advance in the.
near future. A little excitement was.
caused the other day by a heavy decline;
in price, the market touching ninety
cents. In conversation with the lead.
ING hop men it was learned that the de-
preston was merely temporary, caused
mainly by the importation of some old,
inferior German hops, and the sudden
thruSting upon a sensitive market of 4
few poorly picked and poorly dried State
hops. Dealers here are confident that
high-watcr mark has not yet been
reached. The entire crop of the United
States is carefully estimated at 125, 900
bales, much less than enough for home
consumption. Over 5000 bales have
already been exported this year, and it
is argued that American consumers or
sellers must be buyers in England and
Germany, perhaps before Christmas.
The amount of hops raised in this
region this year is 10000 bales. or more
than 16, 100000 pounds. This is about
one-third smaller than the crop of last
year. The growers have received upon
an average about sixty cents per pound
for the crop, or over 50, 700, 600. 1t will
be readily understood that this enormous
amount-leaving out of Reconsideration the
profits of the distributed
through the five counties gives a tre-
mendous impetus to trade. The profits
on hops are greater than on any other
farm product. 1t costs only from ten to
fifteen cents to cultivate and raise a
pound of hops. This includes the inter
est on the land, labor, picking, drying
and getting to market. 1t is little won
der, therefore, that hop raising has
proved so attractive to the keen, intelli-
gent and thrifty farmer in Central New
York. The profits to dealers this year
have been commensurate with the good
fortune of the grower. Very few hops
have been sold where gain of ten cents
per pound has not been realized. The
average has been fifteen to twenty-five
cents.
In the quantity raised the five counties
stand in the following ORDER Otsego.
Oneida, Madison. Schoharie and Mont
geometry. In this county nearly all the
hops are raised in the four towns of
Sangeried. Kirkland, Marshall and
Augusta So far as quality and price are
concerned in the London market, En-
cland is first and New York a close sec
ond. -Lljc0 (N T. Cor ~ Y. SIM.
Samuel Kennedy was sent to the
Massachusetts State Prison for life on u
conviction of incrndiarism. He served
I L /