, 1889-09-12
A SPECIAL HOP TRAIN
To Be Run Through From the Puy-
nIlnp Valley TO New York.

A train load of Washington hops will
pass through Spokane Falls in day or
two for the East. The Tacoma Ledger
gives the particulars, as follows:
The cablcgrams from London still con-
hrm the reports that the hop oPep Is
fairly good Nothing definite is heard
from the general market No sales have
been made here yet, and buyers are
making no offers, while growers are
busy securing the crop.
Arrangements have been made to run
n through special hop train on the
Northern Pacific railroad from Puyallup
to The Atlantic seaboard whenever six
iscn carloads can be obtained. The rail-
road com, ,iany agrees to forward them
o, onc by special train.
The first consignment will be ready
about September Is and will reach New
York October ,, and will be In the Lon
don market not later than October 20, or
about thirty-two days from Puyallup to
london,
This train will be made up of hops
that have been contracted for and pur-
chased by Il. Meeker S Co. and for
which the growers receive 10 cents per
pound net,
Last years business in London devel-
Oped the fact that October delivery sold
readily and brought higher figures than
the November delivery, hence these ar
rangements for rapid transit, both by
rail and steamer.
Some of the Oregon hops purchased
by IL. Meeker & Co. will be shipped to
Puyallup thence to London by special
train.
. The six-acre tract cleared by A. ].
Spencer across the river from puyallup
--thc first hop yard of the season to be
picked-produced 140 boxes, or about
3500 pounds of hops. This is small
yield, and no basis can be obtained to
judge the coming crop in general. The
same yard last year produced 1900
pounds, TO the acre, owing to the more
favorable season, there being more rain.
This tract is dry and light.
The sample, however, shows prime
quality of hop, and buyers generally
prefer hops grown on light land, claim
Ing that they are stronger in the es-
sential qualities of hops. Many of the
growers here concede that the crop will
fall 25 per cent short of last year, taking
the average yield per acre as basis.
The same pickers have about finished
picking the hop yard of Lottie Schultz
in the same vicinity. There are six
acres in this tract and 1t has yielded 2f0
boxes, or 5000 pounds. This is consider
ed an average yield for this class of
land. In the heavier lands from 1900 to
$500 pounds per acre will be obtained
These heavier lands are always later,
and In some parts of the yard It will be
two weeks before they are fully ripe.
A mixed yard of this description Is
very desirable, as the hops ripen as pick
ing goes on, and thus gives an equal
quality to the whole yard.
Ii is getting to be the custom now to
bale as soon as cured, the English grow
ers having always done so. As the firm
of r. Meeker 4 Co. sold in London last
season 5000 bales, growers are willing to
supply just what manner of hops buyers
want.
Five years agoit was considered neccs-
sary for cured hops to be kept in bulk
from ten TO twenty days before baling.
The hop kilns Of Il, Meeker a. Co. are
now in operation, and will run to the
end of the seasOn--an average day S
work will turn out from thirty five TO
forty bales OF 200 pounds each yerlday.
This requires d force of 100 pickers in
the field, four teams, six men in the
field and twelve in connection with the
ltlua