The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-01-01
|THE HOP VINE.
One Of Our Staple Pn-
auctions,
This Years Yield 7,350,OlO
Pounds.
Value Above One Million
Dollars.
Puget Sslld Controls the
Worlds Markets.
ROOM for an Indefinite Il
palSi0l.
tBy M f Meeker.}

10y NJ r. Aefker.s
The rise, progress, present stAtEs
and future prospects of the hop indus
try of Washington Territory, have
been fruitful theme for study among
statisticians and communities else
where. as well as among our Own PEG
PIE, whom il would. at first thought,
seem were almost the only interested
parties The establishing Of this bust
ness here upon 4 firm basis. has
wrought far reaching results and
changes not dreamed OF as probable
or even possible. From a struggling
industry upon an uncertain basis this
interest has constantly forged ahead
to solid position upon the fixed
principles that insure success; from
the humble beginning OF the little plan
tation that yielded a first crop of one
bale in the crop year OF 1854, 10 that
OF 1900 bales in that OF IsSs !:
from a crop OF 1871 pounds the
first year to that OF 7.3Jo.o 90
pounds the present year; from
the value of first crop of less than
800 to that OF over 100000 from
the position in the early years Of is
history Of humbly begging for mar
ket rated as seconds TO its competitors
TO that OF moving straight up to the
front as in the recent sale in one day
OF over a quarter of a million pounds
upon the London market in direct
competition with not only the boast
ed New York state hop, but also
with the product of the world, attain
ing price, yielding profit, while its
competitors were selling at loss. No
wonder, with such results, that we
hear OF the destruction Of thousands
OF acres of hops in the older districts
OF the United States, England and
Germany, Yet see the acreage increas-
ing in our midst and the interest ex-
panding year by year 10 the utmost
possible limits OF the ability of pro-
curing the necessary labor 70 secure
the crop in harvest time.
LABOR FOR PICKING.
In the early years the Indians were
the sole reliance OF the farmers for
help to secure their crop. Floating in
their canoes sometimes for hundreds
OF miles from even as far a. the con-
fines OF the Alaskan waters. this
people were at home wherever night
overlook them; hunting and fishing
for weeks on the way; camping here
a night, there a week, If wind and
weather was unpropitious, or fishing
and hunting successful, the help
slowly though surely approached the
hop district. by thousands, giving the
grower no trouble other than 10 fur
nish room under the open canopy Of
the sky upon his premises for camp
ing ground. the right to take fuel and
water. and the pay for each days
labor rs performed. The large in
crease, though. OF the acreage; the
gradual decrease OF the supply of In
dian help from their more fixed hab-
it,. together with the inclination OF
our own people 10 participate in the
hop harvest. has led up to a gradual
change. so that now hundreds OF fam
lies and thousands of white hop
pickers participate in the serious ho.i-
day occupation OF securing the crop.
while LAYING BY a nice little sum of
money for future use. This last new
feature has lent new charms to the in
dustry in our midst. Instead OF the
larger portion of the money paid TO
hop-pickerS being carried of, much Of
il 10 British Columbia. il is now lett at
home and goes more into the hands
on struggling new settlers to quicken
trade in the furthermost corner of the
territory.
THE YIYLD.
The story OF the wonderful Weld
has been told 80 frequently that we
are now embroidered TO print that.
which was at first only mentioned by
word of mouth where the question of
veraCity could not be raised.
The writer, having first raised q
crop Of LIS tons from 10 acres in the
crop wear iSsi. and having harvest
ed and knowing several OF his neigh
burs having harvested two tons from
an acre. and finally during the pres
ent crop year having grown nearly
- tons from one Ceftain portion OF
hi hop ward OF 80 acres. ne naturally
feels free 20 reiterate the Il ltsment
that the greatest ield IN the world Of
hops is obtained in Washington Terri
tory.
As TO QUALITY
Nor Is the QGe-ti0u Of Weld al that
can BE- .ald OF the Washington Terri
tory hops. Grown a. these are, prin-
cipatly upon the deep, rich. fertile soil
Of the valleys adj acent u Puget sound,
the roots strike deep iato the allaVi2l
deposits Of which the soil l. made, 50
thar the uIant never suffers for Baut
~ moisture, hence. Is always fgily ma
tured and never lacking in strength
and fragrance when properly man
aged after picking. The cool. long sea
sons for growth. coupled with the
abundant summer rainfall anG deVo--
- -. % a.
hop for flavor snd keeping quality. 50
e-eenii8l to the enhancement 9f their
market valve
Still Exp yuINs.
Years ago it Wa thought We had
re4ched the limit o. expansion in the
hop business because OF the worlds
market depression tor hops. caused by
ovprprodu. ton. Is well as frou The
limited supply OF help heretofore OBJ
tsinahie As sc have seen. the quail
itv. certainty CT the crop, cheaDneSs OF
proa1ction. A. vel as from some other
cause. not here pertinent @ mention.
our hops are dl placing Others and ere
aiing 1 uiarke. Tor themselves by eX-
Glazing other >tfil tAe serious or
stacle 81 help IN hop-pickiug time, viii
restrain the gnhmite1 expansion OF
Lop-eroWiue ia Washington Territory
ana keep the Industry Sithin reason
alle limits The question has often
t.--er. A.ked a IL il possible area Of
land suited 10 hop cGlture within oar
borders. IL Wouli ae u-els 80 under
take 10 give statistics A. 10 acFe>-
because % the bare frufhfn! state.
lneut that c4a be made that We
have sufficient for producing the
worlds supply which oaghS 70 t'e
sufficient 70 satl e. she ~taIisticiaa B.
well - The eager czperGaaE esslIgreni
boxing - the territory loT a f6ture
berne Wash.nstsu Territcrp u a<tel
for IL elUahle cii1aaEe rs charms o.
scenery its wonderful resources and
varisd Industries sr-1nEine up IN her
nlta.r. hlt nothing has brought % The
front mere prominently thee a1frac-
tious. more than ;ae hop Industry. for
h this 81 ure com hsnesi-
Without LhaE wonderful ci'12a-- u
NaaIa have feeu impossible 10 AAFe
rsssesl ever - crops Ia ~ consef-i-
rarIEF~sl