The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-04-29
FUTURE OF THE HOP.
Interesting Review Of the Pres
ent Condition.
aeeker 4 CAS- csrular.


The English factor said 50 1t the start; the
English consumers have confirmed this
opinion; the New York dealers are unit
IN their expressions on this point; in fact.
there seems 10 be no exception TO the ex-
pressed belief that there was a
wide difference between the quality
OF the Two crops. We are of the opin-
ion that this difference consisted solely
in the difference OF the management, that
the crop of 1883 was inferior to that of ISIS
becausef IL Was harvested in a less mature
state. and because il was rushed" through
At railroad" speed not possible TO attain
In the latter named crop. All will remem-
Der how in 1883 the pickers arrived late;
how, when they did arrive. there was an
apparent scarcity, and which there was. as
in comparison. with former seasons: and
how the harvesting proceeded leisurely, and
finally at the last. some hops were left I'M
picked and were lost for the lack of plckers.
Although many hops were left unpicked
that year Clsssl il IL by no means certain
that we saved less hops in weight than we
would have done had we begun early ard
pushed things" as Is too often done. 1t
Is well to remember that blooming extends
over period of two weeks. and that when
the FIRST hops set on the vine are ripened,
millions of the later bloom are yet imma-
ture. many even not yet OF full size. and are
tiimsy and "washy'-are. in fact,
worthless We have seen parts OF the
growth OF the crop of 1850 of as good gu al
ity as Of that of the so-called ''crack" crop
of issS, so we feel justified in asserting our
belief that the growers of Oregon and
Washington have themselves TO blame in
not securing as good quality as ever be-
fore. Ii is certain that the heat in curing
injuriously affects an immature hop far
more than il does q well ripened hop.
II growers will keep these facts in mind
and act in time-prepare more drying
room. begin their picking later, and then
make haste slowly" while harvesting
they will be on the better road to success.
As we have said before. turn their ware
houses into dryhouses, bale their hops di-
rect from the kiln hot. for that matter I've
speak from the experience of havingin that
manner baied fully ten thousand bales)
and before any moisture can gather TO
tougher" the hops, they will, If thoroughly
cured, certainly secure that soft. silky.
springy' hop SO much coveted and sought
after. while others may 60 begging.
Twenty cents has been reached on the
New York market for New York state hops
for export. True, not many have sold at
that price, for, in fact, there are not many
of the quality to command the top figures.
Washington and Oregon hops are con-
stantly quoted below the highest valued
New York state growths. but the facts are
that the great bulk of the latter are sold at
the lower prices named IN the market quo
tations and substantially on an equal foot
ing with the Northern Pacifics." as our
Washingtons and Oregons are sometimes
designated in the trade circles
THE EASTERN MARKETS.
The depression among hop growers in
New York state is greater than ever before,
IL amounts almost, one might say. to COM
plete decentralization among small growers;
the quality of the growth is not what it
used to be. and il We are to believe the
almost universal report, the management
is much worse than in years gone by, hence
the great decline in quality, which brings
with it the depression noted.
Contrary TO the universal belief. in the
early crop year of lss9. there has been 10
great surplus of hops raised. and today the
New York market Is reported as bare Of
stock as for years past, Notwithstanding
the large importation larger than last year,
that has come from foreign growth to the
American market.
Ii is well for our growers to study the
.'freak" of the hop trade as We jog along.
for, after all. We must needs follow, in a
great measure. and cannot lead in matters
OF tastes and preferences.
The writer saw. when personally On the
London market. German hops offered at 40
shillings and not taken. while our Wash
ingfon hops sold as high as 81; returning
TO New York, he saw this same quality OF
Germans selling on our American mar
ket for about 10 cents per pound, while the
Washingtons were quoted and selling at
under Is In the case of the German hops,
only a limited quantity could be sold tgen-
orally only few bales TO each brewery.
while the bulk OF the sales were of the
home growth.
IMrograrIoSs.
The large aggregate of importations of an
annual average for seven years last past Of
about four millions aud a half pounds. is
no more than abouts eight bales to each
brewer. while the average consumption is
over fifty bales. While We have imported
in round numbers in seven years j. 90, 900
pounds, We have in the same period ex-
ported over 100000 pounds. not quite
twice in quantity, but fully twice in value,
as the aggregate value Of hops during this
time, exported, has been over sli 0ooooo,
while the value of the imported has been
less than s. 30 go; again, about one-third
OF the imported hops are consumed in the
manufacture Of beer that is exported, and
which. ia any event. viii largely be made
from hops OF foreign growth to cater to the
whim ef foreign consumers.
German hops (of which our importation
almost exclusively consisssl will not make
good summer use" hops. hence our firm
hold on the London market for export;
hence the impossibility Of those hops CON-
peiing with us for the bulk consumption in
our heme market. and hence we cay that
IL il mistaken policy for the grower 10
press for more protection pronihitory
tariff, raiher-than for protective duty
only. IS nov exists.
During the period Of seven years under
reyiew, the writer has produced on his own
hopyards fully i,0so tons az hops lie Is
still largely engaged in the business of hop
growing. and. grower. has protested
against the increase OF the duty on hops
above the present rsge of eight cents per
round. lie believes that An increase IN
the duty will not materially earsaa
the importation OF foreign hops,
for the reason as shown that most al