The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1890-09-11
hops. And HOP RAISING.
The Present Seasons Yield is Highly
Successful.
High Prices Caused BY Small Yields
ElseWheFe..-OVeF n million
Dollars Profit this Year.

One Of the greatest industries in the
state Of Washington is hop raising, and
considering that the yield for this year
will be larger than ever before and that
the market prices are such as to net the
farmers handsome profits, particular in
terest is being taken in the industry.
The success Of this year in hop raising
will act as a stimulus and encourage the
farmers to enlarge the hop growing area.
Washington will reach this year probably
5000 bales. The soil and the climatic
conditions Of the state permit Of extensive
areas to be given to the cultivation Of
hops.
The yield this year in the entire state
is put at anywhere from 5000 to so, 900
bales. Last year the yield was 5000
bales. There are on the average 200
pounds 10 the bale. Allowing this years
growth to reach $4,000 bales, or 10000
900 pounds, it is readily seen that hops
figure quite extensively in the commerce
Of the state. Probably two-thirds Of this
years yield have already been contracted
for at the average Of Is cents per pound.
Large sales were made during the first Of
the season at IA and l5 cents, but now
buyers must pay as much as 30 cents and
in few instances sales have been re-
norted Mt % cents Earmara ara gaDar.
alp demanding still higher prices and
feel confident that the market has not
yet reached the top. Last year the high
est price paid was l5 cents. The highest
market price for hops was about ten years
ago when as much as $l.l0 per pound
was paid.
This years advance is explained by
the fact that the yield in European coun-
tries is far below the average, owing to
unfavorable weather, and the destructive
effects of the hop lice. In Washington
no such annoyances have been encoun-
tered, but on the other hand everything
was favorable for large yield.
Assuming that the average price re-
ceived for this years yield Of Washing
ton hops will reach 20 cents per pound,
the total yield will represent 1900, 900.
Farmers claim that the cost for raising
and curing hops is 8 cents per pound.
Deducting the cost Of growing and curing
10000, 900 pounds, or the states yield,
there will remain a net profit to the farm
ers this year Of 81 100000.
In the White river and the Puyallap
valleys the average yield is 1000 pounds
per acre in the old yards, and the soil is
practically inexhaustible.
In 1865 attention was directed to the
culture Of hops in this state. Previous to
that the farmers in the rich valleys so
admirably adapted to the raising Of hops
were satisfied to farm their places with
the absolute necessities Of life. A brewer
by the name Of Wood planted lot in
Olympia with an inferior quality and
directed the residents Of the Puyallup
valley to the probable profits Of hop rails
ing and promised to buy the crops har-
vested. He gave Mr.. J. r. Meeker few
pounds Of cuttings, who carried them to
Sumner and planted them. The first
years crop was fair and was sold to Mr..
Wood for 80 cents per pound. In two or
three years the farmers Of the valley were
convinced there was more profit in q
small patch Of hops than in a whole farm
otherwise cultivated. The result was
that hop culture became quite general
and since then it has gradually increased
until to-day the yield reaches the enor-
nous amount Of sc, 1000 bales.
In order to proftably engage in hop
culture, 1t is a business that must be
thoroughly understood. It is business
that requires constant study and atten-
ton. There are a thousand and one
causes that may interfere with a success
ful growth. And again. there is no fixed
standard Of quality to which the farmer
may look for guidance. The standard
changes with the taste Of the people, and
for this reason careful watch Of the mar
ket should be kept, and take advantage