The record-union., 1891-06-23
PLAIN TALK TO HoP-GRoWERS
They are Advised Not to CONTRACT
Their Crops IN Advance.
[Mendicino Dispatch and Democrat

AAASI1 >Loi'o Ia t&oN
[Mendicino Dispatch and Democrat.l
1t has come to our knowledge that a
number of hop-groWers have contracted
portions of their hop crops to hop-dealers
in San Francisco and elsewhere at prices
ranging from 10 to Is cents per pound. In
plain, unVarniShed words we believe
such action on the part of our hop
growers is simply suicidal. In the first
place every indication points to the fact
that hops, If properly handled by the
growers Will reach nearly, if not fully, as
nlgh prices this season as they did last
year, when they brought from 80 to 35
cents per pound. This fact must be evi-
dent to the readers who have perused the
hop notes the Dispatch Democrat has
| been publishing for some time past. The
outlook for good hop crops is very dis
couraglng IN all parts of the world. The
untavorable weather in England and
Europe, the ravages of the louise in New
\ ork State and Oregon and Washington,
and the limited quantity of old hops on
hand, all point to heavy demand for
California hops. Nothing short of a
miracle or the blind stupidity of our hop
growers can prevent prices from reach
ing higher figure than that at present
offered by hop contractors.
In the second place, we have vet failed
to hear Of hop-grower who Contracted
his hops early in the season who did not
get the worst of the bargain. The uni
Yersal experience has been, that if hops
went UP the contractor insisted on the de-
livery OF the hops, and always got them.
II prices went down, by some chicanery
he repudiated the contract. The truth of
these remarks will be evident TO many of
our hop-growers who realize the situation
from dearly-bOught experience.
we are informed that hop contractors
are begging our hop-growers to contract
their hops, and warning them that if thew
do not contract them at the prices now
offered they Will surely be sorry fer it. as
prices will undoubtedly be lower when
the crop is ready for the market. What
lnsufferahle rot to pour into the ear of any
sane man. 1t is exceedingly improbable
that these hop contractors are runninp
around the country at the expense of time
and money for the benefit of our hon
growers. They are doing it for business.
ana Tor money making business at that.
The tact that growers who are con-
tracing hops now are getting less than
they should for them is not the worst feat
ure OF the affair. 1t is the influence that
their actions will have on the mark ct
TINS falL that Is the most important phase
Of the matter. If, by hard work and
caJolery, the contractors can now secure
! one-thlrd, or even one-quarter of the
crop at Is cents pound, the chances are
''SS ~ IBs DOCdtlSC Will
the above portion of the crop they can
manipulate the market. All pressing de-
mands from consumers can be met by
contractors, and by keeping down the
demand during the months of Septem-
Der, October and November, when the
growers are almost bound to sell. prices
are sure to be lower than they would
otherwise be.
This idea Of a grower contracting one
third or one-half of his crop and holding
the remainder for higher prices, if gener-
ally INDUCED in. is simply ridiculous.
The portion Of the crop contracted will
set the price for the remainder of the cron
if the demand for hops is good, if it IS
not and prices fall, the contractors will,
in nine cases out of ten, find some means
to repudiate the contract.
AS business proposition hop-prower
cannot afford to contract his crops, He
is simply tying the hands of himself and
his fellow hop-growers when he does if.
Our advice to hop-growers is: Do not
contract all or any portion of your cron,
Even if hops should go down to fifteen
cents instead of remaining at eighteen
cents, which price is now being offered
by contractors, you will in the end come
out winner if you stick to the proposition
Of selling your hops when they are ready
for the market and not before.