New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-12
AMERICAN HOP GROWING.
AN ACTIVE INDUSTRY IN NETWORK STATE
AND ON THE PACIFIC COAST.
IN EXPORT AND DOMESTIC TRADE
n


NEW HOPS AND OLD HOPS.
The hop-humulus lupuus-is perennial plant Of
the order cannabnacea, the only species Of its genus
is of luxurant growth and abundant foliage. Tho
female flowers grow in cones which enlarge the
fruit rpens. The part used in brewing Is the npened
core of the female plant Female plants alone are,
therefore, cultivated il being sufficient II few msle
plants are scattered over the field. The fruit j.
little nut not larger than mustard seed, from which
are thrown out the scaeke leaves OF the flower which
Is the hop Of commerce As with all perennials, the
stalk down to the ground every year. The leaves
make excellent fodder and the vine Tor the bnc as tho
English call III makes good fertilizer and Is some
times used for making certain kind of coarse cloth.
The hop crop IS always as doubtful and delicate
one the vintage the cotton, and requires moro
nursing than a baby. New fields are prepared from
root cuttings Of old fields and do not bear fruit the
first year. The aphls or louise, and mildew are tho
first enemies OF the plant then come disastrous
climatic changes want Of skill misfortune In curing
baing housing and getting 10 market Much also de-
ponds on the nature Of the soil and careful culture
Many Of the New-Yorli hop merchants retired
growers or the sons OF growers from otsego County
one of them, who recently had his entire stock do
stroyed by fire. told Tribune reporter the other day
that the hop trade nourlslling in spite OF tho
cries Of "hard times"
"The worse times are" he said, the more beer Is
DRINK Saloons pay best when other businesses are
row. bsrtendes treat ofener 10 keep good customers
from swearing of, and those who are well of help
the needy"
The hop trade is one Of the most uncertain things
in the world. In 1882 New-YOrk dealers PAID 81 20
pound for hops and good crop has also sold for as
low as cents pound. Growers have frequently
refused to sell when the market price was at 80 cents
Hop picking begins in this State about the middle
Of September, and gives employment TO many young
women. The hops are gathered In great boxes hoiu'
ing from eight TO twelve bushels. The girls receive
about 10 cents a bushel for picking. Men are en-
ployed for the harder work OF pulling up the poles
and placing the vines where the hops can be con-
veniently reached by the women These poles aS
from eighteen to twenty feet long Of cedar or tams
rack, and come from Canada. The large boxes are
removed as occasion requires, and In few days tho
hops ere all gathered and the girls are ready for the
next farmer. From the boxes, the hops are bagged
ard taken to the kilns for curing, after which they
are packed for the market IN bales containing nom
$50 to 900 pounds.
Most Of the hops now grown in this country come
from this State and the Pacific Coast. Wisconsin was
a few years ago largo producing hop state, but ITO
sharp competition Of the Pacific Coast has dwarfed her
former annual area of 100000 acres to something
less than 5000. NewYork has suffered more or less
from the same cause, but Oneida, Chenango, otsego,
Madison scbOharie Montgomery, Franklin. Herdmer
and few othor counties OF the Empire state, when
stiu grow an immense amount Of hops, have not kept
mace with the ever Increasing demand caused by the
steady advance in the population OF the country.
The English are fond of declaring 10 outside bar
bsrians that the excelency of their beer compared
with that OF America is that We haven't got the ops
YOU know Nothing could be more absurd.
great percentage OF English beer il made of American
end German hops aud whenever this volatile product
fo,s I'm one or Of the three countries that produce
t. English beer is made Of the hops Of the country
where the crop is an average or heavy one Englisa
heor Is therefore made Of American hops some years
and German hops in other years, and hot even the
keene,t critic could tel tho difference. some English
pcn pretend 10 be able 10 distinguish certain fOIesa
dtvor but il Is merely pref JUDGE and the tight Atus
island IS eecualiy fooled A. Al Is IN the matter ~
American CHI, ese, American beef ana hundred oti@r
articles. America at present Is sending more hops ~
England than is Germany. Notwithstanding the great
adherence IN distances freight charges and Insurance.
Hops are therefore inicrcadIgoaby articles OF eAp1y
md imuort for all three countries and instances are
not few where hops imported from one country have
beou IecXpOrted when prices warranted New. lO.s
hop merchants frequently 20 TO London one year
thing as carrying Goals 10 Newcastle IN the matter VI
hops. -, -. 4, o..ooo .or.s .
pound The present price Of American h0ps j. lron
IS 10 80 cents a pound, and foreign 30 TO % cents;
The fact that Budweiser Kulmbacher. Thnringer anu
Bavaran beers are much dearer mere aa H ,bs sat
that these beers are always maze OF uerah hops, 90
hitter beerS is SO called because II contains an extra
"New hons are better than old hops rule, bve
this Is not always true, nor has SIZE anSthng 70
with the price. HOpdealers generally have on hs4
quantities Of the crops OF several years. dHu Pi'''
lower in proportion TO age ri. - ,,r,
Although Il only requires pound and half OF ,~y
pounds Of hops for osETei 9d Ses ne, used
for ale and Beer and the remaining small fracion ia
is way into hypnotic pillows yeast drug TO- ansns
the arts America sends no beer % beer LEE
countries The exports OF beer are NANNY 20 o'"'-
and Central America, the West Indies and MeAi0o'