The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-21
WHITE RIVER HOPS.
What Valley Growers Say of the
Crop Prospect.
LICE IN ALL OF THE YARDS
Means Used to Exterminate the Pest
Indians Preferred as Pickers-
Few Contracts Made.

| the PosT-INTELLrGENCER has visited nearly
every hop yard in White river valley lying be-
tween Kent and the Duwamish. The object OF
this tour was to obtain accurate Information re-
garding the condition o! the growing crop, the
apparent danger from the ravages OF the hop
louise, the efforts being made TO destroy the pest,
and such other matters as might be gathered
| from the growers themselves of public interest.
These questions were asked OF each grower:
What is your acreage in hops? Are lice preva-
lent upon the growing vines? What is the out
look for the yield? Which is preferable in pick
| ing the crop, the labor of whites or Indians?
| Compared with this date last year is the crop
more or less advanced? Following are the an
swers in brief:
DIR. Ed w. Van de Vanter, who has thirty
| eight acres in hops, said "The lice are abun-
dant and multiplying. But for their prevalence
the prospect for a large yield was never better
at this time of year. prefer Indians as pickers.
They are better workers, more easily satisfied
| with the accommodations we are able to give
them. shall begin spraying soon, and think l
can save the crop"
| Patrick Emerson, who has twenty acres in
hops. said: "The hops have many lice, but SO
far no damage has resulted. The outlook for
the crop is good, barring the insects. Indians
take more interest in their work than most
whites, though would like white families; as
yet have had little experience with them.
j. +. MOss-I have sixteen acres in hops ana
find the lice plentiful and increasing. have
begun spraying and am satisfied that am kill
ing ninety mine of 100 with soap and water with
out kerosene. The crop is growing rapidly and
the outlook good, II we can keep the lice in
check. Iprefer Indian pickers, for they under
stand the business.
James McKinley-I have twenty acres and the
lice are plentiful. l have sprayed once with
kerosene emulsion and am now going over the
yard with a second application. think the lice
will win. Prefer Indians.
F. McNatt-In my twenty acres we find few
lice, but they are doing no damage yet / am
spraying with an emulsion of kerosene and
whale oil soap. Shall have good crop If the
lice are prevented from destroying 1t. Indians
are thorough in their work. They never quit
while there is anything to do. The crop is con-
siderably more advanced than last year at this
time.
John Prentiss-In my fifteen acres there are
few lice, but 1 am spraying with the kerosene
emulsion. The crop will be good if unmolested
by the pest. Outlook for crop still good. More
advanced than last year. Indian pickers pre-
ferred.
J. H. Rengstorff-I have nine acoes and there
are but few lice. / have stripped the leaves
from the lower portion of the vines for six feet
but have done no spraying. The hops are grow
ing finely; better growth than last year at this
time Indians will pick more hops per day, the
season through, than whites. They do more
thorough work with less grumbling. have
tried both kinds of labor. The outlook is good
for big crop. expect to get one and one-half
tons per acre unless the pest multiplies unex-
pectedly Crop further advanced than at this
time in 1890
Mr.. Page and Mr.. Fountain, seventeen acres
each, near Mr.. Rengstorff, were not seen. Their
yards bore the same general appearance that
OF Mr. RS
Martin Nelson-seven acres Few lice; 1 have
A1v
prospect good. think picking will begin earlier
than last year. prefer Indian pickers
J. Dwyer-Eight acres. Many lice. Shall
have an excellent crop if let alone by the YER
min. Have done no spraying. Season early
Indians do the best work. They pick more
thoroughly and need less attention.
p. G. Hayes-Forty- three acres. The outside
rows of hops are badly infested with lice. They
are more numerous than on the LIST of August
last year. The larger ones are at the top OF the
vines summing themselves like alligators. Have
done no spraying yet, but am prepared TO begin
soon. Interior of fields less infested. My adj
vice to growers Is to drench the six outside
rows of their yards, and to take a hand barrel
and sprayer to all the inside; also TO cut the
arms from infested vines and destroy them
This will tend to prevent the pest from spread
ing to q considerable extent generally en-
ploy white pickers far as possible STILL as
general thing, Indians pick more and cleaner.
II the season Is wet, as is sometimes the case
toward the close, the Indians hold out better
They get to work earlier in the foggy mornings.
The vines are growing rapidly now.
William Cochrane-Sixteen acres. Hops are
looking fine. Lice are numerous, and am feel
ing very blue over the situation. don't expect
one-half crop. If the lice increase as rapidly
from this time on as they have during the last
two weeks, there will be no crop at all. do
not find the whale oil soap and kerosene to mix
as thoroughly as l would like
l. j. Sharkey-Twelve acres. Hop louise bad,
very bad. l have done no spraying yet Nv
brother has attempted il with poor success /
can tell what the outcome will be- The vines
look well yet and are growing as well as we gen
orally see them. Indians are the best picIers
for they always come fully prepared. / would
prefer white families, though, If they would
come prepared to help themselves and not de.
pend too much upon us.
Mrs Orange Jacobs-The pest is not numer
Gus yet The crop is looking fairly. l prefer
Indian pickers They are more accustomed to
roughing it, and take things az they find them.
r. Harn-Twelve acres Lots of lice. / have
been spraying for over month. Spraying is a
great success. i am sure can beat the pests
believe in starting in on them early before the
foliage gets too dense. The expense may be a
little more, but if the crop can be saved the out
lay is trifing matter. The outlook for good
crop in my yard was never better. Indians are
ana "kiek" less.
g. W. Hedgss-Forty acres. Lice plentiful
and increasing am spraying with the quassia
bark decoetion and whale oil soap. The pros
pect for successfully combating the pest is
good. II we can prevent the rayages of the in
sect the outlook for good crop is excellent |
prefer Indian pickers for all sorts OF weather 1
have already arranged for 40 of them, and shall
engage more. Season in advance of last year
John W. Neely-Ten sores Yard is infested
by lice more or less. Not interviewed.
F. J. Jacobus-Fiiteen acres. find few hop
lice, but do not think they are going 10 dam
age my crop much. have always employed In
dams.
4. Wsshburn-Yes, / find the pest among nv
hops, but no one can yet tell whether or not
they are liable 10 do any great damage. Indians
are the best pickers. They cause the grower
less trouble than whites.
Michael . Brien-Thrteen acres. Hop louxe
Plentiful and increasing. / have done no spray
ing Crop looks well and is ahead of last year a,
this time. Indian pickers are less trouble than
white
Mr.. Cummings-Four and one-hslf acres I
am not spraying, but the vines are infested. /
prefer white families / want neither single
men nor Indians
Martin o Bren-Ten acres Very few lice in
my yard. employ Indians, for, like most other
growers, 1 find them more thorough in their
work, more reliable and less trouble.
W. A. Ystes-Twenty acres. Very little fear
OF the pest yet. find but few lice so far The
outlook for the crop is excellent. Indians pick
faster than whites, do their work better and
don't mind the wet or cold mornings
K. 0Connell-Eight acres. You cannot stick
pin in q hop leaf without puncturing hon
louise. do not expect to get ton of first-class