The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-03
THE HOP PEST.

a AZ r.
The hop pest, which made its first appear
ance in this state last year, is here again
and threatens to very seriously limit the
crop now being harvested. In the coun-
ties of King and Pierce there are few
yards which are not to a greater or less ex-
tent affected, but in most OF them the
damage will be light. In a few instances
the yards will have TO be abandoned, but
they are very few and the average loss will
not probably exceed per cent. The pest
is a small green insect about the size OF
flea and is called the "hop louise" 1t APP
pears first in large numbers on the under
side of the leaves of the hop vine and soon
attacks the blossom, which it bores through
in few hours, giving the inside the ap-
pearance of miIdew while the exterior
often retains its perfect form.
Where this pest comes from or by what
means il IS propagated the hop farmers
are unable to answer. There are of course
many theories but none that is more than
a guess. For twenty-five years the hop
vine has been cultivated here on large
scale and until now it has been entirely
exempt from disease. The "iouse" is well
known in Europe and in the East, where
it is always more or less prevalent. In
Germany it is successfully resisted, but in
the Eastern states infected yards are cut
down to the roots and no effort made to
reclaim them. Our farmers have followed
the European method and have attempted
to destroy the pest by spraying the infected
vines, but so suddenly has the pest ap-
peared that it has been impossible to do
the work thoroughly. The most system
attic attempt of this soft has been at the
'upper yard" of Meeker 81 Co. at Kent, in
this county, and in all this yard of sixty
seven acres there was not, on Tuesday,
when representative of the PosT-INTEL-
LeEScER visited it. an infected vine to be
found. In the ''lower yard" mile dis
tant. where the spraying has been less
systematic, very considerable proportion
of the vines were infected.
This would indicate that the pest can be
beaten off by spraying, but this is process
which adds appreciably to the cost of hop
farming. 1t is too soon TO have determined
just how expensive it is. but it is estimated
by the superintendent of the Meeker
yards that systematic and thorough spray
Ing will add from one-half to three-quarters
of a cent per pound to the cost Of produc-
ing hops. II this estimate is not too low,
and 1t is probably above rather than be-
low the mark. there Is no need for hop
growers To despair, even If il be assumed
that the louise is 10 be regular annual
visitor.
Hop growing has become ore of our
large productive industries. IL brings
each year something like two and q quar-
ter millions Of dollars into the state. and
in special seasons, ike that 81 isst year,
double that sum. In the regular labor Of
the hop fields from three to tive thousand
persons ind employment throughout the
year, and during the picking season--from
four to SIX weeks in the autumn-futly
fifteen Thousand persons are employed.
The benefits Of this great industry are
widely dIffused-perhaps more 50 than any
other in the state. IL is TO Western
Washington what the wheat crop is to
Eastern Westinghouse, in fact, the great
staple crop of this region.
But while this is true. the hop interest
is by no means necessary to the prosperity
of our farmers. 1t occupies soil which
might be devoted TO other crops and posi-
bly, with greater advantage. II is freely
maintained even in the hop districts OF
the White and Puyallup valleys that If the
lands and labor now given up TO the
hop were devoted to diversified farming
to dairying, small fruits and vegetables
the country would ne better on. This is
questionable, but It goes TO show the in
dependent position of the hop farmer. II
the louise should take his hops it must
leave him his fields, and the land can be
turned to immediate account in a halt
dozen profitable ways.
There is no occasion for serious alarm.
II is not certain that the hop pest is to he
a regular annual visitor: it is fairly well
demonstrated that it can be successfully
combatted, and, if worst comes 10 the
worst, the farmer can fall back on onions,
potatoes. small fruits and darying