Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-04-26
MORE ON HOP CULTURE.


Col W. S. Herndon of Tyler, Tex, writes
that he has read with much interest our
various articles on hop culture for Texas
Fully impressed with the conviction that
hops ought to be real paying crop in our
state, he last year made a careful eXamina-
ton into hop culture on the Pacific slope,
and particularly in the states of Oregon
and Washington. Returning, he contri-
butcd to the Tyler Democrat and Reporter
an article setting forth the result of his in
designations, and it seems TO have had
good effect. Many persons have sent off
orders for hop sets with a view TO planting,
which they can do successfully on TO May.
He himself has 800 plants set this season,
all doing well. The plants cost cent each,
10 which may be added half a cent each as
eXprcsSage from California. The planters
of his region are obtaining their sets from
W. ". Thatcher. Sanel postofice, near
Hopland station. Cal. For the special
benefit of people living in this immediate
vicinity we may state that the Texas Brew
ing company at Fort Worth has proposed 10
supply or procure hop SETS for all persons
applying to them with the desire of testing
the crop in the regions directly tributary 10
this place. Their great brewery must have
hops, and it is their policy to encourage
home industries to the full extent of their
ability. 1t is now getting pretty late in the
season for starting hop plantation, though
we think that for this latitude the thing
might be safely trusted on to the latter part
OF May
Ill his article TO the Democrat and Re-
porter, which We happen to have before US,
Col. Herndon says the hops is staple pro-
duct in Oregon and Washington. The gross
average product per acre there is about
1000 pounds when prepared for market, or
ten bales. The hops are gathered, dried
and pressed into bales of 2G0 pounds each,
and are then ready for use. The cost of
production and fitting for market is Sd
cents per pound. In 1890 the price averaged
say at Portland, Tacoma and Seattle, II
cents per pound.
An average acre 1000 at IL cents. SEQ GO
Less the cost of production and get
ting ready for market. ........... 40 90
Leaving net per acre. $3.50 90
The crop of the state of Washington for
1890 was 5000 bales, or 100000 pounds.
This, say at 40 cents per pound, brought
gross 3, GO, GEO. The demand was strong
and nearly the entire crop was exported to
Europe.
There is but small area of land adapted
to the culture OF hops in Oregon and Wash
ington, and these lsnds now sell at from
500 to $500 per acre. A sandy loan soil
that drains well IS regarded as best suited
to the hop crop. At the preparation the
ground is well plowed and then checked off
in rows from six to ten feet each way, ac-
cordingly as the land is rich or poor. The
plants are grown either from seed or from
shoots or rootings taken from the old
stocks. In case of roots they are set from
three to six inches deep ii very loose soil,
the dirt being slightly packed around them
one to three plants in each check; one if
the land is rather poor, three if rich.
The first year the vines are not poled. be-
ing allowed to run on the ground. They
must be well plowed and kept clear of weeds
and grass. The second year poles from ten
to sixteen feet long must be set to each HILL
and the vines trained around them. In this
second year a good crop will be produced.
1t is the pods on the vines that contain the
hop substance; these can be gathered by
means of a step-Iadder, though some cut the
vine OFF at the ground and pull it down to
get at the fruit. The cost of picking is
cent pound and the average hand will
pick POO pounds OF ripe hops per day. Soon
as picked the hops are taken TO drying
house and put Oh u wire floor and heat $50
degrees Fahrenheit applied twelve hours.
They are then allowed to cool, after which
they are put in sacks of 200 pounds each
They are now ready for market.
The hop planted in April bears some fruit
the first season, but not much. The second
season, as already stated, gives good crop
which natures in September. The roots
are perennial, and once set continue to
bear fifteen or twenty years without re-
setting.
The best hops of commerce are grown in
Bavaria, Europe, where they are dried in
the sun. The dry air Of q Texas fall may
enable US to dry them in the sun here, and
if SO, we can save from one and one-half to
two cents on the pound over the dry-house
method. The two most popular varieties
on the Pacific slope are known respectively
as the Russian river and the English cluster.
Why not grow hops successfully in East
Texas asks Col. Herndou. We have ex-
actly the soil needed-rich sandy loan, well
drained in creek bottoms valleys and on
hillsides-soil eminently adapted TO the
needs of all other vines. Why not as well
suited to the hop? The climate is about the
same as il Bavaria. Hops grow well in
lower Georgia, and We have about the same
climate as prevails there. What we can 90
on oU' lands and in our climate cannot be
fully known until full tests have been made