The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-17


wood and water handy just outside. Be-
side this building there are q number of
temporary buildings, and hop plckers are
seen everywhere, in every nook and cor
ner. with their camping outfits. They
had had a smallpox scare the morning we
arrived, and the expedition and manner
of packing outfits and getting off the
ranch was a sight. Even q few white
pickers left. The Indians. when we rode
past, were all sitting on the edge of
the steep bank of the river, ready
at a moments notice to tumble over into
their canoes. which were tied just below
them, cut the ropes and paddle for home.
We took pity on them and did not even
whisper smallpox, so they sat content
eddy, dreaming, smoking, knitting, etc.
The foreman had two physicians out, but
there was no smallpox there.
Other yards were visited and some very
bad hops found. Mr.. Meeker when asked
how many acres of hops the PuyaIiup Hop
Company owned at Kent, replied:
One hundred and thirty-eight acres on the
river. began to raise hops twenty-seven years
ago. set out my first hops in 1865, but set
them In a marshy place and they did not do
WELL From the upper yard of sixty-six acres
we will pick about 1900 boxes, and from all
about 0,000, which is not a full yield, being
only about 25O, coo pounds. 1t will take $4,000
to harvest the crop In Washington there are
about 700 growers and about the same number
in Oregon, but there is q less acreage in Oregon.
When asked how much the lower yard
would yield, he replied that some of it
would go $500 pounds to the acre. At this
yard there is group of eight kilns. When
asked his opinion in regard to length of
of poles, etc., he answered that he would
cut them eleven feet, and put no pins in,
but nail at the top and twine. At pick
ing time he would cut the Irvine and the
hops would fall down 80 that they could
be easily picked and the poles left stand
ing until they rotted, when they could be
resharpened and set again. When asked
how he would manage to fertlize the
ground with the standing poles, he said
he would have ground that does not need
fertilizing. When asked his estimate of
the crop. he said he thought it would be
only half a crop-20. 600 bales-and not all
of them would be strictly choice. When
asked in regard to his opinion OF the price,
he said that he believed it would be low,
although no one would believe him, think
ing it was to his advantage to let such a
story go out; but he really did think the
price would be low, except for the few
strictly choice hops which would be
raised. They, of course, would bring a
good price.
NJ. ]. Meeker writes from California the
crop there will be 10000 to- 5, 900 bales,
and the German will be about the same as
last year and the English crop 1000 bales
more than last year. New York state is
falling 10000 bales short of last year.
In the lower yard Mr.. Meeker showed
his pit scheme of only one vine being left
to hill and it was perfectly successful,
tee vine near the root having fine, large,
smooth growth. AS for the yield, Mr..
Meeker said 8. 500 pounds to the acre is
what part of the yard would go. Mr.
Meeker does not think now that he will
begin picking before next Monday, be-
cause he wishes to cure strictly choice
hops for the London market, and this can
only be done by allowing the hops to
properly mature. Mr.. Meeker also says
that spraying can be successfully done
both before and after the blooming time,
but not on the bloom.
The state board of horticulture is in
quandary in regard to the yards this fall,
seeing the growers do not want to clean
and burn immediately. President BUGGY
says that his letter of instructions was
sent out in accord with Prot. RiIey's adj
vice, and that for centuries hops have been
cut and no harm has come to them, and
he cannot see why it should now. If the
grower is allowed this fall 10 use an emui-
sion instead of cutting the vines clean and
burning the law can be easily evaded.
whereas if the vines are burned it is very
easily discernabIe.