The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-18
RAPID GROWTH OF HOPS.
Ahe Lice Kept in subjection-The Use o
Grease in BaIiur.

PuYALLuP, July 16.1[speciaI. I'VE have had
sooo weather the past week for the rapid
CROWN Oh hops, there being alternate sun and
rain, with warm but not oppressive tempera-
'u.e. seventy one roller sprayers have been
soid AID the verdict from every one tried is that
'hey 10 euective work. c. o. Bean has had the
pas. week three new lengths of pipes put on
nlgher and one diagonally across, so as to reach
higher and the arms better
4. Y. Merrill anticipates far better crop from
MS yards In Oregon than he will receive from
MS yards here, due prob ,bly to the custom in
oregon OF not cutting the vines until late in the
iaii or In the spring time. There being lack
vi umDer, cedar is usef, and the poles are only
nine feet high and twine is stretched from pole
10 pole upon which the hops Irvine after filing
the pole. At picking time the cord is cut and
she hops pulled down and picked, the vine
Oelng left uucut Mr.. Merrill, in common
Win many Others last year in the Puyallup val
ley, picked his yard here little too early,
which very likely Is the reason of there being
no better outlook for good crop this year. j.
r. stewart, whose yard is ON or very near the
river, in light sandy soil, and therefore ripens
before anyone's else here, finds his yard look ing
fine, and he expects nearly If not quite a full
crop this year, although for the two preceding
years ne did not spray at all, but picked his
hops as soon as possible, dscarding all diseased
Ones Still, last year, by this method, his hops
were not frst-class and not of full quantity, 50
BIOS, who have taken good care of it, and seem
TO have brought the yard up to its old standing
simply by good treatment. This could not be
uone with all yards by any means, much is
due to the different soils and locations. Mr..
Merrill in short trip through the hop district
In Washington found in some localities the
yards looking poorly; the vines not arming out
as eyshould, but keeping close to the pole.
A few yards were looking fine, notably those be-
longing to the Puyallup Hop Company az Kent.
The Puyallup Hardware Company have re-
ceived the largest shipment OF sheetiron ever
brought to Puyallup. This is for the manu-
facture of hop pipe to be put into the additional
new hop kilns being erected this summer by
means OF which the crop may be cured just
when 1t is at the right stage of maturity.
G. W. Stewart says all thea roller sprayers are
doing good work in discriminating the lice, and
only full crop of hops will be harvested this
summer from the yards situated in light, sandy
soil where they ripened early last fall and were
not injured by too early picking. This fact
should be kept we'll in mind by the grower this
fall at picking time, as 1t seems to be well
established fact among all our growers that the
early picking Injuries the plant more than the
lice do.
E. Meeker & Co.'S quassia chips works shut
down last night, the logs having been all re-
duced to chips. This firm has sold over 10000
pounds OF chips. L. c. Merrill has sold thirteen
tons of quassia and sixteen or seventeen tons of
whale Oil soap. Z. C.. Merrill will commence
spraying with a roller sprayer tomorrow, not
having been able to secure his before. He will
spray both his and Mr.. McLaughlIn's yard, keep
ing it up until the blossoms appear, which will
perhaps be in a week. He will then discontinue,
for time at least but If the lice trouble too
much he will prune out sufficiently to allow
the horse to get through and still keep spraying.
The presence OF the grease upon the inside of
the bsling cloth of baled hops spoken of by L.
Meeker in his circular, is due TO the difficulty
OF working the hop press. The cover of the
hops while pressing fits the press very snugIy,
and the pollen of the hops when distributed and
collected forms very adhesive substance aud
makes IL difficult matter to crowd this cover
down in the press. Some of the Oregon growers
grease the sides of the press with any oil or
grease which is handiest or cheapest, usually
dogfsh oil. This practice usually overcomes
the difficulty in a degree, but to the detrimeut
of the aroma and flavor OF the hops, as all will
understand and appreciate who have eves
visited a siwash camp This aroma and flavor
the Londoner seriously objects to. so
much so that he refuses to buy. 1t
is not thought that the Washington
growers resort to such practices, but ii
they have such a desire let them be
warned that one large firm at least who
bought largely in Oregon last year will refuse TO
buy hops treated in such a manner, or if they
buy will deduct enough from the price paid 10
enable them to Tebale them, shaving oil the parts
impregnated with the oil or grease
Phil Neis, OF California, an Old hop buyer. is
in Puyaliup, as is also julius Pincus, OF Ia
coma Several hop contracts have already been
made at from II 10 Is cents per pound Some
buyers are simply advancing money upon the
hop, without contracting.
A preparation was sent e. Meeker & Co from
New York made of tobacco, which was tried,
l-50 of pound OF the preparation being used 10
two gallons of water This would make it ofthe
Same power rs The usual emulsion of quassIa
and whale oil soap, and it was not very effective,
killing a part OF the lice. but not all.
The streets of Puyallup are deserted OF hop
growers. They come i'll to get their supplies,
but do no: stay any longer than necessary as all
are busy doing their Test 10 save their crops.
John Boalman was in town few moments this
morning and he reports his crop looking nice.