The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-08
TO THE HOP GROWER.
Plain Talk on the Situation
From a Practical Man.
HOLD FOR ooooPRicEs.HE SAYS
James Hart. of Slaughter, Addresses an
Earnest Appeal to the Raisers to
Protect Their Interests.

The following earnest letter from James Hart,
of Slaughter, is addressed "To the Hop Growers
of King County," and contains much pertinent
advice:
You are now In the midst of picking, and for
the next few days will be doing all possible to
have the crop harvested and dried Many will
also have them baled Immediately. every
grower should whose hops are properly cured.
And here let me suggest that when baiirg try
this plan: Get piece of hop cloth AMI let it BIO
folded double; let it be two inches longer and
two inches wider than the inside OF your press,
and when you put your hops in place the cloth
on tn top and press the hops down with the
cloth on the top. 1t will prevent the breaking
ard Smelling and will turn out your bale III
much better condition than the old way. Hops
OF good quality should he whole or nearly as
possible. OF good color, silky and springy. Such
a description OF hops this year will, SO far as
human intellect can discern. bring very high
price.
1t is specially on this item that address you.
From the conversation have had personally
with many OF you, no person seems to know
what is the price Of hops. All are agreed "thcy
will be high,' but none appear to know what
pocket" of English hops 1892 season mas been
sold in London and realized about Is cents u
pound The English crop now we know ia only
half crop and will leave them about $4,000 of
our bales short the German crop will be short
10 per cent; Oregon Is 1000 bales short; New
York Is short 20 900 bales and this state will be
not less than 10000 short.
The entire crop of the United States last year
was only 2l5.0O0, and out of these 10000 bales
were exported. leaving only about l45,O bales
here tor United States consumption.
We are often told that England does not like
United States hops. Farmers, this is directly
the opposite of the truth, and the increase IN
the exports prove it. For the year ending June
80. 1891, 1854 bales of hops wers shipped to
England. and for the year ending June 80, 1892.
20. OBS bales were exported, and this proves the
lie so often used by those who desire to mislead
you. Further than that. the hops imported to
the United States for the year ending June 30,
1892, was almost 700 600 pounds less than in 1891
This proves further. to-wit, that they are also
more extensively used here than formerly
During the past two months first-class hops
have been selling in London at IS cents pound,
which shows that they ought to have sold here
ats cents.
The present 1892 crop in New York has just
been harvested, and James +. Clark. of Coopers-
town. the largest grower in New York (having
$50 acres). has been offered % cents for half his
crop, which he has refused, and sales have been
made at 80 cents. These facts should enable our
growers to place some fair market value now
on their crop. and unless the growers rush into
the market and glut the same, there is no APP
parent reason on earth, with the great scarcity
OF hops. why 40 cents pound should not be the
price within two months.
You have the game in your own hands!
Stocks are exhausted; there IL no reserve fund
to draw on; hops can not be made by machin-
cry from fir stumps; the brewers must buy your
crop: they can not do withoutit. The hop ex-
tract that we heard of last year so often is by
this time sold out, brewed and drunk, aud some
other ''bugaboo' must be created to make you
upon your price or hold them and if you would
only consult one another often before selling
and meet twice week at some established
place and make all sales known to your fellow
farmers, then il would place all OF you in pos
session of actual facts that would amply repay
you for all your time and iabors. Learn a lesson
out OF the books OF all corporations. When there
Is a scarcity OF the article comoine and keep up
the prices. Manipulate your sales slowly
that nobody else can get hold OF your stocks and
cut your own Threats. Don't send scores OF sam
and uEslh Pax hati loo
you all starving for sale" but if anybody
wants your hops tell him your quantity and
price Leave the buyer to say If the quality
suits him; If 1t does not The first time, raise it
cent every time buyer comes along aud you
will soon cure them OF waiting.
The state department of Washington has al
reai y issued circulars requiring all growers,
Immediately the picking has been done, to burn
up the old vines aud thus rid the yards of all
vermin there may be in thom. This should be
strictly attended TO by every grower.
This season has proved beyond q doubt that
by constant spraying and proper cultivation
that good hops can he raised in this county. The
districts oi Green river aud Muckleshoot prove
il. and there being every prospect OF good prices
again next year should be a strong incentive to
every grower TO start in early next spring TO
spray, and keep 1t up until the hops are we'll ad.
yauccd.
To neglect this means failure of crop and a
failure to get biz prices and large profits Don't
contract your hops next spring except at large
prices. IL is always better to nave your goods
in the bale and for sale than any other way
Then the question of quality is easily settled.
and there is no disputinc and litigation
The New England HOMESTEAD IS trying to get
authentic Information 10 this seasons crop
Tor publication. so that every farmer interested
may know the state OF the same, and if any
grower VIII furnish me with the information de.
sired will see that il is duly forwarded and
such information will be- valuable TO every
grower
III past years you have been msled for want
of information, and trust YOU will this season
81 unite IN the matter that you may all obtain
Just and proper prices Tor your hard-eaencd
crop am, gentlemen, yours very truly,
JAMES HART.
Slaughter, King county, Wash. September 6.
iSq1
The following note will also be Of great inter-
est to hopmeu:
fUYAlLUr, sept 6-Thc state board Of horti-
culture will visit The hop yards OF the Puyallup
Hop company, al Kent. on next Saturday,, and
Ezra NJ. MeeXer invites any aud all persons de-
strous of witnessing the effect that spraying has
upon yard To meet him AZ these yards at Kent
on saturday next, as these yards almost sb-
solutely free oi ysr min.