The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-13
FARM, FIELD. GARDEN.
The Importance of Great Care
in Harvesting of Hops.
FOLLY OF PICKING THEM GREEN.
The Mammoth Bronze Turkey-German
Coach Horse-To Promote the
Digestion Of Hogs.



| and care goes for nothing If at the critical
fine the grower inadvertently destroys
/ the value OF the crop. This was done to a
very great extent by the early picking the
present year.
A number of foolish correspondents and
several country newspapers took us Sc
vere!y TO task for publishing the fact. de-
nying the truth and trying to cover the
thing up. But the fact remains, and
| many are now suffering because of their
| undue haste n harvesting, as is evidenced
/ by the variation in price for the choice
| matured hops and the green trashy stuff
| called hops. that gees a-begging at less
| than hall the price OF the best qualities.
We may as we'll settle down to the con-
| viction that qualities will tell and that no
| amount OF taking, or printing. or whist
| ling 10 keep our courage up. will enable Us
| 70 IS rule sell inferior, immature hops at
| price that can be had for the choice, ma
| tured product.
| Our own experience is in point in our
| isa3 crop. The last hop grower but one in
l the White river valley had finished pick
| Ing before We began harvesting our crop
/ o. September II. We made one sale OF
| 500 bales, or, in round numbers. 80 OO1
1 pounds out of that crop 81 % cents, net, at
| Kent Growers can take this home. each
| TO their own case, and readily tell how
much they have lost by their early pick
| Ing.
There is not only the loss in quality, but
also that of yield. Hops picked ten days
| too early, Will lose fully 80 per cent. of the
| weight what would otherwise result if al
| lowed 20 mature.
Nor is this all for the loss is carried into
| another season by the weakening OF the
| vine, from bleeding when the pole is
| taken down and cut. have seen yards that
| did not yield more than half crop from this
cause alone. In any event, whether the
harvesting IS done early or late, where the
| poles are taken down and the vine cut, the
| same should be done as high as possible;
/ OF course his is not done in the striaged
| or trellissed yards, described elsewhere.
/ and that alone is one great point in their
/ favor.
Growers almost universally deceive them
&c ives IN determining when their crop is
| ripe, BY examining individual specimens
| here and there through the yard, readily
| finding some apparently ripe.
Ii IS the mass of hops that should show
| rpehess. not selections alone, here and
l there. There - more intrinsic value de-
@
/ hop upon the vine than in the months
ipEeyous preparation for the fruitage.
| Ripe hops will be well closed at the
Iroinls; will be harsh 70 the touch and
so!id, not iiimsy and soft; will be of a
Inch golden color. or will have strong
Hinge IN that direction. Of course. the
sect viii be solid ana thoroughly matured.
1.h0ugh many OF these can be found in
tyard where the mass OF hops are unfit to
Ibe picked.
Many growers have a "hoiy horror" for
lie red" hop. as hops are called that are n
little ate IN the picking. Give ME the red
thop every time in preference TO the green,
fshd can outse!i you two to one.
4 The best crop that ever went out OF the
sWilte river valley was that o. the late Mr..
IVAN D0ren, the year his hophouse was
Harmed and he was Ge.ayed In his harvest
work seventeen days, while he was build
tinF anew.
| Orr whole product at that time was
lsh'ppcd 10 san Francisco, and when those
Hop arrived there was regular furore
lover those grand hops as rich as cream "
las one dealer expressed it to the writer
hall million dollars would not more
Than cover the loss TO the growers. and
consequently to the state at large. on &C
ltoant e the immature condition in which
The 1897 crop VAS harvested. Now will we
4 90 thls again? or rather will We take heed
4 :
The answer to this question rests with
each individual grower.
II Il Will never. no never let a wagon go,
Il on hop yard of mine, said a prominent
il bop grover to me the other day. He pro-
Ndes road running around the outside
Of the yard aad one through il. that is
] Kept open and free the year round aud the
| hops are carried TO the perm nent road.
/ las IS also used IN the spraying season.
| tits folly to cultivate where the wagons
have beaten a track. cross lots ana every
way cruising the roots. packing down the
aground and destroying the vitality of the
Il bllls III streaks All over the yard; better
iemploy two men during the picking sea-
son 10 every 100 plckers, and carry the
thops 10 the ROAD.
II the hops are trained on long poles so
'hst the vines must be cut, then by all
Imeans cut as high aS possible. Hop vines
jeai near the ground viii ''bleed' much
More than those cut high and weakcns
the hi. much more. oI course Z hill that
rs cut before the hops are thoroughly ma
I'urec and the hop roofs compara;lyely at
resi- wit' b.eCd very much more than one
That has performed the seasons work, and
Ioecome dormant. This early cutting tells
Jaeay II against the next wears crop.
Il with the str.ugcd or wire trei,is ward,
The vines are never cut az hArves, time.
/ Now Is where the tug Of war begins
II ever the plckeT~ once get the III per
Hand over YOU, then Won are elected 10
have dIrtv crop. tIrmness IA the start
Is the only salvation. i N0a,a seem - be
seed.e>s 30 impress on the growers the im-
Iforta"ce ~ clean ICkiug. 1t they viii
| aGi spend q 'ev days ia tBe sample rooms
sld see the difference made III price be-
iSeen Vcan and dirty picked hops, there
Isonlt then he no need for caution 70 have
Iuc hops packed clean. Tie Oregon grow
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