The morning call., 1894-04-14
PRICES WILL BE LOWER
But an Increased Acreage Will
Give Greater Returns.
AN EARLY HARVEST LIKELY.
Sacramento Valley the Only Locality
That Complains About the
Outlook.

SACRAMENTO, April 13-This has been
an exceedingly mild winter and the hop
crop Interests should be very bright, but
they are not The outcome for prices this
year looks very blue. Roots were in an
unhealthy state and many thousands have
been used for replanliug OLD trees. Good
stock Is decidedly scarce.
The cause of poor roots is ascribed to
late cultivation and trimming out to
close. Conservative estimates place in
creased acreage at about 20 per cent. and
the present dry weather is detrimental to
new planting. especially those on high
ground. Dry weather at the same time
has forced root, and ground is covered
with vines at this time, giving assurances
OF an early crop.
The quantity, of course, will depend
upon the amount of rain within the next
fifteen days, and at the same time yards
living along the Sacramento River will be
helped considerably by the present high
water.
Few crops have been contracted for, but
the growers show very little disposition to
do any business at all. preferring to wait
until later in the season.
Contracts being made now are from III
cents to 10 cents, about same as at CORE
spending date for last season. There are
about 1914 bales remaining in this district
in the hands of growers.
HEALDsBURG, April 13.-The climatic
conditions of that portion Of Sonoma
County embracing Healdsburg and viciDi-
~ make it favored locality for the hop
growers. While other localities suffer
e. "a a oil fhar IN q
yearly yield of hops this locality is almost
entirely Tree from these drawbacks and
the yield is almost without exception a
good one.
AS there is no danger from frosts or
other causes they are grubbed aud pruned
during the spring, after The crop is gath
cred and the old stocks burned. then culti-
vated and poled until the crop is ready for
harvesting. Some of the growers of this
section are enthusiastic regarding what is
called ''suckering" the vines while having
them up the poles, claiming that thereby
larger and stronger hop is produced. The
majority of the growers. however. do not.
after the runners are once started up the
poles, give them any more attention. and
claim that the bloom is much stronger and
healthier for it.
The season thus far has been dry one.
and while other localities will yield a
much smaller crop than an average il
more rain is not had. the growers Of this
section claim that without rain this section
will produce fully as large yield as last
year, and many growers think much
larger yield.
II is impossible to estimate what the
probable excess in dollars and cents of
this years crop over that of last year will
be fully, but it is asserted that it will be
considerable.
UKIAHIApril 13.-While it is considered
too earl5Ain the season to predicate the
outcome VI the hop crop. the wintering of
the plants has been excellent, and all signs
point to yield equal TO that of last year.
The acreage has been increased by at least
5 per cent, and, although the yield is some
what dependent on the late rains, there is
no fear among prominent growers regard
ing he final outcome.
The average price last year was 16 cents
a pound, and at this figure abo ut $500, 600
was realized by growers. This year. with
an increased acreage, there is no fear that
this sum will be decreased, although
many growers have already disnosed of
half their contemplated crops at 10 cents
pound.
The Russian River hops are regarded as
equal to any in the market and always
command the top price.
Fifty thousand cuttings were disposed of