The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-11-30
HOP INTELLIGENCE.
A Pacific Hop Growers Convention
to Organize for Mutual Interests.

The advisability of a convention of
Pacific coast hop growers is set forth
in the American AgriculturiSt by
James Hart, of King county. The
Agriculturist suggests Sacramento as
the place and January Sth as the date
for the proposed convention: Mr..
Hart says:
Either we must find the cause of
present low prices and apply the rem
edy, or in short time growers will
not own their farms. 1t seems to me
certain that there is first, an over
productions; second, the funds of the
farmers were very limited and they
were Gas a body compelled to sell to
repay the amount borrowed for har-
vesting; third, brewers have reduced
the quantity. of hops per barrel, so as
to keep the demand within the limit
of the average production of former
years, and doubt not but sub
stitutes are used for any deficiency.
Acreage is so largely increased on
the Pacific coast that instead of rails
ing about 100000 bales, the United
States next year is likely to produce
not less than 100000 bales. What
will be done with them? The demand
does not require more than 22o,0OO
| bales. and if we have $4,000 bales eX-
cess for sale Ito which must be added
| the quantity in stock). it seems to me
that the hop industry is fast pursuing
the wild idea of our grain raisers
| that is, to grow all you can, market
or no market, and the result will GER
| tainly be the same-ruin.
| Now is the time when growers have
some spare time and l think a con-
ference of representative hop growers,
| held early in January. at some central
point, where the Pacific coast growers
could meet and discuss this matter in
q business-like manner might save
them Thousands of dollars next year.
Let every district in every county call
a meeting. discuss the subject and
| for. say every Twenty-Five growers,
elect one delegate. Let him go pre-
pared with all the data of his dis
trict, number OF growers, area i'll cul-
tiyation, number of bales for each
past three years, number of bales
raised not gathered, prices paid each
year, cost of production, etc. Great
good would result in practical way.
and it would lead to free exchange
of information in the growing season
and at harvest time.
| I1lo uOp SNCl
sees a week of more extensive buying
than the one just past. The one i'm
portant sale, which materially sWells
the sum total, is the James f. Clark
growth of Ills bales bought by
Hunter & Lamy for 10 cents. But in
addition to this lot, from 220O to 24o0
bales have been picked up by local
dehldrs. The exact number cannot
be given, for one of the most eXten-
sive operators this week, is the one
dealer in town who does not report
| his transactions to the press. His
purchases are. however. variously es-
| timated at from 100 to 1000 bales.
The sale of the Mortimer-Wedder-
spoon growth of 12O bales. is attract
ing even more attention than the sale
Eof the Clark lot. The price is not
made public. but it is generally
agreed to be IL or 121a cents, with the
oreponderance of opinion in favor OF
the latter figure. The lot was an
| extremely fine sample, hard to match
anywhere in the country. Samples
Ire being brought in freely. and de-
sirable lots are being rapidly picked
| up.-Otsego Republican.