The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-04-18
News and Observer

News and Observer
For several years hop growers in
the North have been convinced that
the South is better adapted for hop
growing than any other section Of tne
country. They have had their atten
ton especially attracted to North Car
olina. Mr.. A. L. Jones, editor of the
Hop Gro10eys' Journal, Hamilton, N.
Y, was among the first to become
of this fact and publish it
to the world. SO strongly convinced
was he that hop growing could be
conducted in this section
that he made several visits 10 the State
for the purpose of making lnvestiga-
tions in regard to our climate, soil and
labor. The result of his Investigations
proved entirely satisfactory and he
sold his paper in New York and has
now moved to this State for the pur-
pose of engaging in hop growing. He
arrived in Raleigh last week and was
seen by reporter yesterday.
"rhough the matter has been agi-
tated in the papers of the State very
little," he said, "you would be sur
prised to know how many people
throughout the State are interested in
hop growing. have recently received
over 100 letters requesting information
in regard to the kind of soil best
suited to hops, manner of cultivation
and curing, yield per acre, &c. And
the object of my visit now Is to meet
those who are interested in the subject
Of hop culture and arrange for expert
mental planting in various sections OF
the State. | have been in cOrrespOn-
dence with the agricultural depart
ment for some time in regard to this
matter and they have been expecting
me here for year, but owing 10 busl-
ness complications at my home IN
New York 1 was unable to get here
earlier"
"Has the experiment of hop grow
ing in this State ever been tried?"
"Oh yes, and the result has been
satisfactory beyond anything l ex-
pected. | secured the planting of
three small yards, making a total of
about eight acres, in Richmond county
in the autumn of 1898, the first year
| came to North Carolina. The result
was satisfactory, both as to the quanti-
ty and quality of the hop produced.
The yards are to-day in most flour
ishins condition, and l shall ,omor
row 60 down to Rockingham to give
the owners some further instructions
as to cultivation and curing of the
hops. The cured product that they
have sent up to me thus far was of a:
fine quality as we can raise in New
York, Notwithstanding the fact that
thew have as yet erected no curing
house.
81 dol suppose hops can be grown
| in all parts Of the State by any means
but | think there are points in TIT
middle section of North Carolina tna
are we'll adapted to hop culture and
desire to make experimental planting
in different parts of the State IN CO
operation with others who are interest
ed in the subject.
"Hops vary in the market from five
cents to $3.50 a pound, depending o
course, on the production in dlfteren
parts of the world as we'll as on in
quality of the marketable product.
alt is undoubtedly true that hops cal
be produced here at much less cos
than in New York"
"To what do you attribute th'
fact?'
"Your lands and labor are muc
cheaper here than with us in Ne
York. There it costs us an averag
of $40 all acre to pole the yarc
here it can be done for $50, or abo'
one-flth of what it costs in New Yorl
and the farm labor here costs abo'
one half what it costs with US. Lun
Der for building kilns and barns
also much cheaper here. Indeed,
know of no single item that does NJ
) cost less here than with US in Ne
York. | have brought hop roo
with me, and as soon as the grour
), can be prepared paintings will
!, made in central and northern parts
), the State. | had hoped to bril-
enough to plant several hundred acre
d but roots are scarce. These plantln
e will be made for the purpose Of {
e termining the section best adapt'
n to hog growing.
y "The yield cannot yet be determine
5, You will sometimes get 500 pounds
y an acre and sometimes a ton.
course what it will be in North Caro-
A ma is as yet problematical. Acco
|. ing to government statistics the avera
y is only about 500 pounds to the &C
but with us the man who can grow
more than that is bad hop gro"
and had better go out OF the bu
ness
"Will you make your home
North Carolina?'
r "Yes, my purpose is to establ
y myself in the section I decide TO
= best tor hop growing and gait
Z about me all the hop growers /
! get from the North. Many are al
ious to come South and if | succs
here there will be no trouble in gett'
|. them. | am accompanied now by
9 w. Foster, a regular hop farmer, y
will also make North Carolina
, home.