The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1897-06-24
THE FUTURE OF THE HOP
Heavy Productions and Extracts Makes
The Business Somewhat PreCafiouS.
GREAT NATIONAL DEBT or TURKEY
Disaster to thc "Sick Man" Would
Produce Another FInancia shock.
Our Ancestors Were Greatly Op.
posed TO Water Drinking.

producers that an overproduction of hops
is very easy thing to bring about. This
will always make the industry rather
uncertain, as the desire to produce and
sell will usually keep the output very
near the danger line of over-supply. 1t
is certainly not an industry for any one
to newly enter upon unless in some spot
So favorably situated as to be independ,
ent of all competition. At present we
hear of no new plantations in America or
Europe. The thing which now concerns
hop growers is whether more hops are
likely to be this year produced than the
fairly clean market which the new crop
will probably find can profitably absorb
American hop growers control the mar
ket of this country. A small quantity OF
German hops are annually imported for
sentimental reasons by few German
brewers, but they cut no great figure
selling as they must at about double the
price OF good Americans. BY far our
most important foreign market 10 Great
Britain, where We are in competition moi
only with home grown goods, but those
from Continental Europe. American
hops stand well in that market and Pa.
citcs command the highest price, which
always means they are the least used
AT the present time Pacifcs are scarce in
England and prices high, with the result
Of little or no trade.
One thing which is beginning to affect
the hop trade is the manufacture OF ex.
tracts, which, when Theoretically sealed,
will keep for years. This will enable
brewers to stock up in times of low
prices, and be comparatively independ.
ent when prices are high. When hops
reached their lowest point all brewers
bought heavily and many are now entire.
ly Independent Of markets and will not
buy until the new crop comes in. How
much of this there is is not known, bu,
there may be such stocks in brewers
hands that the market will not be clean
ed up when the new crop is ready. Tn,
hard times affect England as we'll as 9th
er countries, and among the evidences i,
the tact that in 1896 there were 200 900
less barrels Of beer made than in the veal
before.
The European and Eastern hop croy
is not yet sufficiently advanced to enabl,
the character of the crop to be judged
but all reports arc favorable. We ar,
satisfied that the acreage of well.tendeC
hops will be larger than last year.
also seems to be true that the increased
prices for hops are tending to induce
larger use OF substitutes, although per
haps barley is a greater sufferer thar
hops from this practice. The facts as Il,
this are difficult to obtain. In England
the general use of substitutes both TO
barley and hops is stoutly asserted b,
the agricultural interest, and Parlia
mentory committee has been investigat
ing the subject for months, apparent,
with little result.
| taxing all these matters into consider
alton, as they appear to us now, includ
ing the fact that some speculative tradinj
indicates confidence on the part of SOM
who should be well informed, it appear
to us that the coming hop crop can b.
moved quite promptly at moderately low
prices, but yet paying some profit. an'
that if so growers will be wise to let tn
other fellow have chance to max,
something on his purchase il he can. Blu
We see no reason why they should no
bring tar prices as things 20.