The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1899-10-26
THE HOP SITUATION
Detailed Facts of the Condition Of the
English Crop.
Oregon and New York Market--Independ
ent Information for Growers That
Should Be Carefully Studied.
Kant. Enrln Nd. ohserrer. OCT. 4

Kent Engla id Observer Oct. l.
Now that the ingatheriug of the crop
is over we may briefly sum up the re-
suits. 1t is admitted on all hands that
the yield has b. IN very heavy; and
there is little doubt that it has proved a
record crop in point of size. In our is
sue of September Z we estimated the
crop at from 100000 to $4,000 cwts.
That no doubt was a very moderate esii-
mate, but sudden and severe attack of
aphis developing a few days afterwards,
accompanied by rapid deterioration
through the long drought and hot suns
following upon wet fogs, naturally led to
the supposition that a considerable acre
age would be left unpicked, thus reduc-
ing the earlier formed estimates.
subsequently, however, the vermin
attack proved to be less general and less
severe than was at first feared, and as
time went on it wea found that, with
but comparatively few exceptions, the
hops were unaffected either by aphis,
disease or red mold. Many grounds
have since been picked which a fort
night ago it was not intended to touch,
and right down TO the end OF the month
Che ingathering proc oded. Finding the
situation had so markedly improved af-
ter our issue of the l4th, we stated on
the 2lst that the yield would probably
be as large as that of 1895. The esti.
mated growth that year was 553, 296
cwts, or an average OF 9.39 cwts. per
acre on 5S,9l0 acres.
The result OF careful and extensive
enquiries which we have been making
during the past " tx goes to show that
the total yield is likely - prove even
larger than that OF 1895. The average
per acre will, we think, turn out to be
nearer IL cwts. than 10 cwts., as was at
first estimated. The o,fcial statistics Of
the board Of agriculture will not be- is.
sued just yet, and until they are moth
ing OF a definite nature can be stated,
but we are quite prepared to back our
information against that Of the board Of
agriculture's estimators.
We believe that the average for the
extensive Mid Kent district will work
out at l6 cwts per acre, and il is the
average for the whole OF Kent, East,
Mid, and Weald, is at least 10 cwts per
acre. The Sussex crop is even heavier,
being now finally estimated at from IA
10 10 cwts per acre.
Unfortunately the 1899 crop has not
proved TO be such a good one all round
in point Of quality as was anticipated
from the results Of the first fortnight's
pickinng. Indie. ! the proportion OF dis
and diseased samples is much
larger than in the general run Of aver
age seasons, The causes that have con-
to tnis result we have already
explained.
There is no doubt that me1y pieces
have been picked which it had been
better to have left - blow away, bat
although in many instances the samples
are brown, they possess lgood brewing
quality and are distinctly worth more
than the prices which consumers are at
present paying. As TO the choice
growths the current quotations are
much below fair value, aud it is TO be
hoped that buyers, aPpreciating the
exceptionally high quality Of these fine
growths, which moreover constitute
only moderate proportion OF the crop
will shortly offer better terms.