The record-union., 1899-09-22
of red mold in some gardens. If not
gathered quickly they will not be worth

of red mold in some gardens. If not
gathered quickly they will not be worth
picking.
(Chfsiet.)
There is an exceptionally good crop
in this parish, the yield being estimated
at from IL to II cwt. per acre, and the
quality is first rate.
! (Faversham District)
| Nearly all the growers in this neigh
borhood have commenced picking, some
as early as Thursday in last week. ]
am afraid the opinions you have often
expressed as to a large crop will not
be fulfilled.
| (Frittenden Weald.)
| Although in some grounds the hopS
are rather small, the dry. hot weather
having prevented their growing out TO
their proper size, the yield is heavy,
and on the whole there is very little
disease. The Fuggles are very sound
lot and of high quality. There is some
fear that a considerable proportion OF
the later sorts will go off before they
can be picked, but since the rains they
are found to be keeping better. Inc
growth is much in excess of the aver
| age.
| (Ickham and Wickham.)
The hops have come on very fast
during the last few days, and the
grounds in this district are quite a
| picture. Our chief concern now is II
they will hang and keep sound until
| they are all picked Some have COM
menced picking, and it will be quite
general by the end of the week
| (Rochester and Chatham District)
| Hops having ripened very fast great
exertions are being made to get them
down before they go off. An enormous
number of pickers is employed. The
crop is the heaviest ever known in the
district, and the quality of the hops is
excellent.
(Sittingbourne District)
| 1t is many years since this district
had such a heavy crop as it has got
this season, and rarely has the quality
been equal to that shown by the SAM
pies that have been drawn. The late
| showers have been beneficial to the
later kinds, which are now maturing
under exceptionally favorable condi-
tions. Although quite small army OF
| pickers are employed most growers
could do with even more than they
have. The average growth for the dis
trict may be put at is cwt. per acre
| dittlebourne and Bekesbourne.)
The hops in these parishes are COM
ing down fully up to expectation. The
yield is heavy the best grounds CIV
/ ing from 10 to is cwts. per acre. The
quality is superb.
(Petham Valley.)
/ The hops are coming down slowly,
but we'll. Picking will last about an
other four weeks. Red mold very plen-
| tiful in some gardens where badly cul-
| tivated.
! mid Kent Parishes.)
In the Maidstone parishes the hops
are keeping very well. but it is feared
that some will have to be left unpick-
ed The crop is far above the aver
age in quality, and the quality has
rarely been finer. At Barming and
Farleigh heavy growths are being Sc
cured, but red mold prevails at places
and red sn -ssxr is also doing mischief
It is expe....I that the old Goldings
will be exceptionally good in quality,
| though, in consequence of the severe
drought, they have not grown out SO
we'll as could be wished. AT Boxley, as
we'll as at Arlington, Aylesford and Dit
ton the. growths are considerably in
excess of the average. and many splen-
did samples have already been obtain
ed The average of the district round
| Maidstone appears to range from IL to
/ ID cwt. per acre. At Mailing it is about
| IT cwt. In the Tonbridge and Paddock
Wood district big growths are being Sc
cured, and the quality generally speak
/ ing is superb Here and there, how
ever, lice are found in the hops, and
some samples may be affected by their
presence. Red mold is also prevalent,
| but not to serious extent. Great dis
appointment is expressed at the prices
offered in the Borough for the early
pickings. -
| ttSurrey.)
Farnham-The7 crop is coming down
fairly well, but it will not be so heavy
as 1t at one time promised to be, the
drought with SO much burning sun
having seriously affected the hops on
the thin hard soils. On the deep cool
lands the bine has held out well, and
the hops are large and of splendid quail
| ity. Red mold is threatening in some
grounds, and there is also mischief
from red spider. If all the hops are
gathered the yield will be an over av-
erage one.
(Sussex)
/ The break up of the drought has
come Just in the nick of time to save
the hops on the hard, shallow soils in
this county, though some have suffered
seriously from the lack of moisture a
reduction in the estimates in conse-
quence being demanded. Picking Of the
earlies was commenced last week, and
| it was feared If the dry, hot weather
continued they would deteriorate very
quickly. Now that there has been some
rain it is hoped the hops will keep bet
ter. This week will witness a general
commencement of the picking, and a
large number of hands will be required
to secure the crop, which is an excep-
tionally heavy one. Many grounds will
average a ton to the acre, others from
10 to 16 cwt Quality promises to be
exceedingly good. Mold will damage
samples here and there, but on the
whole from present appearances the
crop looks like being an unusually
sound and healthy one
(South Hereford)
Hops continue to make satisfactory
progress, and will be record crop as
regards both quality and quantity All
over the South Hereford district it will
be more than an average crop. Pick
! ing has commenced in a few places,
and will be general next week. The
plantations never were freer from mold
than they are this season, and the
! u 4 11i~