The progressive farmer., 1899-11-07
F ARM AFT AIRS.
THR HOP INDUSTRY.
Correspondence of the Progressive Farmer,

The growing of hops for commercial
use is a farm speciality, not so generally
adopted as the market demands war
rant. The principal hop districts are
in New York, Wisconsin, California,
Oregon and Washington. If soil and
climatic conditions are favorable hops
yield from 1000 to 1000 pounds per
acre. At present prices the income
will range from $3.50 to $3.50 for an
acre. As the vines require planting
only once in many years, the crop is
one Of profit, and suited to our modern
ideas of intensive soil culture.
Hops need a we'll drained, sandy
loan, rolling land being preferable.
The plants are set six feet apart either
way, after the land has been carefully
prepared and leveled, to prevent any
low places for water to stand and kill
the roots. Hops exhaust the potash
elements of the soil quicker than any
other substance, and neceesitate the
annual use of fertil rs containing
good percentage of potash. In ordt
nary fields the application of 1000
pounds Of fertilizers containing about
ten per cent. potash, eight per cent.
phosphoric acid and three per cent
nitrogen, is necessary every spring, to
ineure satisfactory results.
In the famous Yakima Valley of
Central Washington, about three thou
sand acres are planted to hop vines,
and the income this season from this
area will aggregate $500, 600 or more.
The roots are planted in the spring,
and cultivated the same as corn. The
first year there are no returns, but
with care the yards continue producing
for twenty years, without transplant
ing. The first season the vines must
be trellised. This is done by setting
poles about two by four inch scantlings,
ten feet long, in the ground every
twelve feet Wires are then stapled
TO the poles, six or seven feet above
ground, and she vines trained up,
The ephis or louise is the chief hop
enemy. This can be destroyed by
spraying the blossoms with arsenical
compounds similar to those used for
orchards. IL the season is dry the
aphis seldom does harm, and if too
much rain falls during the period from
ripening to picking the burs are liable
TO mold or mildew. Picking is done
by hand, an average picker gaths ring
about two hundred pounds per day.
Toe green hops are taken to dry houses,
where they are spread out upon the
floor or special drying cloths. The
drying PROCESS requires twenty four
hours, when the hops are pressed into
bales OF 300 pounds each and placed on
the market AS a general rule hops
lose three fourths weight in drying.
Those who have been engaged in the
hop industry for many years estimate
that the original cost of yard Of ten
acres, including plants, cultivation,
dry houses and complete equipment, is
about 5000 an acre, and the annual
maintenance expense reaches 800 an
acre. An established yard can be
grown, harvested and marketed for
eight csnts pound, and as the selling
price this year averages Is cents,
the profits are good. Hops are used 80
extensively throughout the world, for
manufact turing and medicinal pur.
Doses, go that the demand is constantly
increasing, and the supply in the
y 1ited States is limited.
Americ an grown crops sell readily in
foreign markets, and are sought by
experts because of superior qualities.
The hop industry when fully estab
lished in a locality, is an important
money producing business, as many
people are employed in caring for and
picking the crop. The three thousand |
acres in Yakima Valley this year fur
nished one months work to six thou
sand persons engaged as pickers, be-
sides indirectly employing many others
TO supply those with food and clothing. |
There are many farming disaricts in
the United S iates, where hops could be |
introduced as a special crop and the |
people made more independent by en-
gaging in mop growing.
Hop roots are grown by nursarymen,
plant and bulb dealers and most OF the |
prominent seedmen quote prices IN
their annual catalogues. An acre Will
require about 900 roots, which should
be set deep in the ground, covering
the crowns with about four inches or
dirt. IL the soil cannot be ploWed /
deep, it is we'll 60 run subsoll ploW 20
stir the surface Rs deep as possible:
The roots may be set in fUrrows, marked