New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-09
HOP CROP PROSPECTS.
GOOD OUTLOOK IN THE STATE-HIGHER
PRICES EXPECTED.

Utica. n. Y. Sept. (SpeciaD.-In many OF the
hop fields of this State the harvest OF the crop
1900 has begun The early variety is the Humphrey,
and picking OF the late crop will be general from
now Many conditions enter at this time to
make the prospects for the hop growers the most
s promising they have been for many years
Through the the weather has been favor
able and the vines have been free from vermin and
lice of all kinds. With good, healthy vines and
favorable weather conditions fine prospects show
good. clean hops fully grown, and if not picked
too early fully matured. The growers this year
using extra precautions and will place the mar
ket fine hops. clearly picked.
The yield in this State will undoubtedly be about
the same as last year. The reduction in the acre
age has been about 10 per cent. This will be
come by the increased production acre OF the
yards under cultivation In the spring the reduc-
ton was not replaced by yards from the fact
that the grower had been somewhat discouraged by
the low prices received for hops in the last few
years. This year is promising the growers
have experienced in many years. and they hope to
realize an average of Is cents pound for their
product
The crop in Madison County is promising, and it
seems that the yield in Oneida County will be good
The crop also promises well In Schohare County
Otsego, Lewis and Franklin counties will not aver
age any more than the usual crop. Lewis County
Will be considerably below the crop of last year 1t
100000 pounds, and that in Germany 1t will also be
large, while California will not approach within %
short 10 or 10 per cent Washington and New-York
promise to produce about the same as last year
with comparatively bare market at the opening of
taking things coolly, and do not, rule. antici-
pate extremely high prices. They expect. however,
TO pay more for their hops than last year.
THE MARKET NEARLY EMPTY.
The Humphrey hops will be ready for shipment
IN the early part of this month. The late varieties
such the English Cluster, and the Canada
varieties will be the market about October l.
The market on the hops of 1899 growth is firm.
The output OF beer is phenomenaly large for this
season Of the year throughout the United States.
This has caused the hops held IN stock by the brew
ers 10 enter into consumption rapidly than
question that the 1900 crop will enter a market
practically bare, especially far stocks are
concerned.
cents on contracts but it is doubtful If many deals
can be made at that ngupe at the present time
few days at 10 and "A cents, mostly at the last
figure. The Humphrey variety is selling 10 and
Is cents Growers are paying IS and 40 cents box
for picking. These figures are about the same as
some difficulty in securing help This is attributed
20 me % pon p eai me paae
fields are kept busy at their usual vocations.
PICKERS IN DEMAND.
Some of the growers have been following sharp
practice to get the pickers they wanted. Within
the week two instances have occurred here where
the grower has purchased from the rival grower
his load Of hop pickers. The trick was accom-
plshed in the temporary absence of the first pos
SCISSOR of the pickers: In one instance two wagons
loaded with pckers drove up 10 the Oneida SQUARE
House, and the drivers entered the hotel, leaving
their horses and the freight of hop pickers on the
outside. There came along three wagons looking
for hop pickers entirely empty The drivers of the
empty wagons offered the pickers of the first two
wagons more money than had been offered by the
first grower to whom they had been engaged and
they all deserted. When the drivers came from the
hotel they were surprised to find their wagons
empty.
There are many signs about town to the effect
that hop pickers are wanted. The usual percentage
OF hoboes and hangers-on be found this wear
and they will be brought into active service in the
hop fields. These people, a rule make good hon
pckers, as the work is light and more to their
liking than any other labor 1t is said that this is
the only ume or the year that they do any work
The towns in the hop districts compel the trsmps
to work in the hop fields or to get out of town and
growers