The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-05-22
OUTLOOK
FOR HOPS
AND CROP
Luce Writes Hopefully
Concerning New
York Market
MesSrS Percivdl and Young
Say the Coming Crop will
Not 60 Above 90
per Cent

f. NJ. Young and w. w Percival Of
Independence. were in Salem yester-
day. and, in speaking of hops, Mr..
Percival said: "Mr. Young and my
self last week. visited almost all the
yards in the vicinity Of Independence.
We inspected at least 5s4 acres Of
hops. and In all that acreage we only
found three yards that will have a
good crop should say that II we
have co per cent of crop we will be
doing well" Every yard that was cul-
tivated early has good stand. while
those cultivated late had many miss.
ing hills The upland hops are total
failures"
Mr.. Young agreed with Mr.. Perci-
val that hops are in very poor condi.
tion. and that the outlook for good
croop is very poor. He thinks there
will not be more than half crop
In the East.
A. j. Lucas. one of the prominent
hop authorities Of the country. writing
from New York. says.
The hop market looks decidedly
better. and the worlds crop does not
look any too fattering at this time
hear that some contracts are being
made in Oregon for the l903's at IA
cents. but Cm so sure that higher
prices will prevail during the coming
season that | am willing TO accept
several thousand pounds OF the com
ing crop at 10 cents. | do not think
that these l4-cent contracts are good
sales. when the bright prospects for
higher prices next year. on account
OF the reported poor condition OF the
crops throughout the world. are con
sidered.
Oregon Growers Hold Key.
The growers OF the state OF Ore
gon hold the key as to what the fu-
ture quotations on the 1902 stock will
be. and can make the price either IL
or 80 cents a pound. according 10 their
nerve. The entire situation is in their
own hands, and u they do not get the
top quotations II is their own fault.
Expects High Hop Prices.
II dare not give at this time what
think the prices will reach before
the end OF the present season. or the
coming OF the new one. We are now
having the best May beer business
that | have Sc n during the past five
years and | expect big things 10 hap
pen 10 quotations"
Local Hops Are Strong.
The reports OF largo damage 10 the
growing hops throughout the valley
yards by the late frosts have strength.
ened the local market for the l902s TO
a wonderful extent Offers at 20 cents
are still going begging. and today one
OF the larger dealers was offered 2l
cents for some OF the choicer stock.
Growers who still have stocks OF the
1902's on hand are determined not TO
part with them until the market
reaches az least the 25-cent mark. and
then some OF the larger ones say that
even 80 cents a pound will not be an
impossibility before the season closes.
Washington Hops.
The coming crop OF hops IN West
ern Washington Is at present rather
backward. A trip through the large
Puyallup valley yards shows most of
the vines at the top OF the short poles
and the twine trellises all strung. and
ready TO receive their coming loads.
The present acreage in Western
Washington Is 300 acres. and in East
ern Washington, which means Yaki-
ma. the acreage is 1000 acres. This
Is an increase OF 5 per cent over last
year. about evenly distributed in both
districts
Western Washington hop vines are
not as far advanced as they should
be on account OF the present cold
weather. All are generally backward.
although they look thrifty H. during
the past week. the country had had
warm, forcible weather, the vines
would have be further advanced
than ever before az this date. Many
growers fertilized their yards last
winter. On yards applied with barn.
yard manure. bono and.bloOd fertiliz.
er and bone meal interesting results
are expected. The Iertilized spots are
warming up to the occasion and look.
ing best At present a forecast of the
outcome would be purely problematic
al, and two weeks OF warm weather
would make the vines spurt and
change conditions very materially.
Al present there are In the hands
OF Washington growers 1000 bales of
their 1902 growth. Yakima has 5000
of these. Western Washington 1000
Yakima growers have Just formed a
pool and are holding for 25 cents and
as they are financially able 10 do so
they will probably stick tOgether. This
action practically takes these hops OF
the market, as the price asked Is pro.
hlbitory Just now. Western Washing.
tons growers are holding their last
years crop at 20 to % cents. but can
get now only IL to i9 cents. Our irm
has just completed the purchase Of
lots aggregating 400 bales in several
l7h and rs certs.
About 1000 bales OF the comins
crop have been contracted for AZ IA
and rs cents during the past month
ooth here and at Yakima, Growers
have been rather backward about AZ.
cepting such offers. but during the
oast week, as the season progresses
The offers have begun 10 look more at.
raetive, and growers have begun 10
make themselves safe