Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1904-07-29
HOP MEN ENCOURAGED
Crop Prospect Is Much Better Than
1t Was Two Weeks Ago.

That the showers of last week wer
beneficial to the growing hop crop il
now the opinion Of growers generally
throughout the Willamette Valley
The vines have taken on new life anC
are making rapid growth. Picking
will begin two weeks earlier thar
usual. Polk county will produce fully
$1,000 bales, if adverse conditions dc
not arise between now and harvest
time.
Mondays Portland Telegram says
--latest reports, based on present
prospects, place Oregon's 1904 hop
yield at 10000 bales, as compared with
1O5,00O last year. Timely rains pre-
vented what promised to be almost a
failure. Many Willamette Valley
correspondents assert that buyers are
already willing to contract at 20 cents.
Growers generally look for excellent
prices. A noticeable feature in the re-
ports is the scarcity Of vermin, and
many growers are not spraying. Lice
were killed off by the continued, dry,
sunny weather.
'"The growing hop situation in the
territory tributary to Dallas is now
very encouraging. The vines are in
good condition, but sparse in foliage !;
the laterals are somewhat shorter than
usual, but more abundant and the
bloom is in very good shape for an
abundant crop, barring future adverse
conditions, such as warm rains or
warm cloudy weather, that would
probably breed vermin. At present
the vines, owing to the continued dry,
warm weather, are comparatively free
from lice and are Of good color.
Growth has been very rapid since the
late rains, and conservative hopraisers
estimate that the crop this year will be
very close to the average in quantity,
and at present to all appearances very
superior in quality. E. G. Kirkpatrick,
a dealer and grower, of Dallas, said
Polk County will, unless the un-
expected happens, produce her usual
1900 bales or more. The increased
acreage will make up for any shortage
that may occur from other sources
''Six thousand bales tributary to !
Dallas, growers seem to think, are
assured, provided the season con-
tinues favorable. The growers are
cheerful and are altogether in
different humor from three weeks ago.
The opinion of J. F. Groves, a dealer
and grower of Dallas, is that dry
is the best from now on for
the hop crop Of Oregon.
"Hop conditions vary in the different
yards in the Independence district and
some yards will yield much better
han others. Heavy rains last Spring
1T busy time caused the accumula-
ion of outside work to such an extent
rs to cause a shortage of help when
he weather would permit operations.
Consequently, in some yards, the
amount Of work could not
)e accomplished at the right time to
insure good yield, and these yards
will produce only one and two-thirds
II a crop, The rains of 10 days ago
ire proving a benefit to all yards,
although a few weeks too late to be of
benefit. The absence of
Loudly weather has given an ad-
'antage over lice, but spraying is
general in all the yards.
''In the L. Damon yards near and
n town prospects are for a lighter
rop than last year. T. Fennell thinks
lis crop will run about 80 bales short
f last year on IS acres. M. Merwin
nd other well-known hopraisers think
heir yards will run quite a bit short
t last years crop.
''Hops will develop very rapidly
rom now until picking time, and a
reat deal will depend on weather con-
itions until then. Prospects are now
lat picking will commence by August
), earlier than usual"