Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-08-16
LARGEST PRODUCTION IN 90
YEARS, ACREAGE CONSID-
Erred, is STATEMENT OF
HOP EXPERT.
QUALITY is HIGH STANDARD
Favorable Weather Conditions and
Good Cultivation Combine to In
sure Big Crop: Will Mature Early:
Outlook Encouraging But Market
Continues Weak at IS and 10 Cents.

crop in Polk county and, in fact,
throughout Oregon, were never bet
ter than at present is the declaration
made yesterday by a prominent hop
man of Dallas. 1t is said that the
past season has been a very favora-
BILE one for the crop and, with no set
back or unfavorable weather, it is
probable that the growers of Polk
county will harvest one Of the largest
crops in their history.
Estimates at this time on the Polk
county crop, place the total yield at
approximately 1000 bales and it is
declared to be the biggest product for
the acreage grown in the county in
20 years And the same is true of
the entire state at large it being es-
timated that the total crop of oregon
will reach at least 10000 bales
which is 40 per cent increase over
! last year when the total production
totaled only $4,000 bales.
Quality Excellent.
The quality of the hops this year
is declared to be excellent. There
has been no mould in the state up to
the present time and but little ver-
min, practically none in Polk county.
The wet season, followed by the
warm, dry weather of the last of
July and the first part of the present
month, has caused the crop to ma
ture rapidly and the vines are simply
loaded with hops. 1t is estimated
that the crop will be ready for the
pickers fully week in advance of
last year and that picking will be
general by September l, if the wealth
er conditions for the balance of the
month continue warm and dry. Of
course a hop crop is never safe until
it is in the bale and two or three
days may change a favorable outlook
into SO per cent slump.
Hops Generally Solid.
Another feature in connection with
the 1912 crop which will make it
especially valuable, is the solid con-
dtion of the hops. This is particu
larly true of Polk county, it is said.
1t is estimated that in the two Luck
iamutes, the Salt Creek and the La
Creole districts the hops will run IA
pounds to the box, which will aver
age at least two pounds heavier than
last year. The hops are rich in lupu-
lin which is the essential principal of
the product and when this is true are
sure to command a better. price than
otherwise.
Polk Leads the World.
According to well-informed hop
men, Polk county hops lead the
world in quality and fibre, and that
fact is recognized in London where !
the product is well-known and where
any Offering branded Dallas Hops"
is sure to be selected in preference
to all others The reason for this |
condition is said to be that the soil
of Polk county is peculiarly adapted
to the cultivation of the crop. There /
are other good hops grown in Ore
gon, it is true, but the reason that
Polk hops have this reputation in
the markets of the world is that poor
hops are the exception here while
good hops are the exception else
where. Polk hop yards are generally
in the hands of splendid farmers who
understand the growing of the crop
and who cultivate their fields syste
matically and intelligently. and this
fact has a important bearing upon
the reputation which Polk county
hops enjoy and the price they always
command.
AtEttASt lhtTNdSFus
While there are a few new yards
which will come into bearing this
year for the first time. il is next year
and in 1914 that will see the great
addition to the acreage of the cOun-
ty. Following the high prices of
last season. many have entered the
hop industry and several new yards
have been planted. Old yards have
been rehabilitated too. When the
price Of hops ruled rather lower than
at present. dead hills were allowed
to remain unprOductive but. when
growers received 40 cents. and even
a higher figure last year. everybody
proceeded to replenish the weak spots
and the result is that every yard con-
tains hundreds Of new vines which.
in the aggregate. will add consider
ably to the total production Of the
county.
Market Not Strong. n
The only discordant note in the
immediate outlook. however. is the
poor showing Of the market that Is
poor as compared to last year. al
though the prices offered at the
present time would have been thought ,
high two or three years ago. Forty
cent hops however. is most certainly 1
the exception and growers cannot
expect to receive anywhere near that {
figure two years in succession. At
the present time the market may ho .
said 70 he deadlocked- There are +
no available American orders and
both the dealer and the grower are
reluctant either % buy or selI The ,
ruling quotations today are from Is
b 1s cents with no prospect q their {