Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1914-01-22
HOP GROWING
NOT 0VERDONE
WILLAMETTE VALLEY ESPEC-
TALLY ADAPTED
H. J. 0ttenheimer Reputes That Acre
age in State Is Not Too Great.

circulation recently to the effect thai
it is not advisable for the Oregon hor
grower to extend his acreage, are
fiouted by H. J. Ottenheimer, for 30
years actively engaged in the hop
business in this state, both as a grow
er and dealer. For the major portion
of that time Ottenheimer was the per-
sonal representative for the Northwest
of the Lillienthals, who up to few
years ago were the largest hop dealers
on the Coast. He retired from the
hop business few years ago, so that
his opinion of conditions as they exist
today should be entirely unbiased. He
keep in close touch with the situation
at all times, and his views are gener-
ally regarded as those of an expert.
In discussing the Oregon hop situa-
ton, Ottenheimer said:
cat the present time the growing
of hops on the Pacific Coast is not
being overdone, and there is not too
much acreage when ONE takes into
consideration the uncertainty of grow
ing hops in England and Germany.
While | do not approve of anyone
growing more hops than he can con
veniently handle, still at the same
time it is my opinion that the grower
who raises hops in the state of Oregon
will make more money, or as much as
he could in raising any other crop.
"The quality of the Oregon hop
ranks among the best grown any-
where, being excelled perhaps by the
Bohemian hops only, and those grown
in certain sections of Bavaria. The
climate and the soil of the Willamette
Valley seem especially adapted to
hop growing. and a failure is abso-
lutely unknown. The only danger of
loss lies in the fact that the hops
may be attacked by mold or by black
blight, and this can be overcome by
spraying at the proper time. So
grower is reasonably sure of crop al.
all times Oregon has already earned
the reputation of raising a high grade
of hops and it is up to the growers
to maintain this reputation. Nature
will do her part and if the growers
will exercise care and diligence in
the picking, there is no reason why
this reputation cannot be maintained
"Hops that are not cleanly picked
do not have the market value OF those
that are cleanly picked, so that it is
a very important matter, and one that
should be given thorough considera-
ton by the grower. | am not touch
ing on the curing of hops, because T.
am frank to say that this phase oG
The business is being well and prop
erly cared for in this state, but some
growers have been lax in their picking
with the result that at times there has
been complaints about dirty picked
lops in Oregon. Just as long as close
attention is given to cultivation. clean
picking and reasonable care in curing
Oregon hops will continue to bring
premium of at least couple of cents |
/ pound over Others grown in the
United States, and the grower who
'uts out speculation and sells his hops
when they are in bale and ready for &
he market, is bound to succeed. | q
would not advise any grower to hold &
lis hops beyond the month of Decem- j
'er in any year, but on the contrary. /
experience has proven that the grow a
d who sells his hops in the month
f October or early November, comes
ut far ahead of those who speculate
"Owing to the uncertainty of grow .
ng hops in England and Germany, q
here in some seasons the crop is
,st almost over night. and where it $
! not unusual for grower to save
My half his crop, the time is com n
lg when the brewers all over the
'orld will have to look to the Pa
Ific Coast for the bulk of their sup
lies. The acreage devoted to hop :.
1lture in Europe is steadily decreas- n
lg, while on the Pacific Coast it is :,
radually increasing. y =,
d " n TT nm