p.. r. I.— 501: 



SOME CONDITIONS INFLUENCING THE 

 YIELD OP HOPS." 



INTRODUCTION. 



In certain of the hop-ijrowino- sections of the United States the 

 opinion is frequently expressed that there has been a progressive de- 

 cline in the annual average yield per acre extending over a term of 

 years. In other sections growers believe that the yields are at least 

 as great now as they have ever been. Some support for each view is 

 found in Table I, adapted from Bulletin No. 50 of the Bureau of 

 Statistics, U. S. Department of Agriculture. 



Table I. — Average yield of hops, hi/ states, for the ccn.sns years 1880, JS90, 



and J 000. 



State. 



California 



New York.. . 



Oregon 



Washington . 



Average yield per acrs. 



1900. 



Pounds. 



1,469 

 630 

 951 



1,287 



"This paper clearly illustrates the importauce of applying exact methods in 

 studying the factors inlluenciiig crop yields. The facts here set forth were 

 obtained from a study of the yield of hops, and they offer suggestions of great 

 practical importance to every hop grower. It is desirable to emphasize the 

 point that the most profitable methods of culture and handling can not be accu- 

 rately determined by general observation alone, since many derails will be over- 

 looked which, apparently trilling in themselves, become of great importance 

 wlien taken in the aggregate. For cxjuniile, the direct loss due to the lack of 

 a stand alone may not be appreciated until a survey is made and the percentage 

 ratio determinetl. 



The practical points presented in this publication were developed in connec- 

 tion with an extended investigation of American hop growing and liandling 

 which is being carried on by Dr. W. W. Stockberger, Pharmacoguosist, assisted 

 by Mr. .T.imes Thompson, expert, under the general direction of Dr. It. H. True 

 Physiologist in Charge of Drug-Plant Investigations, and it seems desirable to 

 make these results inmiediately available in the form of a circular. — G. H. 

 I'owELr, .feting Chief of Bureau. 

 [Cir. 56] 



