CHAPTER XVI 



KXPENSES AXD PKOFITS OK HOP CULTURE 



HE cost of growing hops va- 

 ries widely, even between 

 neighboring plantations, by 

 reason of differences of 

 methods and yields, and still 

 more widel\' between differ- 

 ent cor.ntries. Profits fluc- 

 tuate even more seriously, 

 depending upon both yield 

 and prices. The yield of 

 cured hops per acre ordi- 

 narily varies within the following limits as a fair aver- 

 age for all growers, but in extraordinary seasons may 

 exceed them either way, while the best growers will 

 often exceed the highest figure quoted: 



Germany — Owing to the peculiar methods in Germany, 

 previously noted, it is quite useless to attempt any statement 

 of receipts and expenses of the peasant hop grower. 



For En(;i,ani>, however. Whitehead, in 1893, revised all 

 previous estimates, and Mr. E. H. Elvy, editor of the K( iili.'<n 

 (>l)S(nrr, the loading hop journal in England, has carefully 

 corrected the returns up to 1S09 for this work, as follows: 



The land on which hops are grown in Kent is worth 

 about $200 an acre, and interest is reckoned at 5 per cent. 

 To start a new plantation will cost from $100 to $125 per 

 acre, including preparation of the soil, fertilizing, sets and 

 planting, cultivating, rent, taxes, etc. Plants cost $1 to $2.50 



249 



