Ch.XXX.] HOPS— PRODUCE AND EXPENSES, 349 



the hops regularly and carefully down, especially towards the sides. More 

 hops are then thrown down, and closely pressed, until the bag is filled ; the 

 tighter and closer the better, for the firmer they are packed the longer will 

 they keep. The hoop is then loosened, the bag is let down to the lower 

 floor, more hops are tied into the upper corners, and it is sewed up as 

 closely as possible, the whole operation being generally completed within 

 an hour. 



PRODUCE AND EXPENSES. 



The amount of crops varies according to the soil and season, from 1 cwt. 

 to 20 cwt. per acre, for they are liable to various casualties and distempers, 

 by which they are often attacked when apparently in the most luxuriant 

 state of growth, and which frequently terminate fatally, without any power 

 on the part of the grower to prevent it. About 7 cwt, per acre may, 

 however, be considered as an average produce on the general quality of 

 hop-land, and this, in ordinary seasons, is found to remunerate the planter. 

 It is, however, a singular tact, that a very profuse crop, if generally 

 obtained, is not considered favourable to him ; for not only does the price 

 decline in a ]jroportionate degree, but the Excise-duty*, and the expenses 

 of picking, bagging, carriage to market, warehouse-rent, and factorage, 

 are all thereby largely increased, while the sale of inferior samples becomes 

 so difficult, that they sometimes hang on hand for two or three years, and, 

 if then sold, are so deteriorated in value, that nothing short of an extraor- 

 dinary rise in price can reimburse the charges. 



The expenses up to the time of picking are about the same whether the 

 crop be good or bad — consisting of rent, tithe, taxes, interest of capital, 

 manure, wear of poles, labour, and annual proportion of raising the planta- 

 tion ; varying much in different counties, Worcester and Hereford being 

 the lowest, and Middle Kent the highest. The average is usually calculated 

 at about 30/. per acre before picking commences ; and although some 

 planters manage at something less, there are many whose expenses are 

 much higher. The stocks of poles vary much in value — say from 15/. to 

 40/., during the establishment of the hop-yard, the charge of their annual 

 wear and tear being from 61. to SI. and the labour from 1.35. to 17s. 

 The picking and other expenses, including drying, brimstone, beer, cart- 

 age, and factorage, may amount to from 23/. to 261. per ton without the 

 duty, or, in round numbers, the whole will vary, as the crops and manage- 

 ment are good or bad, from 37/. to 48/. per ton. 



This estimate has been received from a most eminent planter in the 

 county of Kent, whose knowledge of the subject cannot be doubted ; but 

 as expenses differ in various places, we annex some other calculations 

 which we have obtained from large growers, upon the accuracy of whose 

 information we also place the most unreserved reliance. Thus, in the 

 neighbourhood of Canterbury and Maidstone, it being assumed that, as 

 an acre of hop-ground contains 1000 hills, each hill has generally t\vree 

 poles to support the bine of the hop ; consequently 3000 poles are required 



* The duty is 2d. per lb, which presses heavily upon a large crop ; it has therefore 

 been thought that, even were it expedient to continue it, were a sum equivalent to the 

 average amount to be laid in a tixed sum per acre upon the land, instead of the crop, 

 wlien grown with hops, it would in such cases lighten the pressure upon the farmer, 

 besides relieving him from the annoyance of the exciseman. 



