57 



The deterioration which takes place in the normal storage has 

 been estimated by experienced judges at 25 to 33 per cent. This 

 represents a very great monetary loss. Let us try to estimate what 

 this avoidable loss means. 



The approximate value of the English hop crop of 1902 may be 

 stated at ^1,900,000. Assuming that one-third of these hops will be 

 used before substantial deterioration has occurred, there remains 

 two-thirds, representing a money value of "1,260,000, which, with 

 ordinary storage, will undergo deterioration, varying in degree 

 according to the time at which they are used, but which we may 

 average at 12^ per cent., representing the very considerable sum of 

 "158,000. 



Against this saving we must place the cost of cold storage. 

 This has probably been very considerably overstated, for warehouse 

 room, labour, &c., have in many cases been included, ignoring the 

 obvious fact that hops must be stored somewhere, and that although 

 the hop merchant does in some cases charge for storage, yet actually 

 the bulk of the hop crop is stored by the merchant withoutany direct 

 charge to the brewer. In such cases, however, as when storage is 

 charged the ordinary rate may be taken at 2d. per pocket per week 

 from September to March i, and at id. per pocket per week from 

 March i to September i, which corresponds with a charge of 6s. 6d. 

 per pocket per year, equivalent to about 45. per cwt. 



The usual charge for cold storage is on one of two bases : (i) A 

 charge of 6s. per cwt. for a period of one year, commencing January i, 

 or at the same rate for any part of the year ; (2) Eight shillings per 

 cwt. for nine months, and is. per cwt. per month afterwards.* We 

 thus see that whilst ordinary storage costs 43. per cwt., cold storage 

 costs 6s., or in exceptional cases 8s. The actual cost of cold as 

 against ordinary storage may therefore be stated at 2s. to 2s. 6d. per 

 cwt., and the extra cost of cold storage of two-thirds of the 1902 crop 

 would amount to "26,000, whilst the saving in deterioration would 

 amount to "158,000, giving a net saving of "132,000. 



* This charge is, of course, much higher than in No. i, but is the rate charged 

 by the Dock Companies. 



