37 



they serve as a healthy, evening fodder for a flock of 1400 sheep ; and he uses the tendrils as 

 for yrain and straw binding. 



The governments of the several States have established inspections for their hops. Our own 

 State has sustained a compulsory inspection until within a few years ; that is, all hops sold in this 

 State were compelled to pass the scrutiny of the State inspector. The Legislature has, within a 

 few years, abolished the compulsory feature in all our inspections ; leaving those only who desire to 

 seek the benefit derived in a foreign country from the brand of a State officer. The operation of 

 the inspection is, as I am informed by the present inspector, very prejudicial to the character of our 

 hops abroad, as many inferior hops are sent here from other States, and are exported, after being 

 branded by their owners as " New York first class." Foreign merchants are not long in discovering 

 the deceit attempted to be practised upon them, and the result is very detrimental to the interests of 

 hop-growers in this State, who have, with the consumers and shippers — certainly the only parties 

 concerned — ^petitioned the Legislature to restore the compulsory feature. This is not the proper 

 place to discuss the propriety of such restoration, and the opinion here expressed is that of another. 



In inspecting, hops are divided into first, second, and third classes, aind refuse ; which latter is 

 only used by mainufaeturers in setting colors, &g. The second and third classes are usually of same 

 quality O'f hops as the first class, but are injured by carelessness in curing and picking. Mr. G. W. 

 Ryckman, who has had much experience in the use of the hop, in his former very extensive brewery 

 at Albany, and to whom I am indebted for much information, recommends, in picking, that the hop 

 be divided into three classes. The first class to consist of such as are picked in the first third 

 number of the days of the whole picking ; the second class to comprise those gathered in the second 

 third number of the days ; and the third ch'iss the remainder. The first class will be of a greener 

 eolor, audi better for export to Germany ; the second class will be preferred in the mainufacture of 

 pale ale ; and the third better for porter. 



Notwithstanding the great superiority of American hops, they often do not command as high a 

 price in foreign markets as English hops, owing to the extreme negligence of many growers in 

 picking and curing. BTany consumers judge of the quality by the appearance to the eye ; and those 

 not cleanly picked are condemned, though superior in strength and' flavor. A letter from a dis- 

 tinguished merchant of the north of Europe says:— "You promise much, on the score of more 

 vigilant inspection of hops. We prefer the American hops to any other raised, and if you would 

 establish the reputation they so well deserve from their superior quality, they would command the 

 market." 



10 



