CHAPTER XV 



CONCENTRATION IN HOP GROWING 



In some respects the growing of hops on the Pa- 

 cific coast is undergoing the same evolution that is 

 witnessed in other industries. For lack of capital, low 

 prices for the product, inexperience or, lack of proper 

 attention to the crop, many growers have been forced 

 out of the industry, and in not a few cases have been 

 obliged to sacrifice their plantations. Their farms 

 thus become consolidated into large holdings owned 

 and operated by m?n of ample means and knowledge, 

 who conduct hop growing and marketing on a large 

 scale, by scientific methods and on strictly business 

 principles. 



One of the most prominent instances of this ten- 

 dency is afforded by the Horst Brothers. They have 

 under cultivation a tract of 700 acres (see Fig. 6, Page 

 24) on their home ranch at Horstville, on the Bear 

 river, Yuba county, Cal., and this one tract produces 

 annually over 5000 bales, equal to a million pounds, "of 

 hops per year. They also ow r n and operate other large 

 tracts in hops on the Russian river in California, on the 

 Willamette river in Oregon, and on the Fraser river in 

 British Columbia. 



The Messrs. Horst grow their hops against con- 

 tracts that they have with brewers throughout the 

 world, and that are made for a long term of years in 

 advance, thus relieving themselves of the industry's 

 speculative features and giving them control of a good 

 share of the hop business. This plan has advantages 

 for the breweries as well, as they are assured of a sup- 

 ply of hops of satisfactory quality at a fair margin over 



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