64 QUALITY AND KEEPING OF HOPS. STATISTICS OF 



18 cwt. to 22 cwt. an acre ; but the crops were materially 

 damaged by the gales in September, and many growths were 

 imperfectly cured. In Berks and Hants, comprising hop 

 districts of an extent of 3300 acres, a yield of 14 cwt. to 

 18 cwt. was gathered. The Kev. J. Wilkinson, writing on 

 the Farming of Hampshire, states that the average expenses 

 of all kinds for seven years growing hops amounted to 30Z. 

 per acre per annum. The produce was 12 cwt. per acre. 

 The sorts grown were Grapes, Green bine, and Farniiam 

 white bine. Herefordshire had under culture 6000 and 

 "Worcestershire 38CO acres, and produced early crops of 

 hops of good qualities, and 15 cwt. to 18 cwt. an acre 

 was gathered. Surrey is productive of a choice quality of 

 hops, celebrated for their bright colour and superior aroma, 

 and other properties essential for brewing pale and bitter 

 beer. Farnham is the chief district. 1100 acres were cul- 

 tivated in 1870, and from 14 cwt. to 16 cwt. an acre was the 

 average gathered and cured. The other counties contributed 

 3900 acres of hops. 



The free importation of foreign hops to this country and 

 the large continental growths have occasionally decreased the 

 value of home-grown hops. At Weyhill great hop-fair in 

 1867 the top price obtained for hops was 121. per cwt. ; and at 

 the fair in 1870, 11. per cwt. was the highest value made. 

 Many crops were deteriorated in value by the unfavourable 

 picking season, and were imperfectly cured, and diminished 

 in weight ; but it was estimated that the crops of the year 

 1870 were equivalent to the old duty of 450,0007. 



The ' Brewers' Journal/ in pronouncing an opinion upon 



