94 CULTIVATION AND PRODUCTION 



FRANCE. The hop is grown in the north of France and 

 the departments of la Somme and Pas-de-Calais. 



The hops planted in the department of the Bas Ehine in 

 1857 covered a superficies of 574 hectares (2J acres each), 

 and there were 120 additional hectares planted in the next 

 eight years. In 1845 France imported 721,000 kilos, of 

 hops; in 1855, 1,556,000 kilos. 



French hrewers for a number of years were accustomed to 

 make beer without hops. They substituted for it coriander 

 seed, wormwood, and the bark of boxwood; but the bad 

 quality of the beer thus made disgusted their customers, and 

 they compelled brewers to use hops as the only substance 

 which can produce a wholesome beverage. 



In 1825 every inhabitant in France consumed but nine 

 quarts of beer; in 1837 this had increased to nearly twenty 

 litres, and since then it has progressively increased. 



Beer is the popular drink of the departments of the North, 

 Pas-de-Calais, and Ardennes. 



In 1859 the quantity of beer made was 6,696,761 hecto- 

 litres ; in 1866, 8,078,478 hectolitres. 



In 1862 there were 11,920 acres under hops, which pro- 

 duced 14,003,514 Ibs. The yield per hectare was 1430 

 kilogrammes (of 2 Ibs.), being an increase of 360 kilogrammes 

 of dry cones per hectare over 1840. 



Hops occupied in 1871, 4263 hectares, the production being 

 57,153 cwt., valued at 11,539,126 francs. 



In 1872 the acreage under hops was 9223 acres, and the 

 yield of the crop 14,003,514 Ibs., or 40,706 cwt., valued at 

 162 frs. 62 c. the cwt. 



