HOP CULTURE IN AUSTRALASIA. 107 



CHAPTEK VIII. 



CULTURE IN AUSTRALASIA. 



TASMANIA. New Norfolk and the adjacent districts are 

 well known as the principal hop-growing portions of Tas- 

 mania. In the immediate vicinity of the town are numerous 

 grounds, located on strips and flats of rich alluvial ground, 

 both on the banks of the Derwent and those of the Lachlan. 

 On the latter dams are made, and the soil irrigated by gravi- 

 tation. On the Derwent it is generally necessary to pump 

 the water from the river, and this is effected by steam- 

 engines; for though windmills have been tried, they have 

 been given up, owing to the caprice of the winds, which 

 frequently fail to blow, when water is indispensable. In the 

 town and its immediate vicinity Mr. Kiddoch cultivates about 

 14 acres of hops ; Mr. Turnbull, 15 acres ; Mr. Allwright has 

 about 16 acres on the Lachlan Creek; Mr. Teiry, of Lachlan 

 Mills, 13 acres ; Mr. Sharland, 12 acres, in different patches ; 

 Mr. Downie, near the bridge, about 9 acres ; Sir Robert 

 Officer, about 6 acres. Mr. William Davis has about 5 acres 

 on the Lachlan Creek ; Mr. W. E. Shoobridge, 20 acres ; at 

 a greater distance, Mr. E. Shoobridge, the largest grower in 

 the island, has upwards of 90 acres planted, 78 acres in full 

 bearing ; Mr. K. C. Read, of Eedland, the second largest 

 grower, has 24 acres in bearing, and 16 more planted. The 

 area occupied by smaller growers is estimated to amount to 



