108 HOP CULTUKE IN AUSTRALASIA. 



somewhere about 256 acres, making a total of 468 acres ; in 

 addition to which Mr. S. P. H. Wright cultivates somewhere 

 about 20 acres lower down the Derwent, at O'Brien's Bridge. 

 On the Huon Kiver a large area has been planted, and is now 

 in bearing; so that, although it has been reduced in some 

 districts, the total area under hop culture in the island must 

 show an increase over that of last year, given in the Govern- 

 ment statistics at 664 acres of all ages, which produced 

 825,306 Ibs. from 627 acres in bearing, equal to a little over 

 1300 Ibs., or about llf cwt. per acre; considering that 

 some of the plantations were not at maturity and others im- 

 perfectly cultivated, this may be taken as a fair crop, 

 though in the New Norfolk district the yield was upwards 

 of 13 cwt. per acre. 



Irrigation is almost universally practised, there being very 

 few soils on which hops can be successfully grown without 

 artificial watering. But in a few situations it can be done ; 

 for instance, where the land lies low, with a porous subsoil, 

 and near to a river or at the foot of a hill, where the subsoil 

 is kept moist by soakage. To derive the greatest amount 

 of benefit from irrigation both scientific knowledge and ex- 

 perience are necessary, so that water may be given at the 

 proper time and in the proper quantity, any excess or de 

 ficiency giving a check to the plants and encouraging the 

 increase of the red spider, which appears to be always present 

 and ready to multiply and increase, to the injury and some- 

 times total destruction of the hops. Instances are given 

 where grounds over-irrigated have suffered to a serious 

 extent, while portions of the same, lying above the reach 

 of the water, were not at all affected. Though the climate 



