114 HOP CULTURE IN AUSTRALASIA. 



In the Huon district hop growing has been established, 

 and with the best prospects. There are many other localities 

 equally favourably situated for the cultivation of this crop. 

 The yield in New Norfolk in 1866 was 45" tons ; in 1867 it 

 had increased to 70 tons; in 1868, 100 tons; and in 1869, 

 100 tons, which fetched from Is. to 2s. per pound. 



A return of the hops grown in the district of New Nor- 

 folk, published in the ' Hobart Town Mercury ' for 1870, 

 showed that there were seventy hop growers, with 447 acres 

 under culture. The produce amounted to 166 tons 16 cwt. 

 1 qr. 20 Ibs. It will be the hop growers' own fault if Tas- 

 mania does not soon supply all Australia and New Zealand, 

 if not entirely, yet mainly. 



Among the remedies which have been tried to destroy the 

 red spider which has played such havoc among the hops during 

 past seasons, are sulphur, dilute decoction of tobacco, and 

 carbolic acid. Dr. Turnley is of opinion that a gallon of the 

 common acid, to about two or three hundred of water, would 

 be found strong enough for the object required. It is yet a 

 debatable point whether the dilution could be applied with- 

 out injury to the plant itself, or its marketable product. 

 Dr. Agnew, after making a microscopical examination of the 

 red spider, gave it as his opinion that the insect was identical 

 with the Acarus telarius, as figured in Mclntosh's ' Book of 

 the Garden,' vol. ii. p. 77 ; although a later authority gave it 

 the name of Gamasus telarius, an allied genus of the same 

 great class, Arachnida. It is oviparous, and many broods 

 are hatched during the season. The ova are probably for 

 the most part deposited on the under surface of the leaves, 

 whence the young when hatched can extract nourishment ; 



