HOP CULTURE IN INDIA. 123 



May. But the heat and rough usage of the journey proved 

 fatal to the greater number, and the English superintendent 

 has stated that only about 15,000 were alive when taken out 

 of the sacks. These have been planted with great care, and 

 a large percentage of them gives promise of survival, to repay 

 the very heavy cost already incurred in the experiment. 

 Other experiments are being carried on by Mr. Beck, the 

 local agent for the company, in other parts of Cashmere, by 

 which thousands of plants will be ready for transplanting 

 early next spring. 



Hops are as yet but of small importance as an article of 

 import, though they are steadily increasing in demand. The 

 value of the imports of the last four years, as given in the 

 official returns for India, were as follows : 







1872 ., ... .. 5198 



1873 5020 



1874 .. .,. .. 8940 



1875 11,828 



Beer of fair quality is now made in some Indian hill 

 stations, and is coming into extended use among civil resi- 

 dents and the troops in the hills. On the plains, the cost of 

 carriage from the hills prevents this beer competing with 

 imported beer. This country beer is all made of imported 

 hops, attempts to grow hops in the neighbourhood of Simla 

 and other parts of the hills having as yet been unsuccessful. 



Hops would seem even to be grown in the Chinese empire, 

 for in 1874, 550 piculs (133 Ibs.) were shipped from the 

 port of Chefoo. 



