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M. S. R. DUNSTAN. Cultivation of Hops in England. The 



Standard Cyclopedia of Modern Agric. and Rural F,conomv, edited 

 by R. P. Wright vol. VII. London, 1910, p. 37. 



"The acreage under cultivation is returned in 1807 as 33218 

 and (with some fluctuations) there is a rise to 53 816 ac. in 1835, 

 and to 66703 ac. in 1880; in 1879 we find 71 789 ac. devoted 

 to hops, but in 1905 the average is reduced to 48 967 and to 

 44 938 ac. in 1907, and it is probable that owing to the depression 

 the acreage will be further reduced to 40000 ac. in 1908." 



There is no agricultural crop which fluctuates in yield so greatly 

 from year to year as hops ; in 1879, 71 789 ac. produced 700 ooo cwt., 

 which yield was obtained in 1905 from 48 962 ac., whilst the fluctua- 

 tions in price are equally violent, varying from 2 to 24 per cwt. 



The following figures demonstrate some important statistics with 

 regard to the industry: 



Acreage and Yield of Hops in England. 



1888-1897 



1898-1907 . 



The total annual consumption of hops in England may be taken 

 at about 600 ooo cwt 



The hop crop is an expensive one to grow, and there is un- 

 doubtedly at the present time considerable overproduction, due to 

 improved systems of cultivation and management, whilst the public 

 taste in beer is changing, both as regards the amount consumed 

 and the quality of the beer. Brewers are using less hops per 

 barrel than formerly, as the following figures will show: 



lb. hops 

 per barrel 



1888-91 2.2 



1901 2. 02 



1902 1.97 



1906 1.85 



The public taste now demands a lighter, brighter, less heavily 

 hopped beer, and the aseptic conditions under which brewing is 



