314 HOPS. 



Although in this respect matters are better than was 

 formerly the case, nevertheless instances of trickery on the 

 part of dealers are still sufficiently frequent ; and it is such 

 as these that destroy mutual confidence between producer, 

 merchant and consumer, the innocent — forming, be it said 

 for the honour of the commercial world, certainly more than 

 90 per cent. — suffering equally with the guilty. Whilst it is 

 evident, even to the most casual thinker, that every effort 

 should be made to suppress this unscrupulous dealing, 

 which is largely responsible for the unsatisfactory position 

 of growers, endeavours must be made to protect respectable 

 trading, since it is to this class of merchant that the in- 

 dustry is greatly indebted, especially for the improvements 

 made in the preservation of hops during storage. 



However, it is difficult, probably impossible, to indicate 

 a way for suppressing objectionable practices in dealing, 

 the mania of speculation having now so developed and 

 extended in the hop trade that the evil cannot be abolished 

 at once, or even quickly. Of course the attainment of this 

 end would be greatly facilitated if growers confined their 

 dealings to respectable merchants or sold direct to the 

 consumer ; and by the establishment of associations for 

 selling the goods. This, however, would necessitate, as 

 an indispensable preliminary, a suitable adjustment of the 

 conditions of credit ; but so long as the grower and con- 

 sumer look on the merchant as the sole dispensing power 

 in the matter of credit, any great improvement can scarcely 

 be expected. If the brewer wishes to buy from the grower 

 he is expected to pay cash, the latter being usually in 

 want of money and not able to wait ; and, as the brewer 

 has not always the necessary funds available at the time of 

 purchasing, but is none the less bound to cover his require- 

 ments in the matter of hops, he has no other recourse 

 than to approach the dealer and make time bargains. In 



