ioi4 



Hops in the United States. 



[march, 



The above prices are those obtained in New York, but in 

 the Pacific States values in 1908 seem to have fallen even 

 lower than on the Atlantic seaboard. The British Consul 

 at Portland, Oregon, reported that in the spring of 1908 

 considerable parcels of hops were sold at very low prices, 

 ranging from i^d. to 3d. for 1907 crop and \d. to id. per lb. 

 for old hops. Prices for Californian hops towards the end of 

 the year ranged from 3jd. to qd. per lb. By June, 1909, prices 

 had advanced and from /\\d. to $\d. was being paid for 

 Oregon hops of the previous year. Growers, however, 

 obtained good prices for the 1909 crop, the average in 

 California being is. ojd. per lb. 



Yield and Cost of Production. — The yield per acre is given 

 by the United States Department of Agriculture as follows : — 



Yield per acre in cwt. 



Ten-year 



1909. 1908. average. 



New York 5-9 5-4 4-8 



Washington 12-5 12*3 I2"6 



Oregon ... 7*6 8 "5 9/1 



California ii'6 12*5 ii"8 



In New York State, the system of cultivation is similar to 

 that of Germany, the hop plantations being small and 

 scattered and forming parts of larger farms. On the Pacific 

 Coast, large areas are devoted exclusively to hops, the soil 

 is rich and requires little manuring, the climate, rainfall, and 

 absence of severe winds favour the growth of the bines, and 

 until recently there has been immunity from blight and mould. 



According to information supplied to the Hop Committee 

 in 1908, the cost of production in New York State was £g $s. 

 per acre, which with a 6 cwt. crop per acre is equal to £i us. 

 per cwt. To this must be added £i 15s. for picking and 

 gs. 6d. for curing, making the total cost £3 5s. 6d. or 

 yd. per lb. 



In Oregon the cost of production is put at ^11 8s. , which 

 with a 9 cwt. crop is equal to £1 5s. 4^. per cwt. Adding 

 £1 5s. 6d. for picking, the cost would be £2 10s. rod. per 

 cwt., or 5jd. per lb. In California the cost of production 

 appears to be still less, but Californian hops are said to be for 

 the most part rank in flavour and to be less esteemed by 

 brewers than those grown in Oregon. 



