Fifty Years of Hop Fannin j. 
341 
shire hops are sold to the merchants by the owners. A few are 
sold by factors. 
Prices. 
The variation in the prices of hops has always been extreme 
and peculiar and as much so before the home and foreign duties 
were abolished as since their abolition. Thus, in 1817 the 
average price was 23/. per cwt., and in 1820 only 4/. 4s. per cwt. 
In 1817 and 1848 the average prices were respectively 3/. 10$. 
and 21. 15s. per cwt. ; while in 1854 the average was 201. per cwt. 
Taking the last twenty-eight years — the period since the 
repeal of the hop duties — the annual average price of hops has 
been 61. 7s. 6d. per cwt. This includes the high average price 
of 18Z. 10s. made in 1882. 
Comparing this with the annual average price of hops for 
the twenty-eight years ending 1854, it is found that this was 
6/. 17s. 6d., including the high average price of 20/. in 1854, 
when a bad black blight prevailed. 
The lowest average prices in the period ending 1854 were 
3/. 10s. in 1847, and 21. 15s. in 1848, as stated above. The lowest 
average prices in the period ending 1889 were 2Z. 16s. in 1885, 
and 31. 15s. in 1886. 
It is believed that the highest price ever made for hops was 
for some exceptionally good samples in 1882, notwithstanding 
the large importations of hops from all parts of the world. 
Although the crop of 1889 was large, and the quantity of 
hops sent to England from foreign countries was equal to the 
average, really good hops, especially Go! ding hops and good 
Worcesters, are, at the time this is written (June 1890), scarce 
and dear — that is, relatively to all foreign hops, and to common 
English qualities ; and there hardly ever was such a clearance 
of good to useful English hops as at this time. This confirms 
what has long been believed, that well-grown and well-managed 
English hops of the best sorts are taken before all others by 
English brewers. 
It was thought about twenty-five years ago that Kent 
Goldings were to be ousted by the choicest Bavarian hops ; 
but these now rarely appear in the English market, as their 
supply is not more than equal to the home demand, for the 
German brewers are wise enough to secure these for their own 
consumption. Now the scare is that Pacific-Coast hops are to 
take the place of choice English produce ; but though tbey are 
useful hops, and fairly well managed, they lack the delicacy and 
refined flavour of the better qualities of Kents, Farnhams, and 
Worcesters, and can never supersede these if care is taken with 
their production and management. 
