Fifty Years of Hop Farming. 
347 
gentian, and chiretta, were employed to some extent, estimated 
variously to equal from 30,000 to 60,000 cwt. of hops. These 
are not used by large brewers, nor by any who care about the 
reputation of their beer ; and it is believed that they do not 
appreciably affect the demand for hops, save in famine seasons, 
as that of 1882. 
A great change has come over the beer-drinking public of 
Great Britain within the last ten years, and the manufacture of 
beer has undergone much modification. The demand for heavy 
beer of an intoxicating nature has ceased to a great extent. 
" Old ale " is almost traditionary. Beer of less specific gravity, 
of a far less stimulating character, is required now, somewhat 
resembling the lager beer of Germany. Fewer hops are used 
both for brewing this beer and for preserving it afterwards by 
the addition of hops put in a dry state into the bung-holes of 
the casks. It is calculated that since 1880 the decrease in the 
use of hops for brewing and " dry hopping " amounts to at least 
one pound of hops per barrel of beer. 
Light beer and quick draught are the order of the present 
day. But this means a considerable and gradual increase in the 
consumption of beer, and a consequent increase in the aggregate 
quantity of hops used per annum. 1 
The World's Hop-Acreage and Hop Consumption. 
According to a German compilation, the total acreage of 
hop-land in the world was 293,549 acres in 1889, distributed as 
indicated by the figures given below. These are believed to be 
fairly accurate, as the acreages of some of the countries are shown 
in official returns. 
The Hop- Acreage of the World in 1889. 
Name of country Acres 
Germany 1 10,000 
Austro-Hungary 35,000 
Belgium and Holland 10,500 
France 8,500 
Denmark 500 
Norway and Sweden 175 
Russia 4,500 
Switzerland ....... 150 
United States and North America . . . 50,000 
Australasia 15,000 
Great Britain 57,724 
Other countries , 1,500 
293,549 
1 It is computed that more hops were used by brewers in 1889 than in any 
year since 1881. More malt, or malt and saccharines equivalent to malt, was 
taken by brewers in 1889 than in any year since 1878, In only two previous 
years has the amount used in 1889 been exceeded. 
