348 
Fifty Years of Hop Farming. 
It is computed that an average crop, taking the whole of 
these countries round, is equal to 1,700,000 cwt., or between 
5 1 and 6 cwt. per acre, 1 which is said to be slightly more than 6 
per cent, above the requirements of the whole brewing-world. 
Of this surplus, much rubbish and inferior qualities of hops are 
produced upon land that is not suited for hop-growing. In all 
other countries, as in England, there is only a limited extent of 
land upon which hops can be profitably cultivated. When 
depression comes, caused by over-production, the unsuitable land 
is grubbed. After a year or two of good prices there is a rush 
to plant hops again, with the same inevitable disappointment 
and loss. 
Conclusion. 
It may be said, in conclusion, that those hop-planters who 
have farmed hop-land thoroughly well, and levelled up the 
management of their hops to meet the requirements of the 
times, have at least held their own throughout the period of 
depression. 
In a cycle before this period much money was made by hop- 
planters generally, in spite of large importations of foreign 
hops. 2 From 1865 to 1877 there were never better times for 
hop-producers in this country. This caused a rapid and indis- 
criminate increase in the hop-acreage, and led to the planting 
of common kinds of hops on land not suited for hop-production. 
In many cases this was done by men who had not sufficient 
capital to enable them properly to work extended acreages. 
Taking the average during the last fifty years of the 
proceeds of hop-growing in England, it may be said without 
any hesitation, that far more money has been made in this than 
in any other branch of agriculture. It is believed that this 
culture will still pay, and pay well, if planters will rest satisfied 
with their reduced holdings of hop-land, and will grow only the 
best kinds, and employ the most approved modes of cultivation 
and management. Hops are not like wheat, which in other 
countries can be produced of as good quality as in Great Britain. 
No country under the sun can yield hops possessing the rare 
attributes of the best English growths, whose indefinable 
aromatic essences, given off in the " rub-down," are appreciable 
in the samples by experts, and whose value and power in the 
" copper " are supreme. Charles Whitehead." 
' The average return per acre of German hop-land is much smaller than 
in England, which is estimated at about 7 cwt. per acre. The largest return 
per acre is in the Pacific-Coast hop-land, of comparatively recent planting. 
• In 1807, 1868, 1809, the importations of hops amounted to 290,117, 
231,720, and 322,515 cwt. respectively, the quantity in 1809 being larger thau 
in any previous or subsequent year. 
