The Cultivation of Hops. 
735 = 469 
onal for brewers to buy directly of the planters or of the factors. 
time-honoured custom still prevails among the Hampshire 
id Surrey planters of sending many pockets of hops, piled up 
ion waggons, to a large fair at Weyhill, in Hampshire, to repre- 
nt their growths. About 10 per cent, of a growth is sent in this 
ay, and the pockets are pitched in barns upon the fair ground. 
The price of hops fluctuates very much, and the values of Price varies ac- 
inous sorts differ considerably. East Kent, Farnham, and cording to 
lid Kent Goldings, as a rule, make from 10 to 20 per cent, 
ore than any other kinds. Weald of Kent and Sussex hops, 
most seasons, make the lowest figures. 
Until 18G0 a duty of nearly 18s. per cwt. was levied upon all 
)ps grown in the United Kingdom. The duty on foreign hops, 
bich was 8Z. 8s. per cwt. until 1842, then 4/. 5s., 21. 5s., and 
lally 15s., was abolished in 18G2 ; and since that date the im- No home'nor 
)rtations have largely increased, and have injuriously affected foreign duty 
e value of British hops. Taking the seven years from 1855 to 
»61 immediately preceding the abolition of the foreign duty, 
6 average price of hops was 71. per cwt., and the average 
nual yield was 470,000 cwts. In the septennial period im- 
ediately following, the average price of hops was only 
■out 8/. per cwt., though the average annual production was 
ider 400,000 cwts., and the consumption of beer had steadily 
creased. The highest price of hops upon record is 271. in 1817. 
le lowest is 21. 15s. in 1848, after a long series of large crops, 
is calculated that the quantity of hops used for brewing in Quantity used 
? United Kingdom is from 600,000 to 650,000 cwts., and that Great 
• ^1- • . r ^i, 1 J 1 - Britain. 
3 average quantity grown in this country tor the last 10 years 
s been about 450,000 cwts., while the imports of hops from 
• countries into the Kingdom have averaged about 170,000 cwts. 
r annum in the same period, of which amount only 2021 cwts. 
I me from France in 1876, and 3862 cwts. in 1875. Thequan- 
1 y of hops exported from England is of comparatively trifling Exportation 
iiount, having averaged only about 18,000 cwts. per annum 
< ring the last ten years. An average annual quantity of about 
1 00 cwts. of foreign hops has been re-exported from England in 
t ? last decade. It is computed that the annual average yield 
I'm each acre of hop-land in England, during the last 100 years. 
Is been very nearly 6^ cwts. per acre, and that the price of 
liglish hops has averaged about 71. per cwt., taking the past 
J years. For each acre of hop-land, 45Z. of working capital is 
<;ential, taking the average of all the various districts. Actual 
( penses connected with hop-growing, inclusive of rent, tithes,* 
Hop-land, like fruit and market-garden land, is chargeable ■with an extra- 
I inary tithe besides the ordinary charge. 
VOL. XIV. — S. S. 3d 
