HOP CULTURE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 276, 25 October 1883, Page 2

HOP CULTURE.

In a repent issue of the North New Zealand Settler, attention ' was drawn to the fact that a good crop of hops was anticipated m England this season. It now appears, however, says that journal, (rom news more recently received, that after all the growers are again doomed to disappointment, for we ; learn' by cablegram, that the recent bad weather has destroyed one-third of the hop crop 3. There is, therefore, a likelihood that hops will be fetching high prices again this year, although they may not realise the almost fabulous valuer obtained for them m some cases last year. We hare been informed on good authority that m one case at least as much as <£40' per ewt., or £800 per ton,- was given. last season tor a good sample o f hops in jthe. old country. As a yield of a ton to the acre is nothing very extraodinary m: the ; way of a crop, the possibilities T ot ihop^rbwing ; may w«U dazzle the imaginations of agriculturists. Of course it. is useless to base calculations on the prices obtained m exceptional seasons, but we believe that trom £10 to £15 per cwt, could be safely reckoned on by anyone going into hop>-growing. It this be so, there can be no doubt 4;hat* settlers m the Manawata district are neglecting a highly profitable industry m; not putting m a few acres of hops. We hare been told of a settler near) Matakaaa, who last year made, £40 i out of a quarter of an acre of hops,, although he knew nothing of hop growing, not ev9n kaowing what the plant looked like til; he saw, it growing from tl;e sets he planted. Hia means of coring were very crude and imperfect, consequently the quality of the hop *. being injured thereby, the, price he obt»ine|d for them was. much less than would otherwise have been the case. Hops are an eminently portable commodity, and are specially adapted -to be3on»e an .article of export. The > fact of the crop appearing. to be such a very uncertain one m the old country, should eocoura°;e colonists to go m for hop-planting; The only rather large preliminary expense is the putting up of a proper drying kiln; but heie co-operation amongst the settlers of a district woald enable them to build a kiln and drying shed to be used by all. The industry has become nn established one m Nelson, and we see no reason why it should nod succeed as well m this district..