THE HOP CROP.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12768, 9 February 1910, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE HOP CROP.

PROSPECTS IX THE NELSON DISTRICT. (From "The Colonist," Jan. 28.) The area of hops in cultivation this year is probably the sniallest during , the last ten years, owing principally to the iinromoiieratire prices obtained during the last few yenrs, and aLo that a number of growers have given up the industry to enter upon frmtgr Owing to unfavourable conditions at the beginning of the season the ]>mc came along slowly, and the present condition of the gardens shows that the coming harvest will turn out very much below the average, me most promising gardens are those at the Sherry, where heavy crops are assured, and the gardens in the. Tadmor district promise a fair yield. At Belgrove, the gardens, usually so prolific are not nearly so good as usual, and coming down the valley to Spring <3rove the bine is thin, and the prospects arc poor. At Waimea "West, .with but one or jbwo exceptions, crops will be light, and the same may be said of the gardens in adjacent valleys. 'At Dovedale medium to light crops are anticipated} and at Motueka and -the. few gardens along the Moutere are far below the standard. Those at ■Riwaka have come along better, and very fair crops are expected. Local buyers have already been sounding the growers, who a'ra confident this year of getting a price which will in a measure' make up for. the shortage of the past few years.