THE HOP GARDENS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1372, 24 February 1912, Page 16

THE HOP GARDENS.

f , FACTS AND FIGUBEB. Nelson has always been a groat hop country. In tho early days hops were grown all over what is now known as (he town area, trade flourished, and the Nelson hop gardens in the season were considered to bo Hio scenic fratnro of the district. Of Into years the industry has bscn curtailed somewhat owing to the increasing prevalence of the No-Licenso vote, but there is a general opinion in-the district now that, as a result of the expression of public opinion at last year's election, particularly with reference to local option polls, Iho industry may now sately be extended for quits a number of years. ' As in Tasmania, hops hero ara grown in soft, loamy soils, usually in conjunction with such fruits as currants and raspberries, and on from ono to twelveacre sections. A great deal of cultivation is required. The principal districts of the vino arc Hiwaka, ilotueka, Moutere, Waimen, and Tadmor, and last year, according to tho Year llook, some C.'i 3 acres were estimated to bo under cultivation, against 688 acres in tho previous year. In former years the total areas cultivated ran from 1100 to 3000 acres, so that it will be seen the industry is being restricted. The yield varies now from 3000 to 5000 bales. The hop-picking season lasts about six or eight. weeks, and during that time gives employment to all thu children, and women, and old people, who may bo available in tho province for that (lass of work, and in order to facilitate the picking and enable, the schoolchildren lo be lot loose on tho fields, the public schools

hold their annual holidays while the season is on. Children and women are best fitted for the work, owing to the suppleness of their fingers for •■ picking purposes. The wages of children range from 4s. to Gs. per day per child, while adults each earn from Us. to 10s. per day. During tho season, tho "picking money" distributed amounts" to "about "il0;00'{l> Tho harvest usually commences the second week in February, but it will be later this year, and will not be in full swing until the end of the month. In the cultivation of tho vino tho yield in the first, year is usually small, but there is a good crop in the. following season, ,and tho best of all in tho third year. Without any further .cplanting tho crops renew themselves, sometimes for a period of twenty_ years. In the old days the vine was trailed on poles, which * provided a useful homo to tho deadly red spider, but at. the present timo siring and wire are utilised in place of wood for trailing ■purpose's, nnd the red spider has gone • almost out of tho business. Growers do-: claro that he has not been seen in Nelson for four years. Drought and disease are the great handicaps which growers have to contend against, but lately there has been nothing to interfere with the cultivation, and the returns have been most satisfactory. Prices vary according to the season and tho demand, but 9d. or lOd. per pound is considered to be a good rate. It will probably be a satisfactory market this year, owing partly to tho failure of the English and German crops, although with the almost prohibitive'' import duty the foreign article is not much seen in New Zealand. On the other hand, while most of the Nelson output is sold in New Zealand, some is also taken by Australia, and a simall quantity finds its way to England. In tho old days it used to bo stated that the cost of production was sd. or Gd. per pound, and anything received over that sum per pound for the output, was clear profit. While on the subject of prices, it is interesting to note that sometimes an effort has been made to corner the hop market," usually with disastrous results to some people. When an operation of this nnturo is on the board, prices vary • with startling rapidity, and will rango from 3d. to Id. to 3s; Gd. in one season. There was an instance of this kind in 1881, when the market was Ri'eatly upset through rash speculation, and some merchants, principally in Christclnirch and Dunedin, were badly hit. One would imagine that as hops- are grown mostly in Nelson with a few in To Kuiti and Hastings, that it would bo an easy thine to corner tho market, but apparently this 'is not no. Three varieties of hops are grown in Nelson. Two of these, the green and the brown, wen; introduced from. Kent by the early settlers. About fifteen yoaTS ■ ago, however, sots were brought over from California and these have" since proved themselves to bo very prolific.