The Mop-Growing Industry.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 16, 17 June 1885, Page 3

The Mop- Growing Industry.

The rush into hop growing, at the ■ sacrifice of other industries, which took place among the settlers round Nelson two years ago, m consequence of the high prices which then prevailed, has been followed by the inevitable result. During the month of May 362 bales of hops were exported from Nelson. In^ mentioning this fact, the Evening Mail of last Friday adds :— We only wish that" it was m oui power to add that the prices realised had been, and were likely to continue, such as to remunerate the growers, but this unfortunately is not the case, an 3. very sad accounts reach us of the depression that prevails m some of the districts where the settlers were entirely deh pendent upon their hops for the means pi living through the year. In some cases, i particularly m Mxrtueka, which was^at one time a large potato growing district, the circumstances are alf the more tryilig is that 'potaiioes, which had become^ a drug m the market and quite unsalea,blje at anything like a remunerative price, thus leading the farmers to cease growing them and to substitute hops, have this year gone up considerably and wojild have proved payable. We fear that.the. intervening time between now and the next harreßt will be a very trying von> indeed for many hard-working and, m- ■ dustrious settlers m the country districts.