To the Editor of the 'Evening Mail.'

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 77, 18 March 1876, Page 2

To the Editor of the ' Evening Mail.'

Sir — With reference to "what appeared in the Daily Times referring to Mr. T. Harley's report of the yield of hops compared with that of last year, allow me to suggest the following in order to ensure a crop . — let. Jn opening the hills, not to commence too soon for fear of allowing the fro&t to inju r e the bine. 2nd. At tho titna of digging, not to plough and thereby cut up the main roots. 3rd. To keep on experiencel hands, and not to change frequently. 4th. Cutting down wages will not pay hopgrowers. sth. Not to employ children to fix the bine to the poles, which is a most essential part of hop-growing, but to employ experiencad tiers at a fair remuneration, and tbereby be aole to secure a crop. In conclusion, 1 would ray that T do not find a great falling off in the crop where the growers cultivate as they ought to do. The Waiinea and Motueka growers 01 hops are quite satisfied if their crop will realize Is fid. per lb., which is the price several of them sold their hops for this ye»r ; and I consider it a very good price, as they have nothing to do with shipment, commission, wharfage, railway storage, receiving, delivering, or carting to store, not forgetting insurance and sundry other expenses, which leave to the grower a small margin. I drop tnese hints to the parties concerned, hoping that they will profit by them. : lam, &c, CtoD Hopper.