Hop Growing.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 933, 9 April 1881, Page 3

Hop Growing.

[By Progress]. Two weeks past, I asked Mr. Gillies to send to Gisborne a sample of the hops, as they were grown, and to be placed in some public thoroughfare where they might be inspected by the public, but I have neither seen or heard of their arrival. It is a great pity that they were not sent as I suggested, for there are many who would like to have seen them, even if they did not go in for the industry. The cultivation of the hop in New Zealand is widely different to that of the Australian Colonies, and costs just less than half as much in its production. Hop culture in Australia requires irrigation, as the vine is a moisture losing plant, and wilLnot live in dry stiff soil. It is the intention of Legislature of the different Colonies of Australia to compel brewers to use more hops and malt in the manufacture of beer, and thus make a more wholesome article for the market. At present it is difficult to get a glass of beer free from adulteration, as the glncous sugar is greatly used, and is one of the most dangerous of the many vile compounds that we daily consume in our victuals, for sulphuric acid and oil of vitrol is used in its production. The many diseases that are caused by the consumption of that sugar, may be called legion, the first make their appearance in the form ef griping pains in the kidneys and shooting pains down the legs. However, in my next I shall dwell more upon this subject, but I just mentien this fact to show how necessary it is to have hops used more freely, and sugar more sparingly. And now as I have strayed away from one subject to another, I must hop back again. We hope, ere many sessions, that the New Zealand Legislature will adopt the same plan as her sister Colonies, and which England was obliged to do a century ago, to keep the markets clear of poisonous beverages, and thus promote one of the most profitable articles ever growif in New Zealand, and the most wholesome of drinks. In Germany and England there are Inspectors who are employed by the Government to go round and test beer, &c., and if any are found using anything but what is allowed or specified, they are very heavily fined. Honey is much used, and is considered better than the best sugar, as it ferments quicker, and extracts all the properties out of the malt so much so, that pigs will not fatten on the grains. They say that Sir Edward Guinness’ success lay in the free use of honey in his beer and por'.er. In England, last year, honey to the amount of 47,0001b5. were used for this purpose, chiefly exported from Chili, and the demand is becoming greater daily. I should like to see our memberpropose at the next session that the Government give a free grant of five hundred acres or its equivalent to the one who produces within two years a ton of the finest sample of hops. This plan has been adopted in Tasmania and Victoria with good results ; at the end of the second year there were no less than seven thousand growers all eager for the the prize, which only fell to the lot of one; bgt those who were disappointed in not getting the land, were equally rewarded, for they at once shipped their stock to England, and in a few months after they received their cheques. The whole of the year’c crop fetched