Ads not shown when logged in
-
Automated Tracker
Shut up about Barclay Perkins - When American hops moved west
Visit the Shut up about Barclay Perkins site
I knew that the US hop industry was initially centred on the East Coast, mostly in New York State. Then later mostly on the West Coast. But when did it move?
Luckily, I’ve come across some numbers that answer the question. God, I love numbers. Sometimes I think they’re my only true friends.
The last year when more than 50% of the US hop crop came from New York State was 1892. The percentages I’ve calculated myself.
Estimated hop production of the United States, 1889–1899. |
Crop. |
Pacific coast |
New York |
Total |
|
Bales |
% |
Bales |
% |
Bales |
1889 |
106,157 |
48.78% |
111,461 |
51.22% |
217,618 |
1890 |
105,619 |
51.56% |
99,229 |
48.44% |
204,848 |
1891 |
94,000 |
45.19% |
114,000 |
54.81% |
208,000 |
1892 |
105,000 |
47.09% |
118,000 |
52.91% |
223,000 |
1893 |
143,000 |
53.36% |
125,000 |
46.64% |
268,000 |
1894 |
179,500 |
56.18% |
140,000 |
43.82% |
319,500 |
1895 |
180,300 |
62.11% |
110,000 |
37.89% |
290,300 |
1896 |
103,000 |
57.87% |
75,000 |
42.13% |
178,000 |
1897 |
152,000 |
66.96% |
75,000 |
33.04% |
227,000 |
1898 |
151,950 |
70.04% |
65,000 |
29.96% |
216,950 |
1899 |
182,000 |
75.83% |
58,000 |
24.17% |
240,000 |
Total 11 years |
1,502,526 |
57.92% |
1,090,690 |
42.04% |
2,594,216 |
Source: |
"Hop Culture in California" by Daniel Flint, 1900, Government Printing Office Washington, page 25. |
There’s the when taken care of. What about the why? The same pamphlet has some more detailed numbers by state and they seem to provide the answer.
I’d always assumed it was because of disease on the East Coast. But there’s another reason that leaps out from these numbers:
Acreage, yield, and value of hops in the United States in 1889. |
States. |
Acres. |
Bales. |
Value. |
bales per acre |
price per bale |
New York |
36,670 |
111,461 |
$2,210,137 |
3.04 |
$19.83 |
Washington |
5,113 |
46,185 |
841,206 |
9.03 |
$18.21 |
California |
3,974 |
36,374 |
605,842 |
9.15 |
$16.66 |
Oregon |
3,130 |
20,076 |
322,700 |
6.41 |
$16.07 |
Wisconsin |
967 |
2,381 |
51,983 |
2.46 |
$21.83 |
Other States |
358 |
1,141 |
27,829 |
3.19 |
$24.39 |
Total |
50,212 |
217,618 |
4,059,697 |
4.33 |
$18.66 |
Source: |
"Hop Culture in California" by Daniel Flint, 1900, Government Printing Office Washington, page 24. |
The two rightmost columns are my own calculations from the other numbers. A bale was 180 lbs, in case you’re wondering. The bales per acre is what tells a story. The yield on the West Coast was way higher than in New York. Though someone must have liked the New York hops as the price per bale is higher.
The numbers for 1890 are similar, except the price of hops was much higher.
Acreage, yield, and value of hops in the United States in 1890. |
States. |
Acres. |
Bales. |
Value. |
bales per acre |
price per bale |
New York |
35,552 |
99,229 |
$6,068,163 |
2.79 |
$61.15 |
Washington |
5,282 |
49,348 |
2,284,955 |
9.34 |
$46.30 |
California |
3,796 |
31,761 |
1,521,847 |
8.37 |
$47.92 |
Oregon |
3,223 |
21,174 |
1,047,224 |
6.57 |
$49.46 |
Wisconsin |
871 |
2,556 |
142,198 |
2.93 |
$55.63 |
Other States |
238 |
780 |
41,037 |
3.28 |
$52.61 |
Total |
48,962 |
204,848 |
11,105,424 |
4.18 |
$54.21 |
Source: |
"Hop Culture in California" by Daniel Flint, 1900, Government Printing Office Washington, page 24. |
I don’t quite understand why the price of hops had trebled when the total produced wasn’t that much less.
More...
Similar Threads
-
By Thuck Phat in forum Chit Chat
Replies: 97
Last Post: 06-03-2017, 23:00
-
By Blog Tracker in forum Blog Tracker
Replies: 0
Last Post: 24-05-2015, 08:28
-
By Blog Tracker in forum Blog Tracker
Replies: 0
Last Post: 18-05-2013, 08:11
-
By Blog Tracker in forum Blog Tracker
Replies: 0
Last Post: 14-01-2013, 08:06
-
By Blog Tracker in forum Blog Tracker
Replies: 0
Last Post: 08-09-2010, 08:10
Posting Permissions
- You may not post new threads
- You may not post replies
- You may not post attachments
- You may not edit your posts
-
Forum Rules