Hopping (1843)

Post date: Mar 27, 2012 9:56:42 PM

Extract from West Kent Guardian 23 September 1843.

Teston.—Hopping time is come, but the hops are not come, and we are sorry to say that the vermin and blight have caused more nearly a total failure than scarcely any person in the parish could have predicted on the first of August. This year the crop will be a decided failure.

Nettlestead.—The hops in this parish look very bad, and there cannot be many ; but as picking has not begun generally we cannot state to a certainty as to the produce.

Nettlestead, Wateringbury, and Teston are principally to one survey, and bets have been made that they do not pay above one-third so much duty as last year.

Wateringbury. Picking has been begun for several days for Mr. Alderman Lucas and Messrs. Goodwin and Wilcox, who are the largest growers in the parish. Mr. Alderman Lucas finds that his crop falls far short of the quantity that it was supposed he would grow ; and Messrs. Goodwin and Wilcox will not grow more than three bags, where it was supposed by good judges that they would grow four. As regards the other planters in the parish, we must suppose that they will be similarly affected, and to the same extent; we are sorry to say that some of the small planters are likely to suffer more than the larger ones. The worst forebodings as regards the crop will probably in this parish be realised.