The Hop Blight and the Fall of Washington's Premium Crop

Ezra Meeker, in his new handbook, warns that the hop aphis is now an annual visitor to Washington and Oregon hop yards. While planters previously thought the pest arrived every four or five years, it has become chronic. In England, planters rely on constant syringing with quassia and soft soap mixtures to protect their crops, a practice now recommended for Northwest growers. Meeker observes that outside rows of hop yards are often the first to be infested by swarms from surrounding timber. Beyond the blight, Meeker urges local growers to improve their harvest quality. He cites reports from London where Oregon and Washington shipments were found to be 'thin and poor' compared to choice growths, noting that if Washington growers continue to neglect ripening and clean picking, the state will lose its status at the head of Pacific coast production. He concludes that to regain the market, growers must adopt modern wire trellis systems and treat the product with the care demanded by international buyers.