Hopping (1913): half an average crop.

Post date: Mar 05, 2012 8:0:1 PM

Notable features in this year's hopping report are:

• the depth of the vicar's economic analysis, showing his appreciation of the wider factors affecting the national market-imports, fixed price supply contracts, stocks brought forward from the previous year.

• the success of the initiative to get growers and the railway to co-ordinate on when pickers paid off and train departures (previously delays after the pay-off had resulted in drunkeness -see Hopping (1905) for description of a departure "scene hideous with their drunkenness". ).

• the extent and depth of the initiatives to support the hop pickers while they were in Wateringbury.

Extract from parish magazine of October1913:

We have to record a sunless summer and a short hop-crop. The hops came out late and unevenly,and the crops were generally over estimated by the growers. About the middle of August it was said that picking would not be commenced much before September 10th ; but a few hot days towards the end of the month hurried matters forward, the first pickers in this parish arrived on the morning of Wednesday the 3rd, and picking became general on the following Monday. In the early days it was much delayed by wet weather; the first departure of pickers took place on the 23rd and the last on October 1st. It proved a poor season for the pickers, but with rather more than half an average crop, those of the growers who are not under contract for the sale of their growths, ought to do fairly well at the ruling prices, which are likely to go up rather than down, while the brewers will suffer accordingly.

The annual consumption in Great Britain is said to be 600,000 cwt.; the total English crop this year is now estimated at 250,000, or 150,000 short of the average ; the importations are likely to be a little short of the average—say 130,000; leaving a net shortage on the year of rather more than 200,000 cwt. The uncertain factor is the amount of hops remaining in store from last year. A certain firm of merchants has circularized the brewers to the effect that the store is ample to meet all requirements: this has been contradicted, and prices must rise if the stock proves eventually to be insufficient.

In spite of the poor picking the immigrant pickers were well-behaved, and in particular the going away was unusually quiet: this was doubtless due, in a great measure, to a ready response to an appeal issued by the Church of England Mission to growers and railway authorities that they should communicate with each other as to hours of paying off the pickers and of the departure of the trains.

The work of the Parochial Mission, of which a statement of accounts is appended, was carried out much as in former years. The Club Rooms were managed by Miss D. Livett and Miss Hilda Lepper,with the help of Miss Adam and Miss K. Reid as " Mission Ladies," Miss Creed, and also many kind helpers from the parish, including the Misses Goodwin, who took entire charge of the outside stall,Mrs. and Miss Longley, Mr. Bishop, Miss Blest, Miss Nicholl, Mrs. and Miss Maud Benfield, Miss Maud Stevens, Mrs. Leney, and the "Missioner" Mr. C. E. Webb. Gifts of literature and viands (jam, apples, bread-puddings, etc.) were supplied by Mrs. Cobb, Mrs. Jude, Mrs. English, Mrs. Brocklebank, Mrs. Blest, Mrs. S. Sander, Miss Fremlin, Miss Goodwin, Mrs. Leney, Miss Lambert and the Vicarage. (We do not usually give such lists, but it is well to do so occasionally to shew the general interest taken in the work, and if any name has been inadvertently omitted we ask forgiveness.) The Club Rooms and Stalls are highly appreciated—a resting place for weary workers, who find in them opportunities of reading, writing their letters, playing games, listening to music, indulging themselves occasionally in a sing-song, and obtaining refreshments at prices which are low but sufficient to make a profit that helps to pay expenses.

The Station Stall and two Garden Stalls, at the Canon Court and Home farms, for which Mr. Leney kindlv lent two "floats" to be converted into Stalls, were carried on by Barnes and Dent, especially employed for the purpose, of whom Barnes has done the like work for us for four or five years previously while Dent is not quite strange to it. They were assisted at the dinner hour by mission ladies. The stalls were drawn to and from the fields, in the morning and at nightfall, by horses lent by the growers. Mr. Jude kindly supplied water-barrels.

Mr. C. E. Webb, a lay reader, who runs a permanent mission among the miners near Alverstone, proved a most effective missioner—one of the most successful in our experience. He held eight evening lantern " Services," two at each of the four principal encampments, and assisted at the Services beld by the Nettlestead Mission on Sunday Evenings at the station yard. He also assisted in the ''Sunday School" which Miss Flora Goodwin successfully organised in the Church Rooms. For the Lantern Services Mr. French lent a vehicle and Mrs. Livett her pony.

The "Little Hoppers' Hospital" was run by Miss Lucke of Crowborough, the Misses Maxwell, sisters, recently returned from working in Australia—all three trained nurses, but one of the sisters undertook the duties of cook and housekeeper. We were threatened with disappointment in this department for lack of nurses, but the Vicar's letter to a dozen newspapers brought a large number of offers of help at the last moment, and all went well. There were nearly 600 out-patients and three in-patients—a somewhat smaller number than usual. Of the in-patients the first was a case of a cracked skull, the second one of rheumatic fever warded off by timely admission, and the third one of pneumonia in which in all probability life was saved. We should regard it a disaster if for any reason we were unable to carry on this temporary hospital.

It only remains to tender sincere thanks to all our supporters, to those who gave personal help and those who sent subscriptions. A lady from Tunbridge Wells sent some old clothing, which proved useful. G.M.L.