Hopping (1914): abnormally prolific.

Post date: Mar 05, 2012 8:57:9 PM

Notable matters in this year's hopping report, the first of WWI, include:

• great yields in hops, corn and fruit but hop prices depressed: "The year of The Great War will be remembered also as the The Great Harvest year."

• supporting infrastructure carries on despite war.

• two in-patients at temporary hospital, both babies, die.

Extract from Parish Magazine of October 1914:

There is not much to be said about the "Hopping" this year, except that there was a very large crop. One heard again and again of over a ton an acre in this district. This ought to have come as grist to the pickers' mill, and to prove satisfactory also to the grower, if so be that the market holds firm. In these parts it is well known that hops are farmed high, and it requires both a good crop and a good price to yield a good return. I do not pretend to be in the financial secrets of the hop-farmer but I doubt if three guineas per cwt. would cover expenses of growing and picking, even in a good year. If the grower of two or three generations hence happens to turn over these pages it may it him to learn that to-day (Oct. 23rd) the Borough report reads: "The cheapest qualities are worth 56/- to 65/-; choice Fuggles' are quoted 80/-; and choice East Kent Goldings are held for 90/- up to 105/-." He will know that Mid Kent samples are not considered so choice as East Kents. The year of The Great War will be remembered also as the The Great Harvest year; not only in hops, but in corn and fruit, and indeed in almost everything, the yield has been abnormally prolific.

The Mission work was carried on much as usual, except that a difficulty in getting outside help (as many ladies were turning themselves to Red Cross and similar work in connection with the war) made it necessary to drop the Home Farm Coffee Stall. Instead we opened the Vicarage Coffee Stall everyday at dinner time, and, although the business done was not so large as is usually done in the Garden, it was sufficient to prove the usefulness of the experiment. The Club Rooms and Vicarage Stall, which from the very first night were more largely patronised than usual, were managed by Mrs. Livett, with the help of the "ladies," Miss Feilden and Miss Oliver. The rooms were open 23 nights, and more than £5 worth of stamps were sold. This means that on an average fully 60 letters were written in the rooms every night. This alone proves the great usefulness of the rooms.

Miss Feilden proved a host in herself, and most constant among the helpers were the Misses Goodwin, Elsie Blest, arid Cissy Longley. The following either helped personally or sent fruit and jam, or did both: Mr. and Miss Fremlin, Mr. and Miss Lambert, Mrs. and Miss M. Stevens, Sir George Wolseley, Mr. George Chambers, Mrs. Leney, Mrs. White, Mrs. Blest, Mrs. English, Mrs. Lemmens, Mrs. Sander, Mrs. Baker, Mrs. Benneld, Mrs. Longley, Mrs. Fairbrother, and Miss Wells. If we have omitted anyone, we are still grateful. And we have to thank also those who sent subscriptions, as appears on the list in the Balance Sheet appended.

The little hoppers' hospital possesses a treasure in "Sister" Lea, who was with us for the first time two years ago, assisted this year by nurse Dean, matron of Kilsyth Cottage Hospital, near Glasgow with Mrs. Carter as cook-housekeeper. It is well known that these ladies take no remuneration for their valuable services. We have to thank Mrs. Brocklebank, Mrs. English, Mr. Lambert, Mr. Rogers and other kind people for gifts of eggs, fruit, vegetables, etc., for the hospital. There 549 out-patients and six in-patients, of whom two, both little babies, died. In at least two other cases it was felt that the hospital saved life, while the benefit to the out-patients is, of course, incalculable.

Station Stall and the Canon Court Stall, the lantern work and the little Sunday School carried on as usual. We are always grateful to the Church of England Mission (Hon. Sec., Rev. J. R. Leigh), started in this parish about 17 years ago, for the financial help it gives us; and particularly to its treasurer and London Representative, Miss Harvey, for finding nurses for us if we are in a difficulty.