Kent hop acreage and yield 1901 - 1909

Yet more statistics. This time on hops. Specifically, hops in Kent. Which was very significant, as the county was home to two-thirds of the area under hops.

On display already is the general trend of the 20th century: a decline in the area dedicated to hops. The decline was the greatest in East Kent, where it amounted to 33.72%. In was a bit less in Mid-Kent at 26.14% and the Weald at 7.68%. Over Kent as a whole, acreage fell 23.26%. The rest of the century would see much worse falls.

The decline seems to be accelerating after 1905. Especially in East and Mid-Kent. Though this was offset in 1908 by a particularly high yields, which saw total yield actually increase.

The lack of enthusiasm for growing hops might be explained in the varying yields. For example, in East Kent, the best yield was just over 13 cwts per acre and the worst 4.69 cwts. Which I can imagine was a bit of a nightmare for a farmer. 

Kent hop acreage and yield 1901 - 1909
	Yield per Acre				Acreage under Hops
	East	Mid	Weald	Kent	East	Mid	Weald	Kent	total yield
	Cwts	Cwts	Cwts	Cwts	Acres	Acres	Acres	Acres	Cwts
1901	11.25	13.49	12.84	12.5	11,110	10,696	9,436	31,242	390,525
1902	7.25	7.16	9.45	7.89	10,452	10,172	9,025	29,649	233,931
1903	8.44	11.01	9.57	9.68	10,438	10,462	9,033	29,933	289,751
1904	7.29	8.05	6.37	7.27	10,272	10,283	9,286	29,841	216,944
1905	13.05	14.53	15.91	14.47	10,417	10,464	9,774	30,655	443,578
1906	4.69	5.09	7.33	5.69	9,863	9,849	9,584	29,296	166,694
1907	6.92	6.83	9.84	7.88	9,200	9,443	9,526	28,169	221,972
1908	11.47	14.94	12.49	12.98	7,364	7,900	8,711	23,975	311,196
Average	8.80	10.14	10.48	9.80
Source:
The Brewers' Journal vol. 45 1909, April 15th 1909, page 215.