Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-10-01


walked. 1t was shockingly early-5
o'clock. In the first place we were in
troduced to the hop boxes, that consist
Of one big box divided into four, two on
side. The whole clumsy affair looks
like an apple-woman's stand, only big
ger, with an awning over it of canvas or
burlaps to protect the pickers from the
sun. A man pulls up hop pole and
vine, cutting off the latter about foot
from the ground, and leans it up against
the end of the hop stand so that pickers
facing each other can have an equal
chance at the clusters. 1t is this mans
business to keep all the pickers supplied
with poles as fast as they call for them.
Each bin is big enough for man to curl
up in and would hold about ten bushels
of wheat. I was told that when / had
filed that with hops l would be given
a ticket that. at the end of the season, |
could exchange for twenty-five cents.
The average man would want week to
fill one OF those reservoirs. Many Of the
girls said that they could cnly FIJI one
box day. A fairly good picker will
fill two, smart one three and remark
ably smart one four boxes day. As
soon az box is filed its contents are
emptied into sack and taken to the
kiln. There were thirty pickers in the
field, and they included all ages and both
sexes gray haired men and women, lit
tie children and lively young girls capa-
BILE of replying to the jests of the boys.
Long before noon the children and girls
got very tired, and watched for the blast
of the now benefcent and commendabie
horn. A dinner of fried meat and pota-
toes was rapidly harpooned, and chunks
of apple pie were lightly tossed away
then to work till dark, then supper and
dance for the young people, and apipe
and bed for the old ones.
This is a fair picture of q hop picker's
day. The season lasts about three weeks.
and the profits Of the best workers are,
not more than $18, with $40 being about
a fair average for three weeks work,
from daybreak to sundown. Why do
people work at such hard and poor pay
ing job. In hop picker's language, fol
the fun Of the thing They like the
freedom from all restraint; the outdoor
life, the novelty Of new scenes and peo-
pie, and especially the crowded evening
dances.
The hops are taken from the field tc
the kiln, that is built with an open slat
floor covered with burlaps. The hot all
comes thraugh the spaces between tht
stats from room below where large
furnace is Kept going. Rolls Of sulphur
are burned in pan on top of the fur
mace, and the fumes ascend and bleacl
the hops. After being dried for abou
twelve hours, the hops are pressed and
put ia bales, the average weight o
which is about $50 pounds. The ruling
price this year is ten cents a pound
though few growers have secured al
extra cent on the pound. A few year
ago hops brought dollar pound anC
pickers were paid thirty five cents box
Many growers have become alarmed a
the low prices and are going out Of tn
business, much to the qualification .
those who propose to remain in it. Tn
crop this year is excellent and free from
7ermin.
Hops are propagatcd by cuttings, an'
the average productive life Of hop roo
is seven years. Hops are what the fa1
mers call strong" crop and exhaua
the soil. From early spring the crop re