Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1891-12-25
HOP.CROWiN0.
A Few Points Concerning an Interesting
Industry.

A Few Points Concerning an Interesting
Industry.
After leaving the city of Syracuse
the tourist going east on the cars oil
the New York Central railroad rides for
over an hour through the heart OF tho
hop-growing region. On both sides OF
the railroad track he sees the fields
studded with thousands and thousands
of poles with clinging vines 1t Is
picturesque sight-the winding, climb
ing, dark-green vines with their yellow
ish- green fruitage. These fields are all
as clean as a well-kept garden
Perchance the traveller may be inter
ested and ask questions, as did the lit
tie boy in the next seat to us. "Oh,
look, papal See all those big poles"
he exclaimed.
That's a hop-yard," replied his
father, as he looked for the hundredth
time at the fields That's where they
grow hops"
"And how do they grow hopsP" the
boy persisted.
"Well-they-they- ah-take poles
and-hem-put them-in the ground,
and then they-ah-let the vines run
up"
Evidently, papa" was not going to
venture beyond his depth, and SO he
maintained afterwards discreet ST.
lence There is great deal to be said
about the practical side of hop'grow-
ing-about setting the poles, grubbing
the roots, stringing the yard with
Irvine, trimming and tying the vines,
and chilling up" Suffice it to say,
that few products Of the farm are the
source of more work, worry and ex-
pense than the hop crop, which quickly
exhausts the soil, as the ashes OF the
strobiles contain a large amount OF
potash and phosphoric acid.
In September, when the hop crop is
ready for harvesting, there is great
demand for pickers. They come from
different quarters. Hundreds Of men,
women and children flock to the hop
fields from the neighboring cities
from Syracuse, Utica and Oneida
Most of them are expert pickers and
they look eagerly forward to the hoI
crop. These people go to make money
while others go principally for good
time Two years ago the experiment
was tried of bringing band OF Italian
pickers from New York city, but the
'dagos" proved to be clumsy and in
efficient The Indians and half breeds
who come from the Onondaga reserva
ton, are rated as among the most ex
pert pickers in the yard. They live il
cabins, having hunks arranged in wha
is known as Bowery lodging hous'
style. They board themselves, and, a
rule, they are quiet and orderly
There is trouble sometimes when fire
water is struggled in. A number o
young people from the country town
and villages take hand in picking
The girls want to earn money for
, new dress or bonnet, and the boys ar
perhaps Saving up for some selfish o
benevolent purpose
The pickers are paid by the box
which will hold about seven bushels
The prices are usually regulated by tn
Hop Growers association. They var.
according to whether pickers are board
ed or whether they board themselves
This season the prices are twenty-tiv
cents per box where pickers are board
ed, and forty cents per box where the
: board themselves. The box-tenders re
: ceive one dollar per day, or one dolla
and twenty-five cents, if they boar
themselves. Each box is divided int
four sections, and the pickers stand tw
on a side. When the box is full tn
box-tender empties the contents into
big sack Every once in a while tn
cry "Hop sackl' is raised That means
: il the picker be comedy lass she mus
: be dumped unceremoniously into tn
r box before it can be properly emptieC
,, The hops are spread on kin in hol
o house, where they are subjected to
heat rising up to one hundred and thirt
!, degrees, and then they ire bleache
. with birthstone to the right color.
a This picking time is to many sol
a of long and extended picnic. The picl
= ers manage to get fair amount of fu
!, out of country life. The first and la'
a hop dances are the events of the SCI
son. The dance is held in the kill
i There is no better place. The floor
. not waxed, of course; but it may
a covered with layer of dust. TT
- music is simple, but it makes moi:
enough.
>, It is the evening of the last dance ,
10 the season. There is now the warnir
:, squeak of the fiddle, and immed
:. y ately the command, salute yo'
! partners!' There is no dainty, di
. tant touching of the fnger-tip
- no stately, dignifed movement throus
~ the figures, as one sees at She
~ rvs. Oh, no. When "all chasse
~ or grand right and left" is shoute
80 and the music plays Maggie Murphy
~ Home" yell goes up that would n
= disgrace Onondaga Indians, and the a
~ seems filed with waving arms, hyil
' dresses and bursts of laughter.
An so, in the wee sma' hours of 4
- morning, amid universal good che
;. and merriment, the hop picking Sc
son is closed. Once Week.
OF Pillow Shams.
y Whoever has waited valuable n