The record-union., 1891-07-13
WENT A-BERRYING.
An Eastern Girls Experience With
Poison Oak.
s'Professor Bunn'' Makes a Scientific
Examination of the California
''Rhus Toxicus.''

State, but an equally Objectionable plant
is common. This is poison oak (hhus
t0ricuS).
Soon after coming to this State L deter
mined to secure specimens of this plant
for the laboratory. When inviting me to
form one of a blackberrying party, my
friends assured me that the berrylng
ground afforded fine specimens OF this
variety of oak.
Need I confess that the object of their
search had charms for me? Thoreau ana
Whittier were not ashamed OF liking
for the luscious wild blackberry. 1t is,
in the estimation of good judges, Tar SUI
perior in flavor to the cultivated variety
The berrying grounds lie along the
Sacramento River, and screen also the
adjacent sloughs. These water courses
are heavily wooded, the banks being
covered with elms, alders, cottonwoods,
willows, elders, wild grapevines and a
Jhick growth of underbruSh. This IS IN
striking contrast to the level wheat fields
on each side Of the river, with their scat
tered water, black and white oaks.
We were driven over pretty wood
land stretch, with trees on each side, the
struggling berry vines attracting atten-
Iion. Our guides told us that the best
berries were farther in the patch, and so
eager was I to catch sight OF good pick
lng-place that Tor the moment forgot
that for which / had come.
We alighted near Wire fence, and
Were directed to put ourselves on the
other side. We were not advised to
climb it. Few persons climb wire fences.
We took q serpentine attitude and rolled
under the lowest strand Of barbed wire.
Paths had been broken through the close
i. Il. l,snVN 81 ~
supple blackberry vines climbed far
above our heads, and leaning from the
trees to which they clung held their finest
berries out temptingly.
My aims were always high, and de-
cided to climb the tree. 1t was not
easily done. The tree was small and L
was not small. Wherever 1 put my
hands 1 found that the vine had pre-
empted. When l secured a few berries
and reached for more my bucket tipped
over. 4 particularly thorny vine thrust
itself into my face, and the rIpest berries
dropped off or crushed in my fingers.
When l came down the rest OF the
piclzers had more than covered the bot
tom Of their buckets. a few large, fine
berries made one dark spot in my pail.
Far fetched is dear bought" SAID a
mischieyous young lady. Look out for
that nettle ~ she exclaimed as l turned.
/ had inadvertently touched it, and nay
.
! told her the story with a moral of the
little girl who touched the nettle and was
told that If she had graSped it firmly she
would not have been stung.
The story impressed me deeply when a
child, and the passing incident recalled it
30 mind. Miss Marion only laughed
lightly and said that morals are out OF
date, adding that / ought to apply the
precePt ana firmly grasp the problem OF
-RhuS t0rtciS.
l was intent on filing my bucket and
did not heed her suggestion. Not having
seen anything resembling the oak in
qUestion-Which, being an oak, must be Il
large tre9-I began to believe that | had
been invited solely for the pleasure OF my
company, not TO further my own aims.
The berry-line in my bucket rose
slowly. The berries have wonderful
way OF crowdiDg into small space. Pres
emily the picking cleared the vines and
we must seek for pastures new. Four or
five of us set ont on a search, but where
we went the early pickers had been before
us. The f o'clock kind of Dickers had
evidently cleared the vines. Many of the
berries are gathered by the Chinese, who
sell them in the adjacent neighb0rhoOd.
One Of our party told of buying bucket
of berries and she said TO the Chinaman
that she wished she had more.
'Want 'em 2" he asked, as he took a
rubber boot on the pole across his shoul-
der and poured from its black depths q
bucletful OF berries. She did not buy
them.
The boots had evidently been filled
that morning. for the vines We're empty
[ made a great circle, breaking my own
paths IN many cases, yet was | berryless.
1 mopped my face, famed myself with a
pretty little spray Of shining leaves and
pressed on.
It was discouraging to pick one lonely,
,faFr rs.ga4
concluded to buy my berries from
the other pickers. | therefore
started to the conveyance TO get
a work on botanical classification that
might assist me in classifying the RhUs
tOctcts. The wagon stood in the road. SC
! prepared to go under the fence. The
wire seemed nearer TO the ground; GER
lainly / was not swollen with the pride OF
success, but just as certainly | found ii
harder TO roll under those threatening
Darbs. | set my bucket under the fence.
gave two hard rolls and went under the
wire, overturning my bucket and crush
ing the berries with my foot SO my hot
forenoon's work met with this end.
was not sorry 10 be alone.
Securing my Botanical Guide I set
of for the brush once more. this time
tearing my garments Oh that peculiar
fence. / looked up the description OF
RhHS tOriclls, and set out in search of the
party, ] asked them II they had seen any
poison oak. PLENTY of it, was the re-
ply, "but how dare you touch the stuff?''
pointing to wisp of green still in my
hand. Won't it poison you?"
Really I don't know" ] replied,
calmly. 'N hen pursuing scientific in
vestigation l allow nothing to stand in the
way"
TO prove my assertion I stepped to a
large bush Of the oak and began picking
of the twigs and leaves.
III you do not want it to poison you.
you had better chew the leaves" was
the advice Mr.. Marion gave. Accord
jngly became ruminant for the next
ten minutes.
There were plenty of specimens to ex-
anime The young shoots are some
times green. but often of dark autumnal
red, so pretty that visitors insist on put
ting them in bouquets. This is not adj
visable, for the young plant is said to be
the most poisonous. The bush grows
very tall, and its fruit IS a little white
berry. Cattle eat it without injury, but
on the human skin it is apt TO cause
swelling, itching and eruption. Some
persons DO not poison, while others may
be poisoned badly when riding near the
oak. As nearly as / can ascertain, the
Ra7ts tor grows in all parts of California.
I secured specimens of leaves and wood
ia different stages
We had very nice lunch, but no ber-
TieS, the pickerS refusing to let us eat
their hard-earned fruit
Our party started for home directly after
lunch bus being desirous of seeing more
of the country, / took the road up the
river, Miss Marion accofnDanvinC me.
We were really in Holland, for the
dykes were before us, and windmills on
every side. The luxuriant flowers in
many gardens spoke also of the Neither