The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-11-18


work Is over, and the field has been de-
serted for the day, and the sun has set. is
fascinating enough to make it all up.
AL least that IS what thousands Of hon
pickers think about it.
clear skies and pure air are essential
10 successful hop growing. The hop
must be planted and tended with great
care. krom the beginning to the har-
vest and through the kiln to the market
lhere Is no cessation Of anxiety. A hop
heid Just ready for picking is one of the
most beautiful spectacles that can be
found anywhere, the vines greatly ex-
ceecInS IN grace the vines of the grape
AS the golden wreaths of hops hang
rlpenlnS In the warm sunshine or swing
IN the breeze in parachute shaped cano-
pies they lend picturesqueness to the
heids that cannot be matched in the
vineyards OF either the old or the new
world
Until comparatively recent date
most of the hops grown in North
america were planted in tho state of
New York, although there were small
areas devoted to hop culture in New
jersey, Michigan, Canada and Wiscon-
sin. More lately the Pacific coast has
forged to the front az a hop producing
region, and there are also now many
fields of hops in Nebraska and Kansas.
The hop district in England is circum-
scribed to the ''wealds of Sussex and
Kent" Beyond their employment as
an ingredient Of yeast and certain drug
glsts preparations the two or three
hundred millions of pounds of hops that
are yearly produced on this terrestrial
ball are devoted to no other purpose than
the brewing Of beer, and it is whispered
In some quarters that certain substitutes
for hops have been used eren by the
brewers.
The ripening of the hops must be fol-
lowed by speedy picking if the crop is to
be saved in good order, and of course
pickers are in great demand at the open
ing Of the season. The pickers work in
parties of four, usually at boxes divided
SO that each picker shall have compart-
ment. To them the pullers bring the
uprooted vines still twined about the
poles. From the vines the pickers strip the
golden green balls, dropping them into the
boxes for the tenders" to inspect. The
inspection is one of the most important
portions of the work, for as the pickers
are paid by the quantity of hops picked
there is naturally tendency to mingle
leaves and pieces of vine with the pick
ing. Tally is kept of the number of
boxes filed by each picker. After box
is full its contents are ''sacked" and
taken to the kilns, where they are dried |
for IA hours and subjected to the bleach |
ing agency of the fumes of sulphur.
So much for the work. Now for the |
play.
In New York state and the east gene1- |
ally the workers are made up of ''home !
-skers" and foreign pickers." a.
tpionaSje2. picking is a peyiS5 of hard
work, considered S-ss$=s such, and en-
dured solely for the money there is in it.
To the foreign picker, 4" who, being away |
from home, is privileged to be little |
more dashing in respect of personal con-
duct, hop harvest seems to be primarily |
a time of hilarity by night, with the |
working hours of the day thrown in as |
a necessary excuse for the picker's pres
ence and the support Of that individual
during the time of enjoyment. The army |