Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-10-22

Two or three. He is provided with an
implement called 'hop-dOg." with
this he not only cuts the bncs or vines
close above the ground, but also prizes
c'prizeS' he will call it, the pole out of
the ground, and carries IL and Ns downy
fruitnge to the busy pickers near Wo-
men follow the pullers and stack the dis
cnrded vines for use by the compost
makers or the mills where the cheaper
grades of paper are made, and stack the
poles into tidy piles against the next
seasons use. In this way n hopgartlrn
is cleaned up as closely as If swept by
an army of grasshoppers or an all cant
suning fire.
In the meantime huge four-wheelcd
carts and wagons are gathering up the
hops for the "Oasts' or kilns, The mas
ter usually measures the hops from tlie
bins. lfckers are paid on the hasls
of certain agreed upon number OF
bushels to the shilhng-fOur, i've, ~ or
wen eight. according to the lcanness or
fairness of the crops. Precedent old
fairness of the crops. Precedent as Old
as hOps ut Kent demands that he
shall NOT have heavy hand that is,
that he shall not press together the hops
taken from the bin, and IN equally UNI
impeachahle custom Will NOT permit MN
10 pack or heap the almost weightless
stun in the measures. Scores 81 keen
every movement. Tn OPS must hover
In Inc husht. or be dropped Ia il rs light
ly as eau bet and We're thc bushels heaitd
an lola above their rims inc master
knows that instead Of hops series ot
strikes and riots Would instantly he
on his hands, Following him is always
the tails who GREATS the medsdtc.
ment to each set in the "tnlly-b0nks;'
and the custom Is that the pickers may
at amy time draw IN cash 10 the
amount OF three-fourths of what is due;
the remaining one-fOnth to be forfeited
should the pickers leave the MASTER
before his crop is gathered.
Al! SORTS vi signals are used to bring
ne pickers together In ,le morning
and afternoon. some OF the Old farm
houses have beliries and bells. A. others
hand-bells are rung in and about the
pickers' quarters aud camps, Tin horns
are common. the concli- shell horn is not
infreuuent. Work begins shortly after
dawn lhe midday rest as We'll as
quitting time at night are indicated by
Inc master or the taiiy-mu entering
rne field and shouting NO more poles.
uhis is ia turn shouted by The poe
pullers; and az once scores, and Diten
hundreds OF pickcrs voices will echo,
Frequently ,lrrlsiYrly, and always IN
minilcry, tue order for temporary re-
lease ICON Coil. In many helds the pick.
ers wed their cry TO imprOyisel dOggerel
rnvmes fitted 10 the air OF the latest pUpu-
lar London musit-hail baliaus, and MAKE
much unelodiOus clauor Us they are
leaving the field.
MUsi experienced men are employed III
the oasis or kAus. Iney SET no rest dur
ing the season OF hIpgarhefing, except
from SUNDAY morning until Monday
morning. IRON SIX 10 eight small Drick
stoves are constantly burning In each
kim Charcoal and smOkelesj Welsh coal
are solely used, and Il dash Of sulphur Is
occl siOlldlly audel, whilh gives the dry
ing hops Il slightly yellow unge. Auont
eight let above the cement chambers
enclosing tue stoves Is AN pOprn moor
constructed of STRIPS like laths. On this
l. Md loosely woven covering OF horse
hair; and upon This hursehaa eioln tne
hons are pnud 10 about the depth OF
Twelve inunes. They are irrquenlly
gently turned, and remain IN the kiln
Tor eleven hours, nn hour being allowed
for the change from u dry 10 green
nshitt" OF hops, each of which consists
ii about 500 bushels. The dry hops are
then spread on the hO0r Of the oasf not
only long enough 10 cool, but also 70
regain a certain amount Of atmospheric
moisture, without whlch they would re
main brittle and break INTO sliyers and
dust They are now packed IN pockets
or long, strong bags holding few
hounds above one hundred weight, aud
are ready for the London market.
Of the 5000 TO 100000 souls who
secure nearly i months lucrative en-
nloyment IN the hup-gafdens Of Kent.
ne,.hans One-tltirl are hentish cOttagers
aud Villagers, The remainder are FROM
the lowliess and one might ray the most
homeless classes Of London and it, i'm
mediate suburbs; although sprinkling
az resliectablity leayens the latter In u
Few broken-down folk who have seen
better days, aud lDyalds with lung and
throat troubles who have been told that
he country air and long smell o the
ions" would relieve their nilnienls. But
thIs great army OF pickers which each
Tear takes possession Of Kent, divides
Instantly and sharply into three grand
me trst comprises the kentish rural
and village foik. These are fayorites
with IN masters. Ilscy inelude the
antire families Of the farm laborers, the
bedse-builders, the drain layers, the bop
drivers and an countryside folk; while
fr1n, The village CONES the painter. ne
sboemaker, the saddler, the carpenter. NJ y.
bricklayer and stonemuson, and aii tnsn
families; while | have even seen ~
family Of the schocimAsief ana tne P'o1