Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-08-26

from far and near. Men, women and
children, whole families, camp on the
barrens during the picking season which
lasts from five 10 six weeks. The camps
present scenes, both picturesque and
unique. Some are of canvas and some
are of boughs laid over poles. They a, c
usually pitched near spring and in a
sheltered spot. Camp life here is much the
same as in the woods except for the pre-
sence of women and troops of children.
The fare though not elaborate is album
dant, fresh and wholesome, being brought
daily from the village where the factory
is located.
There are two pickings, one immedi-
ately following the other. The lessee has
general oversight over the work. and
allots certain territory to each individual,
or family. Careful and efficient service
is required. The picking is done by the
use of an implement called a picker. the
invention of which may have been sug-
gested by the old fashioned dust pan, as
the handle back, sides and general make
up closely resemble that article of bousc-
hold use. The width of the picker varies
from five to eight inches The smaller
sizes are used by women and children, and
the larger by men. The back of the picker
is about four inches high. The back,
Sides and the bottom next to the back,
are mado of heavy tin. The outer part of
the bottom is of straight steel prongs
some six inches long, set short distance
apart The operator grasps the short
handle, and thrusts the prongs, slightly
elevated among the foliage OF the bushes
beneath the berries, when a dextrous turn
of the wrist shakes off the ripe fruit,
which rolls down into the tight bottom
of the pan.
Skillful and able men gather In this
way from three TO four bushels per day
In the afternoon the berries are collected
and drawn to the factory by the lessee
who takes back food and money to the
people on the barrens. The factory pays
the owner of the land one cent per quart
for all the berries bought. The balance
of the price paid gees to the lessee, who
pays the pickers. 1t is not unusual for q
two horse team to bring in seventy five
bushels of berries. The first of the pick
ic Ir,t Is oh go
cities in crates, each holding SO boxes.
This is done for two reasons First, be-
cause in the early part of the season, prices
are good for raw berries; second, because
the supply is not at first in suffic lent vol
ume to admit of running all the depart
ments of the factory in an economical way
on full time.
When the receipts at the factory reach
200 to 300 bushels par day the canning
season commences. The principal fac
tories which may be put down as d.stinc.
lively noted for packing blueberries, are
the Cherryfleld Packing Company, and
the j, & E. A. Wyman Packing Com
pany both at Cherryfeld,. the Harrington
Packing Company, at Harrington, aad
the Columbia Falls Packing Company,
at Columbia Falls. These four firms put
up on an average about 80, 900 bushels
each year. We may safely add to this
10000 which ara sold raw. from the State
at large. Therefore our blueberry crop
at the present time may be conservatively
stated as being 40, 600 bushels. AS the
demand increases the volume of the bu ST.
ness may be Increased to almost any re-
quired extent. 1t already gives employ
ment during the season to hundreds Of
people, and, with the exception of mate
rials used in making the cans, the proceeds
are clear gain to the State of Maine.
Fra,Jy .C1ar1- ava unr,oo