Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1901-07-31

planted for every 100 female or produc-
tive vines, scatters the almost imper-
ceptible pollen, or bees carry 1t to
neighborlng blossoms, which are fertil-
lied or strengthened. Instead of the
cone shaped flower of the female vine,
the male has little punches of small
seeds which burst open and scatter the
pollen in the air.
During the period of growth the rows
are cultivated with u horse cultiyator
in the same manner that corn Is culti-
waited. The horse, cultivator and driver
pass under the green canopy of vines,
which Is high enough to admit of their
passing without injury to the vines.
The picking season begins In the first
half of September and lasts from three
to five weeks, according to the size of
the crop. A good average crop Is 1900
pounds to the acre, and land producing
such crop sells from $500 to $500 an
acre. Crops of 5000 pounds to the acre
are not unknown on farms which are
scientifically and carefully attend
ed. "On large plantations oper-
ated by companies" says a
writer, "the superintendent engages his
pickers weeks before the season opens.
That they may not desert the field
when they are most needed, the COM
panies generally have "a rule by which
promissory checks are issued TO the
pickers for forenoon work and negotia-
BILE slips for afternoon pickings. Then,
If the picker deserts or Is discharged
for cause, he forfeits the forenoon pay
ments that would eventually have been
made to him at the end of the season.
Pay is by the pound, and is based on
the prevailing price Of hops"
The hops are picked in sacks or bas-
kets and are dumped into large
trough-like crate until the crate Il. full.
The long festooned aisles are aromatic
with hops. aud alive with nodding
vines and laughing, merry pickers.
There seems to be an infectious jollity
about the business, and every one ex-
cept the stoical Indian or the stolid
squaw is lively and apparently happy.
The manager or overseer of the field
passes along between the rows to see
that the picking is clean from leaves
and twigs which are either carelessly
dropped into the baskets or intention
ally put there, to increase the weight.
The cones only are picked, and 1t is
surprising how expert and deft some Of
the pickers are In denuding the vines
Of their valuable fruitage. 1t Is fact
attested by hop growers in the West
generally that Indians are the most re-
liable pickers. Their pickings are clean,
and they never attempt to make IAN
honest penny" by smuggling forbidden
leaves or twigs into their baskets. 1t
is said that the inspectors rarely think
1t necessary to examine an Indians
basket for contraband.
The rough, prickly vines make 1t nee
essary for all except the hardened pick
ers to use gloves. They usually get a
cent or a cent and half a pound, and
an average hand will make dollar n
day; but many pickers make more than
twice that amount.
Some Drawbacks.
But, picturesque as some features of
the work are, it has its drawbacks.
The rose has its thorn, or the hop vines
have rough, harsh stems that irritate
and scratch the hands. and In many
cases poison them so that they break
out in a kind of eruption.
The weighing is an important func-
ton, for both picker and owner, and
it Is attended with considerable ami
nation.
Each sack or basket is numbered, so
that If its contents prove dirty 1t can
be traced back to the person who pick
ed It. When the weighing takes place
the number and weight Of the basket
are set down in book opposite the
picker's name, so that there can be no