The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1906-07-26
PICKING THE
STRAWB Jerry
ANNUAL EVENT AT HOOD RIVER
Miss Edith /. Niles Tells the story in
the Portland Evening
Telegram.

coined at banquet, and needs no gar
nishment to make it appetiliug, and
yet it Is so easy Of cultivation tina II
is possible at the humblest board.
The mere mention Of strawberry
creates interest and satisfaction IN
any menu. One feels we'll served who
has dish OF these duintics. tu TACT,
If it we're announced that we were to
to feast on sawdusC aud strawberries
it is likely most people would take the
sawdust for the sake of tine strawber-
ries--that Is, if Strawberries we're
scarce.
With proper care the strawberry
flourishes in nearly every climate,
and responds quickly to cultivation III
both size and the quantity OF yield.
In Oregon, like the Iose, it has found
conditions exactly suited to 1t, end,
like the rose, it is at its full glory IN
the month of June, From the low
lands of willamette valley to attitudes
close to the snow line OF Mount Hood
| it tlourishes. In the valley ut Hood
River it has been brought TO a degree
of protection found nowhere else.
This is partly due to climatic condi-
tions and the soil Of the LOCALITY and
partly to the extreme care and scien-
title treatment it receives from the
progressive growers OF this locality,
In this district OF Oregon thele Is b
light rich soil, in which volcanic ash
predominates, the atmosphere Is cool
and moist and days are made up oi
alternate cloud and sunshine, lht
latter is ideal for berry growing, as II
prevents the berries coming On toe
rapidly and prolougs the season
Think Of shipping l. and j. cars OF
strawberrles Irom ,ne town d. sh-
gle day This has been uoHu Llmt
and again at Hood River Last yeal,
l0S, 600 crates shipped out uetcd the
growers $40, 900. lhs year. owing
to the Marcn frost, the crop is small,
and though it is estimated the yield
will be but about Oo,OuO crates, the
prices from them Will make TIE ln-
come something llke olOJ, J,OnI'
With this tremendous bulk Ii, Der.
ries it be harvested, 1t Is httle Nuudol
that Hood River is famous among
pickers and lovers ot uuttoor liio.
People journey to this Mecca from all
parts of the country and In al man
ner of ways. They come 10y tram auo
boat, family groups and social parties
They come in wagons and rigs, tht
family piled on top OF the camp equip
ment. They come on horseback ant
, a-wheel, or a-toot With tent and sup
plies on their pack horse men wall
in with their blankets, frying pan
coffee kettle and lineup swung OIL
their backs.
Picking is so easy that even Indian
will do it. L ey come III oil tho res
eryation a picturesque procession
clad in citizens clothes, broad
brimmed hats trimmed IN feathers
. and over their shoulders a gra
J blanket worn in true Indian fashion
! the women bareheadeJ, the gra
i blanket atop Their calico dress. ATls
tocratic bucks come riding two dee
on a cayuse of no particular preLeh
4 sions as to size.
e Hood River is, therefore, the plaC
I to 90 picking, and thlther we wende
' our way. 1t was too lato to 60 TO th
7 patches on the day We arr we'd. GlCh
= ing was too nearly over close to to~
r to make it worth while to seek en-
: ployment there. But we easily st
, cured an engagement higher up TIL
}. valley, and luckily at the largest ben
; ry ranch in the locality. 1t has somt
thing over - acres IN berries. lhin
o of the army of pickers roqurcd-A
e can easily make good money there.
We we're to have tentruom and Il
r. the wood we wanted free, also to hay
- our luggage hauled from the rallNa
to the camp free of charge. The prt
T. liminaries being settled, we Wer
II down to the shipping houses. 1t WI
st near evening, and the berries wei
y beginning to come in. Down IL
n billy street they wound, every d'
d scription Of vehicle, but All ol the
on springs and carefully dFl'Sh
q, prevent shaking the berrIes' al al'
n closely covered Win canvas Io ohTlHJ
n the dust. here comes sulal ! loo'
d ing buggy WIN elRhC UoAe7 T,''lp' "
N n on the pack ana 1"o on '"o 'I'
IS Ihese are from s'llali pau" " ~
r, drives llghI wagon "oil loaugu Nv
~ y comes wa B"h WIN I" i'on ~
h, loaded TO the lllhit' IhiS - I;.-l iIonh
I'd Ianch Where they liHAe d p''9lne
10 OF berry-raislhB' "o'.lah ui' i, W. 90
lie farm wagon IN. Ana so Ihey al IL,
Id up at the plaClorlh' Tnoio H'J' =, -
them nightly TO Che scaieS' "eiBn d d
count them, anu Ihe'l Vno ou'P'y w"
on huIfles OH TO give Piaee W !
next. Why' even inc sIaee Ga,Iy' W
e the United states hali Ls auu pass
az gers, had also loaa 9i peIrloS, berries. \
or so the procession WIZ CI,iIltI' CoulluuG'
IL the : o CLOCK CLaih, thG . . GloOh W. !"
35G clear up as laIe as tno - y ~, ClD
tram, SO tnat every ueIIy i7 snlPl
the DAY IL Is ploNeu' IIoul tHo
,GqI celVlng room they 90 by eleNa1oF
Of the tracks, whefe refrigerator c"''