The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1906-07-26
PICKING THE
STRAWBERRY

washed, tent In order and all in read
mess to go a-held. So was every one
else, but, alas, 1t rained-just pro-
voking, hesltating, intermittent rain,
but enough to keep the berries wet
and unfit to pack. We hung around
the entire day In state of uncer
tainty. The sun might come out, the
foreman assured us, and the wind
come up and dry things off, and If it
did, there would be picking In oou-
pie of hours. But this did not hap.
pen. The sun would peep out for a
few moments and then the clouds
would close over and in the distance
we could see the stoI m sweeping down
the mountains and presently it would
ke upon us pelting rain and cold
wind. 1t would last, perhaps, but
few moments and then journey on
down the valley. The sun would
come out again causing our spirits
to rise, only TO be dashed by another
storm,
The sun was up the next morning,
and bright end early smoke was as
cending at the various tents, and the
od0r of cooking prevailed. by 7
O'Clock sun and wind had made tine
vines dry enough that we could begin
work. We all filed mp to the packing
house to get our carrier, which Is q
sort of tray with deep handle, and
carries ak boxes or "hallocks, " as
they are called. The foreman led the
way to the field and assigned to each
a "row," giving few directions as to
how to pick-to avoid green ones,
and to leave about a half-inoh stem.
Some may find reason to object to
the plucking of the berry with the
stem, instead of swapping II off next
the berry, which Ii much the easier
way on the ground that 1t leaves
more room in the box for berries
but when IL comes to the packing the
wisdom of the stem will be evident.
We all set to work most ambltiously,
men and women, old and young folks,
and the children, too, some of them
quite small. Any one can pick straw.
berries, and II the little ones do not
pick very fast, what they do helps to
swell the showing when the account
ID taken at the close of the day The
family parties would keep together,
the old folks watching and directing
the work of the small fry, and help
ing out the slow ones, so that all
come to the end of tho row about
even.
1t WAS surprising to soc how the
expsrienood ones and experts forged
ahead. Their carriers would be full
and they would be rushing off to the
packing shed almost while we were
making up our minds whether berry
was ripe enough to pick or no.. They
are the ones who earn the 81 and
S2.50 day, You can pick bending
over or STOPPING, or clear down on
your launches like an Indian; or on
one knee and then ON the other and
then on both knees. You will prob
ably try them all before your first
mornings picking Is over, and fer
vently wish there were various othor
ways to try. BY the time you have
had your first days experience, you
are initiated. IL you have never he
fore ridden the goat, you certainly
feel M IL you had. No secret cere
monies, however sacred, could be
more rigorous than the initial day in
the berry patch. But that wears off,
the experienced ones cherfully assure
you. Healthy Nothing could be more
so Tie constant bending and unbend
ing, reaching as far as possible NJ
and down the row, in order to avoid
so much bending and unbending, lift
ing the carrier, growing heavier
each time with the weight of the
fruit, aAd all out in the clear, warm
sunshine with the air blowing fresh
off the mountains. The inventor OF
the hundred years idea must certainly
have gotten his inspiration in straw
berry field.
The patch which comprised severa
acres, soon became dotted with pick
ers--those of average speed advancing
at about the same pace down the rows,
the fast ones way ahead, and the slow
ones keeping up brave front in The
rear. There was no time wasted, moi
stop foI chat or comment. When
your carrier is full, mark the place
on your row, hurry down your row
at the end and then on to the pack,
ing g-house to deliver your carrier, get
credit for it and an empty carrier,
then hurry back. II you forgot tC
mark your row when you went out,
you are table to lose much time find
ing it when you go back, for the rows
look just alike, and you will wander
around and perhaps light on someon,
else's row. The foreman, the only
one privileged to walk acorss rows
moves around among the pickers tC
see that the berries are properly gath
cred and assign each to new row
when he is ready. 1t was malvelou,
how soon one large tract would b,
finished and the attack made upou
another one. The fields are laid out
and rows run according to slope il
oider to admit of irrigation, and nC