The sun., 1908-07-19
WESTERN DERRY PICKERs.
Wanderers That Gather Small Fruit Crops
OF Missouri and Arkansas.

y
Wanderers That Gather Small Fruit Crops
OF Missouri and Arkansas.
Like the rowing bands Of harvesters that
follow the ripening Of the barley across
the counties Of England and Ireland Is
the nondescript and mobile army Of workers
who look after the fruit gathering In Mis-
souri, and Arkansas. A life Of careless
vagabondage Is led by these people, who
make few dollars picking berries here and
spend It getting TO the next job yonder.
The berry picking is over. and the ancient
order OF fly by nights has moved back TO
lock horns with the Alberta peach and the
early apple. The tramps believe II it were
not for them, says the Kansas City Star,
that strawberries and other quick perishing
fruits could not proftably be placed on
the Northern markets In such large guam
titles as at present. 1t Ii true that this
industry requires quick mobilization Of
labor attracted by moderate wages.
The strawberry Is the first fruit on the
market. the most perishable and the one
requiring q considerable amount of organ
ization to get the product on the Northern
markets while the prices are good.
The tramp who can sleep In the "jingles'
and has the knack Of getting over the road
at small expense Is really part OF the straw
berry industry.
Starting at Fort Smith. he works his way
up over the Frisco and Kansas City Southern
railroads. picking Strawberries % tho
patches gradually come 70 maturity further
and further north. Then he turns around
at st. Louis and works his wey back over
until he again arrives at Fort Smith. n by
this time he 10 still inclined 70 work he goes
out in the cotton fields but not often. Cotton
picking 10 largely done BY the people In the
immediate locality where the crop 10
from the mountains.
Last spring was hard season for both
piokers and growers OF berries: Rain
nearly ruined the crop. and hard times
bSought many more piolters into the district
The railroads. let piokers ride the freights
without molestation. y being pretty veil
understood that the berry piokers this
season had no money. There were many
cases Of hard luck. A woman and hor
Smith to springdais. Ark. The rains de-
stroyed the berries the woman's money
gave out, and after sleeping three nights
ON the depot benches q ticket home was
given 70 her by q number Of travelling men
who had observed her plight.
Rudy, Ark, a little town in the ozarks,
where the roads are very rough and rocky,
but where the people are hospitable and
kind, is 2 typical stravberry town: Here
during the SEASON well iced freezer
snd stands e. drippins on dng sysrS evening;
down the hills, over boulders which IL would
take tons Of dynamite to remove, laden
with the fragrant fruit.
A mountain stream runs close by the
town, and here are the 'junglss, the pick
tramps camp 10 called-a Jungle Camp
fires are burning among the trees. Juicy
steaks are being barbecued and emulligafls'
are eteaming In old boilers and lard tins.
On the bushes are various articles Of wear
In the stream.
Besides sleeping and living In the 'jun-
gles' the plokers are allowed 70 shops In
the village church and at the depot. Tents
are provided in some places, but this b
The berry patches Of Arkansas are on
the high hills, winding road makes It's
way up seemingly impossible inclines TO
q mountain home simply and substantially
built or logs. with FIREPLACE Of brown
bluebiris and pigeon cote at the other.
Then there Is the ever present spring:
Springs, many OF them discharging small
rivers. everywhere abound.
But the berry patch is the place Of in
terest. 1t is on ground 30 rocky. that one
wonders how anything can grow In such a
place, but the growers. say that the rocks
are no detriment, rather q help They
keep the soil loose and moist. The berries
are laid out In regular rows which must be
kept separate and well cultivated. At one
corner Of the patch Is the Berry shed, q
roughly constructed shelter looking good
deal like a circus lemonade stand.
Here the pickers bring full boxes. which |
are the ordinary quart berry homes, six or |
seven OF them resting on what 10 called |
holder this being simply. q light franc |
with handles to carry the boxes. At the |
shed the boxes are exchanged for printed |
tickets Of different denominations, which |
show how many quarts have been picked. |
These tickets are redeemable at the village !
store In cash.
The picking proceeds by each person
taking one row, picking it clean to the |
edge Of the patch, when another IL assigned |
10 him by the person overseeing the work |
Il IL permissible to eat few berries now |
and then as one goes along. but one who |
ndulges too freely or tries TO .swipe' |
choice berries from his neighbor's row, or |
worse still. picks berries at night. 10 desig- |
mated hog For such there Is scant oon- |
,ideration.
Counting the time lost on wet days. time |
spent climbing over mountains from one |
patch to another, and deducting expenses |
,f getting over the railroad from one berry |
district to another, o good picker has |
made about 50 oents q day. or course, 1
here are cases where piokers have cashed |
n IS or even IS for days work. but such |
he picker has not grown wealthy he has |
,pent the summer In the orchards and |
ields. When winter comes he sshocks up |
With enough money to last till spring, when |
lgain the call Of the orchards bids him |
orth to adventure.