49 



the business before the strawberry harvest will be past. Much 

 better help may be obtained where constant employment can be 

 given for a longer time. Pickers become expert in the business, 

 when they will give better satisfaction to their employers and earn 

 larger wages for themselves. 



On large fruit farms, resort is had to the cities and villages 

 for help, and temporary quarters are fitted up for their accom- 

 modation. This becomes necessary when the distance is too 

 great to admit of returning home at night. These pickers some- 

 times form quite a little army, and have to be trained in their 

 work by overseers, and governed by stringent rules. The pick- 

 ing is done at a certain price per basket, usually from one to 

 two cents for strawberries, the price increasing as the berries 

 diminish ; and the wages earned vary from one to two dollars a 

 day. 



Each picker is required to pick ripe fruit only, and that which 

 is fit for market, confining himself strictly to the row assigned 

 him. If, on pouring out a basket, occasionally, the fruit proves 

 to be unripe, the picker forfeits all pay for his work ; and if, oa 

 examination, it is found that he has not picked his row clean, 

 he is set back, and required to go over the ground again. One 

 or two such lessons usually suffice ; but when, after repeated 

 admonitions, a picker persists in violating reasonable rules, he 

 is dismissed from the field. 



Small stands are provided, holding four or six quart baskets, 

 for convenience in bringing the fruit to the packing shed. 

 As each is brought in, the berries are inspected, and the picker 

 receives a check for the number of baskets which it contains. 

 Some growers redeem these checks every Saturday night, while 

 others pay only at the close of the berry season. This practice 

 is adopted to prevent desertions at the height of the harvest. 

 As a loss of checks is a loss of pay, each picker must keep them 

 with care until the day of redemption. 



Some growers pick over one half of the ground each day, so 

 that a particular section is gathered every alternate day, while 

 others prefer to pick over the whole area every day. In the 

 latter case the berries are simply colored, not ripe ; but they are 

 firmer, and ship in better condition, which is all the grower 

 cares for, except to get his money. These berries are sent 



