PURE AND IMPURE FOODS. 



65 



and irresponsible persons, recognizing the 

 fact that the blueberry crop is more abun- 

 dant on young bushes which spring up 

 after a fire, recklessly burn over vast areas, 

 thus destroying valuable forests for their 

 own selfish ends. As described by Pro- 

 fessor Munson, of the Maine Agricultural 

 Experiment Station, the method of har- 

 vesting blueberries is somewhat as follows: 

 1 he land is divided into several tracts, 

 each of which is leased to some respon- 

 sible party who assumes the whole care of 

 burning, keeping off trespassers, harvest- 

 ing and marketing the fruit. The owner 

 receives, as rental, one-half cent a quart 

 for all the fruit gathered. The pickers re- 

 ceive 1/2 to 3 cents a quart; those -who 

 lease the land and haul the fruit to the 

 canning factory, or to the station for ship- 

 ment, one-half to one cent a quart ; the 

 rating being determined, in accordance 

 with the market value, by the firm which 

 handles the product. The fruit is all 

 canned or shipped by one firm, which pays 

 the royalty to the owner. 



Every year a certain section of each 

 lease is burned over. This burning must 

 be done early in the spring, before the soil 

 becomes dry ; otherwise the fire goes too 

 deep, the humus is burned from the 

 ground and most of the bushes are killed. 

 Many hundred acres on what should be the 

 best part of the "barrens," as the blueberry 

 lands are termed, have thus been ruined. 

 Each section is burned every third year. 



By far the largest proportion of the fruit 

 is taken to the factories for canning. 

 Early in the season, however, before the 

 factories are opened, a considerable quan- 

 tity is shipped, usually in quart boxes, to 

 the larger cities, for use while fresh. With 

 the exception of currants and gooseberries, 

 blueberries will stand rough handling bet- 

 ter, and will keep longer than other small 

 fruits. 



All the early fruit is picked by hand, and 

 only the ripe berries are gathered. Later 

 in the season, particularly on "old burns," 

 that is, on areas which have not been 

 burned over in some time, but which are 

 to be burned the next year, the fruit is 

 gathered with a blueberry rake. This is an 

 implement somewhat similar to the cran- 

 berry rake in use on Cape Cod, and may 

 be likened to a dustpan, the bottom of 

 which is composed of stiff, parallel wire 

 rods. The fruit may be gathered much 

 more quickly and more cheaply by means 

 of the rake. The bushes are, however, se- 

 riously injured by the treatment. In no 

 case should the rake be used in gathering 

 high bush blueberries. As the berries are 

 gathered they are passed through a fanning 

 mill before being sent to the canning fac- 

 tory ; and again at the factory, they are 

 submitted tc a stronger winnowing. This 

 is usually the only preparation necessary. 



ON THE CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY. 

 GERTRUDE F. LYNCH. 



By whatever route you cross the con- 

 tinent, be sure that special attractions in 

 the way of scenery will make the trip mem- 

 orable; but it is safe to say that if you 

 select the Canadian Pacific in preference 

 to others, you will never regret the choice. 

 Railroad traveling is, as a general thing, 

 but a necessary evil between 2 certain 

 goods — the place of departure and the place 

 of destination. This general rule finds its 

 notable exception on the Canadian Pacific, 

 where the traveling itself is the all impor- 

 tant consideration and the points of arrival 

 and departure sink into insignificance, for 

 all impressions and memories are for the 

 time being blotted out by those created by 

 the stupendous spectacles offered in this 

 means of transit. 



We, as representatives of Recreation, 

 boarded the cars of the C. P. R., at Van- 

 couver. We were scenery-sated, for we 

 had already crossed the continent and had 

 spent weeks amid the marvels of the world. 

 We believed that nothing could arouse our 

 calloused sensibilities ; we were sure we 

 had not a thrill left in our whole nervous 

 outfit. We did, however, look about the 

 spacious car with its soft upholstery of 

 restful color, note the quiet deftness of 

 the attaches, as we were conducted to our 

 section, and the general neatness of detail 

 with satisfaction. One can easily exhaust 

 one's power of enjoyment, but appeals to 

 personal comfort are rarely made in vain. 

 We determined, in the manner of blase 

 travelers that, if we felt so inclined, we 

 should ignore alluring prospectuses and 

 turn our backs on the well advertised at- 

 tractions of the route in order to enjoy 

 the comfort and repose of our temporary 

 home. No such inclination assailed us. 

 Scarcely had the train left the station when 

 the passengers began to leave the sleeper to 

 seek the observation car in the rear. A few 

 remained to keep us company, but they 

 were soon dragged away by enthusiastic 

 friends. We were the last to go, and fol- 

 lowing the example of the late comers, we 

 remained the last. No one, I am sure, on 

 that memorable trip displayed greater en- 

 thusiasm or has shown more unflagging 

 zeal in reminiscence. 



Through stupendous gorges, at the edges 

 of canyons so deep that the head swims 

 looking down, scaling mountains tipped 

 with the everlasting snow, panting up 

 grades so steep that 2 and 3 engines 

 were brought into use, along the brink of 

 yawning gulches magnificently colored, in 

 gloomy snow sheds, reminders of the win- 

 ters' wrath, we pursued our way. Words 

 are inadequate to describe, they can merely 

 suggest or perhaps invite. Nature, in this 

 part of the world, has been generous in her 



