BLACKBERRY-GATHERING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 136, 26 February 1918, Page 6

BLACKBERRY-GATHERING

WEEK-END RAIDERS.

One of tho common sights on tho Hutt Road on Saturday afternoons and Sundays is tho seemingly neverending procession of people who visit the slopes of Kaitoke and the uplands of the Akatarawa Valley in search of tie "farmer's curse"—the _ blackberry. Sunday in particular is tho great berrying day. From tho earliest dawn, motor-cars, motor-buses, seated' expresses, wpgonettes, motor-cycles, push bikes, well laden with empty petrol tins, buckets, and boxes, raise the dust of the old road as they dash out to the blackberry-cursed lauds at the top of the long valley. On Sunday last there must have been upwards of a thousand people engaged in this thorny pursuit. Fiftylour people were counted in ono motor-bus alone, and there appeared to be motor-buses and seated motorlorries without end, whilst the motorcars and cycles were like flies along the road. Unfortunately for the agriculturist, the blackberry flourishes ceedingly close to the roadsido at Kaitoke, and Up the Akatarawa' Valley, and there were ample buppiies, during the week-end for most of those who went about the business diligently. • The best idea when going blackbcrryiug is to equip oneself witii an oid pair of gloves and Chinese (straw) cuffs, and preferably old boots. The former precaution is almost necessary to prevent the thousand little pricks from the sharp thorns that always put up a good tight for their fruit. The latter provision is for the same reason. The blackberry sends out long strong shoots along die ground, heavily protected with strong, vicious thorns that are rough on leather. There was some speculation among those gathering berries on Sunday as to the extent of tho harvest. Assuming tlwt there were 1000 people berrying on Saturday afternoon and Sunday, and oacli gathered 51b. U low estimate), SOOOib. (over two tons) of berries must have heen gathered during the week-end.