HOP PICKING IN KENT

Evening Star, Issue 22460, 3 October 1936, Page 2

HOP PICKING IN KENT

The Kent hop picking season'is with’ us (writes the London correspondent of the Melbourne ‘Age’),-and already, one may meet on coining up to town,; curious caravans of pickers, who regard ■this work as their annual holiday—perambulators loaded with luggage and babies and sometimes dilapidated old cars packed to the limit with bundles and humanity. ; Brewers will probably be paying well over £2,000,000 for the Kentish crop, which this season is generally very good and particularly suited to stout "and pale alp. Altogether the hop fields employ about 100,000 people during the picking season. East Enders, who go eh- famille, can make £lO or £ls clear of- expenses during the fortnight for which, it lasts—a pleasant change, even if it does mean hard worn: and lots of fun. The accommodation provided is now infinitely, better tnan it was a- few years ago—at one time it r was scandalous. East End belles go a-picking in pyjamas if the weather is suitable, and use their lipstick during moments of rest. To ensure that even, and becoming sunburn tan, they use other cosmetics, which prevent blistering and skinning. In fact, for these lasses hop picking is a stage in. beauty culture.