Show w SCRIBE TELLS OF HARVEST TIME I IN N PlOt PIONEER EER DAYS DAYSI I ELIZABETH eRA CRAWFORD HUNK MUNK Harvest time in general was later in early pioneer days than now One reason for this was because It must all be done by han hand Another reason was that they were not able to get their planting done as early in spring as we do now not havin having feed enough for their animals They 1 were not strong enough to pull the plow The They must wait until the grass grew then they would turn the animals out at night to feed and work them during the day TIle The first spring after U the e pioneers landed landed landed land land- ed in 1 there was only ono one team In town able to pull a plow This yoke Joke of oxen belonged to Jez Je Jezreel reel and after plowing his own farm this team was loaned or hired to others until theirs grew v stronger I suppose the garden tru truck would be harvested about the same time lime in the fall faU as it is now or perhaps a little earlier on account of ot the scarcity of f food and the tile gardens were mostly spaded so that could be bedone bedone bedone done as early as one oue had time to get at it or as the season would per per- permit mitt mit I 1 t Some Somme of the first settlers have told old us that when the squash was half grown they would pick them peel and cook them and while peeling peeling peel peel- ing ing mg them they would eat a o few bites in the raw state and it would taste better than a nice ripe apple would taste to us now So harvest time was something for them then to look forward to The Mormon pioneers had great faith and a broad vision Ision They watched watch d the wild wil berries and fruits on on th the hill sides sider and and- mount mountains and iid knew knew that tha if they watched closely close close- ly ty y an and worked they would be able to gather plenty for their winter ase use i I. I I will ill mention a few of or the berries ber ries that were most lOst plentiful around the river banks and hIlls hills of M I There was vas the service e berries red berries bull or or- or squaw berries wild goose goose gooseberries berries straw strawberries berries and currants currants currants cur cur- rants choke cherries elder berries and ground cherries Then thero there was the haw tree which grew to be four or fv feet tall taIl Its It's fruit was black when r ripe p and alid like the choke chokecherry chokecherry cherr cherry had a large seed e d or sto stone e In Inthe Inthe inthe the was was' mild flavor 1130 heart It was in but dry The choke choke cherry was black also when whenn ripe but t w was s sery very ery juicy and ma made e delicious Theelder The Theelder Theelder elder berries g grew ew on good sized bushes and were were black when they grew in clusters like grapes but were much smaller Their flavor was yas mild bust buit they were very juicy and were used a great deal for makIng making mak mak- ing wine wine ad when mixed with the red berries they ther made delicious pie The berry we called the red berry also grew on a goo good sized tree Some years rears they w were rc very pi plentiful en and Continued on page four tour SCRIBE TELLS OF HARVEST TIME IN PIONEER DAYS ELIZABETH CRAWFORD HUNK MUNK K we wc could go Just a few tew miles up on what we called the old mountain and In a short time we could shake shakedown shakedown down several bushels We Ve would spread down wagon covers and quilts to catch them then They The were wore bright red and transparent Something Something Something Some Some- only thing like our red currents smaller and had Lad a n. good sour flavor The service berry herr was very mild and sweet It needed heeded some squaw or red berries to pep It up The Tha squawberry squaw I Derry berry was fiat flat and oblong It had hada a stocky substance nce on the surface They were slightly astringent and I their flavor was Improved by leaving them hem until after the first frost The wild strawberries gooseberries and I currants were much the sumo same flavor as the cultivated ones but much smaller in size The ground c cherry lerrY grew In tn the fields among g the grain It had a 3 achin athin thin chin bell s' s shaped pod and the leaves of or this pod pc-d were slightly open opell at atthe atthe the end The children had hud great sport blowing them theft full of air then bitting them against their or ur hands This Thi made a report loud JouA enough to frighten one If not look look- lug h g for it The They grew plentiful alon along the field ditches and among the grain The cherry after being picked from the pod was scalded d dand and dried The freighters would buy them ond nd nd take them along wits wt other farm tarm produce to sell at th the mining camps also at Provo Prove and nd Salt Lake City I During the first few years rears after I Ithe the arrival of oY the pioneers they must be content with the berries they could gather In the fields along with the creek banks and in th the foot hi hills s because of Indian troubles Later on when the Indians and the the- I grasshoppers were somewhat conquered conquered con con- they forged their way up the c canyon farther where the bushes bush bush- bushes es an and trees grew taller and th thick tho fruit larger and more luscious Whole families would often go and stay all day taking their heir lunch along How they would enjoy it Each striking out for themselves I I All Intent on seeing who could bring home the most berries everything every jEvery- very very- I time thing was quiet part of the as they the were not close enough for I conversation but now and ad then n it heard in distance voice could be the I or a twig would crack under someone's some Jome- ones one's foot I The sun would glint down through the tIle tree tops throwing the lights and shadows down on the under under- I I brush How we learned to love the I grandeur and the solitude of tho the mountain I The rhe young pe people loved to gather at apple paring bees spinning bees I rag bees quilting quilting- bees gleaning gleaning glean glean- ing bees and etc but at these various various var var- ious gatherings they had their work wort in in- view Their minds were occupied with the thc thought that their harvest were being gathered ready for win witt- wInter winter ter use Pioneer life taught them to use ever every scrap berry or kernel of grain They mixed recreation with their labor It when ever possible They The were not so ap al apt t to go to excess excess excess ex ex- cess with either one That Is one atthe of at the reasons why so many man were wera strong and hard hardy When the pioneers first landed In la laManti Manti ManU it was discovered that a portion portion portion por por- tion of ot the low land south and west of where the town now stands was covered with a white mineral which they called This was found Cound to be excellent for making soap and also for making flaking biscuits Later on when tune Provo Woolen Mills i were started there was a I. I demand demand demand de de- de- de mand for this mineral to soften the water in which the wool was wash wash- ed This was as a source of for the pioneers Any time during the summer or fall when a man luau would go to the trouble of hitchIng hitching hitching hitch hitch- ing onto the wagon and rounding the family up they could go to these beds and scrape uP a load take it to Provo and sell it for woolen goods Not much per pound I suppose but every little helped No one Otte became rich but they the were I healthy an and happy in their their wont won BRIGHT HARVEST I The small furred animals within the wood rood Have spent their summer harvesting harvesting harvest harvest- ing ins a crop or Of growing rowing things most savory and I good For days when natures nature's graciousness must stop I Their brother man hoards hoards' treasure I In like wise DooP pool In the secret secret recess recess recess' of or his I mind When snow falls he remembers tho io I bright skies Of August a and d swift memory canI can I flied find fliedA findA I A seagull wheeling over breaking I waves Long meadow grasses blowing to toI I the westI west The mountain shadow ow These the I good he saves sayes These are the riches that his heart I loves beet best lU ill Come Ice lee come cold come winter I wind and storm Fed by a gone by-gone sun sun- sunman's mans man's heart heartis is warm New New York Times Continued next week |