I found it. HDT Journal (Sept 25, 1855) ...We got about 3 pecks of barberries from 4 or 5 bushes--but I filled my fingers with prickles to pay for them. With the hands well defended, it would be pleasant picking--they are so handsome--and beside are so abundant & fill up so fast. I take hold the end of the drooping twigs with my left hand raise them & then strip downward at once as many clusters as my hand will embrace--commonly bringing away with the raceme one or small green leaves or bracts---which I do not stop to pick out-- When I come to a particular thick & handsome wreath of fruit I pluck the twig entire & bend it around the inside of the basket. Some bushes bear much larger & plumper berries than others--some also are comparatively green yet. Meanwhile the cat-bird mews in the alders by my side--& the scream of the jay is heard from the woodside.
I also found a reference in some old ledgers for Oliver Ames in Easton charging someone for a 1/2 bushel of barberries, but I don't have the price at hand.
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timeasmymeasure
A Thorny business
Date: 2006-12-16 08:59 pm (UTC)...We got about 3 pecks of barberries
from 4 or 5 bushes--but I filled my
fingers with prickles to pay for them.
With the hands well defended, it
would be pleasant picking--they are
so handsome--and beside are so
abundant & fill up so fast.
I take hold the end of the drooping
twigs with my left hand raise them
& then strip downward at once
as many clusters as my hand
will embrace--commonly bringing
away with the raceme one or
small green leaves or bracts---which I do
not stop to pick out-- When
I come to a particular thick &
handsome wreath of fruit I pluck
the twig entire & bend it around
the inside of the basket. Some
bushes bear much larger & plumper
berries than others--some also are
comparatively green yet. Meanwhile
the cat-bird mews in the alders by
my side--& the scream of the jay
is heard from the woodside.
I also found a reference in some old ledgers for Oliver Ames in Easton charging someone for a 1/2 bushel of barberries, but I don't have the price at hand.