WORK IN THE POTATO FIELDS The school for the higher grades was let out for a few weeks each spring and fall, so the children could help with the planting and har¬ vesting of the potatoes, the crop so important to the economy of P.E.I. The pay was good but every penny was earned as the work was back-breaking. The planting was especially meticulous because the potatoes were sown for seed to be exported and had to be done by hand to eliminate all diseases. So we plodded up and down the rows all day, laden with our planting sacks full of potatoes, cutting and dropping our "sets" making sure each one had enough "eyes" to carry it, dropping diseased or misshapen ones between the rows to be horse hoed out later. This method of planting was called "Tuber Unit". The crop had to be perfect to pass inspection after harvest. The harvesting was harder still because the potatoes were plowed out by the farmer and pickers came behind picking in half bushel baskets, and emptying into sacks placed at intervals along the rows. We were bent over double as we picked our baskets full. When emp¬ tying them it was often hard to straighten up. There was also a knack to emptying your basketful into the sack without spilling any and thereby having to pick them a second time. The farmers' wives played their part by preparing delicious meals for the crews, and I will always associate ginger bread with whipped cream as one of their favourite desserts. I earned enough money one spring to buy my first "store bought" coat and that fall enough to buy my first pair of ice skates that were not hand me downs, and bent out of shape by someone else's feet. But I never did become a good skater. I also learned to smoke at this time, not that it took much effort to learn. I took to it like a duck to water. It was considered very dar¬ ing and sophisticated by my age group. In years since I wished many times that I had never learned this cursed addictive, expensive habit. So easy to start and so hard to quit. 356