Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-08-18
THE CT NBERRY GROWERS
AUGUST | ETlNG AT GAYNOR MARSH.
Wisconsin Association Has Pleasant and
Profitable Session. Individual Reports
Place Crop Estimate This Year
at 20,430 Barrels.

berry culture among large number Of
intelligent growers will readily endorse
the above statement. At least thirty
marshes we're represented by owners
in the business school for mutual bene-
fit, and each grower will have crop
this seasOn-ranging in output from so
barrels on tie smaller marshes to 1900
barrels on others.
The occasion for this gathering was
the annual August convention of the
Wisconsin Cranberry Growers associa
ton. Early in the forenoon teams were
noticed hurrying over the turnpikes
that lead to Gaynor's marsh, which by
the way is also the experimental station
of the Wisconsin association, and they
kept coming until afternoon. Every
team had its carriage load of men
particularly interested in the whole
some, pretty red fruit that nestIes in its
home deep into the moss bogs. Not all
men either, for wives and daughters
accompanied them. On arrival the men
gathered i'll little knots about the farm
to compare notes and exchange ideas,
others made q tour of inspection out on
the marshes, while the ladies busted
themselves in arranging long row of
white, flower covered tables in the cram
berry house. Boquets of the genuine
fruit were also used in decoration. At
1890 all were seated for dinner-about
125 covers. The writer has often heard
that there were some excellent cooks
among the ladies down in the marsh
district, now we know it. They all
contributed for the feast, and such
spread Of delicious substantials. sweet
meats and dessert service could not be
outdoue at Delmonico's. The cranberry
growers and their friends are kings
among men, certainly the ladies treated
them as such.
THE BUSINESS MEETING
Was called to order at 2 p. m, Presi-
dent A. c. Bennett and Secretary n. P.
Arpin in their seats First in order
came the address of the president which
was full of valuable suggestions to cram
berry growers. Space does not permit
the publication of Mr.. BtHnett's paper
in full, much as we should like to give
it. The substance of few paragraphs
is submitted, however, as follows:
"About one year ago you took me by
surprise with your picnic display. To-
day | had hoped to surprise you all by
40 inprnosp1 at pDIanca ot tbiC
ing of our families and friends. | told
you at that time that we should return
to the normal condition in regard to
moisture and rainfall. With three
fourths of this earth covered with water
there is plenty of it. Its irregular dis
tributiOn at times is transitory, like sick
ness and many other things in this
world, but the tendency of all nature
is to restore to healthy normal condi-
ton, and this season has satisfied us
that the rain sprinkler is now in good
order and we may confidently expect
to receive our share of rain or snow for
several years.
Don't imagine that because we have
had plenty of rain this summer that we
shall have a small amount of snow this
winter. Snow comes from moisture in
the air. Moisture in the air comes from
that can give moisture to the earth |
predict an old fashioned winter with
plenty of snow.
Il have observed in my short life that
several times changes of wet and dry
came in periods of about 10 years, and
on the great Sahara desert it is a fact
that cOpious rains fall once in about 10
years with irregular freaks, sometimes
going 20 years without rain and some
times raining in years.
with the use of our larger barrels
there comes a necessity Of uniform
picking boxes which should be large
enough so that, when cleaned, three
boxes will fill the barrel without having
to fill the boxes so full as to be incon-
Venient handling.
weight, 81 lbs. to the bushel, | ID. to
the quart, and | am glad to find that
every retailer in Centralia and Grand
Rapids is in favor of law to that effect
This will give to the consumer Is ounces
for q quart instead of II ounces as he
now gets when measured in the tin cup.
Thus they will eat one-seventh more
cranbelries, as they will buv Just as
many quarts and probably will buy
more"
President Bennett closed his address
with an earnest request that each and
every member take the floor and tell to
the others what new facts had been
learned during the last six months. In
the council of many, remarked the
president, there is wisdom.
The adoption of new plan for
marketing berries through a special
organization with one general agent
representing all dealers was then taken
up. J. A. Gaynor made committee
report on said subject stating that
organization is the order of the day IN
all business. Society is strongly organ,
lied, trade must walk in similar paths
Competition is no longer the life oftrade
we have learned by experience that il
is the death of trade. Selling berries
is mercantile business and has to be
learned as separate art from growing
Individual growers cannot apply then
whole time to the duties of marketing
their crop, hence the employment o.
an agent solely for this purpose woulC
point its own advantage. Articles O.
incorporation drawn by Mr.. Gavnol
were signed at special session following
the regular meeting, by those who were