Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-08-17
RrSINESS SESSION

BUSINESS SESSION
The business meeting was called to
order at o'clock by President ChaS.
Briere. Secretary Fitch being on hand,
In his address Mr.. Briere said IN
part:
Il am glad to be able to say that
the association is in a prosperous
condition, thanks to the efforts of our
secretary, Mr.. Fitch. Membership
has been increased by 66 this year and
it seems that cranberry men have
more confidence than ever in the
future prospects OF cranberry culture.
The experimental station
under present management has proven
a great success. | would recommend
that an effort be made by every grower
this fall to find on his meadow one or
more varieties Of berries, some for
size, others for color, shape, etc, mail
the same to John y. Gaynor, Grand
Rapids. He will see that they are
properly planted at the experimental
station and a benefit will accrue to
the industry in future time.
Letters have been received from the
United States commission to the Paris
Exposition in 1900 We are asked to
participate in their exhibit of fruit.
All exhibits will be transported from
Washington and installed by the
government free Of charge. A COM
mittee should be appointed on this
matter"
Secretary W. II. Fitch Of CranmOOr
is devOting unusual time and attention
to the duties connected with his office
and has proven q most valuable
secretary for the association. lie read
an interesting report before the
convention which we are sorry to be
unable to print in full, but space for
bids. He has compiled a mailing list
OF nearly all growers in the United
States that cultivate three acre tJactS
or more which shows that there are
about 1900 such in this country. Such
a list cannot be obtained from any
other man in the world and will be
invaluable to Wisconsin cranberry
men for d great many purposes. For
reasons prudential as well as mercen-
airy these names will not be given out
except under direction of the eXecu-
tive board. Mr.. Fitch presented an
epitOmiZed table giving a practically
accurate
CROP FORECAST FOR 1899,
evolved from individual returns.
Figures taken from said table give the
yield for United States this year as
100000 barrels total, three bushels to
the barrel. New England will furnish
1O0.000 barrels, New Jersey 10000, and
the West 10000. Shipment from this
immediate locality is estimated at
1000 barrels against 1000 last year.
| The percentage Ct blighted blossoms
has been greater this year than usual.
Where berries are good and sur
rOundingS favorable, it was decided to
pay forty cents per standard box to
piCkcrS, adding a bonus for all persons
! who stay on one marsh throughout
! the season.
1t was the unanimous voted opinion
of the growers assembled that prices
| will range from $3.50 to $3.50 per
| barrel. several stated reasons contrib
uting to the advance Of one dollar
over last season. with western supply
larger and eastern supply smaller.
The association practically decided
to establish monthly periodical rs
its official organ for disseminating
| knowledge and science of the industry.
This will be the only publication OF
its kind in the world.
The executive committee was
instructed to take charge of commune
cations from Paris commission looking
toward proper exhibit of Wisconsin
berries at the big show in 1900.
\. c. Rennett read a practical paper
on "A New Method of Distinguishing
Prairie and Marsh Fires" which
follows in full:
about one hundred years ago Sil
| Humphrey Davy. an EngliShman, dis
covered that the flame from fire
would not pass through small spaces
and he made practical application
of his discovery by the invention of
the miners safety lamp. This con
} sisted of cylinder Of fine gauZe wire
enclosing the flame of the lamp on al
sides with gauze wire over the top
With this lamp the miners coulC
, walk in safety through the most dan
gerouS explosive gases in their mines
| am surprised that this principle