Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-08-16
CRANBERRY ASSOCIATION MEETS.
A Great Day at Gaynor Bros. Marsh on
TuesdaV

The Wisconsin Cranberry Growers
Association held their August meet
ing on Tuesday, the 14th, at GaynOr
Bros. marsh. 1t was a picnic and
business meeting combined and was
attended by about 100 people. includ-
| ing members of the association, their
families and guests of the association.
An elegant dinner, prepared by the
| ladies, was served, the tables being
laid to serve 50 people at time.
Either the subject Of cranberrieS or
the quality Of the dinner was a power
full Stimulant to the appetiteS of
the company for a hungrier crowd
was never better satisfied, and there
was no ''kiSSing the cook after the
repast to mar the dignity Of the Occa-
sion. Nevertheless it was a jolly
crowd, who unite in prOnOuncing it
one Of the most enjoyable gatherings
ever held under the auspices of the
association, and they usually have
good time at these meetings. In the
evening the young people gathered at
the ranch of Bennett & Son, mile or
more from GaynOr Bros, and INDUCED
in an Old-fashiOned frolic and dance
until an early hour Wednesday morn
ing.
The business part Of the meeting
was opened with an address by PreSi-
dent ChaS. Briere of this city who
confined his remarks to a review of
the situation of this years cranberry
crop, comparing it with that of last
year. 1t was shown that the acreage
in the United States is increasing pro-
pOrtiOnately faster than the pOpula-
tlOn, and the president recommended
that those who plant hereafter use
only the very best varieties of vines as
their products command the highest
prices. The associations experiment
tai station, which is located on Gay
| nor Bros. marsh, was inspected and
found to be in most satisfactory
condition. This station has been in
eXiStance for about eight years and
the results OF their experiments are
now becoming useful and profitable to
| the growers of the state. Out of POO
varieties of cranberrieS, drawn from
Europe. South America, Alaska, and
in fact from all over the world, the
association has selected about % vari-
cites which have been found by eXper-
ment to be the best, and these they
are prOpOgating at the station. They
have been selected for their size, color,
keeping qualities and their propensity
to early or late maturity. Those who
contemplate planting should make
use Of the valuable knowledge acquired
at the experimental station in their
selection of plants or vines.
The president presented tabulated
report from John A. Rider, secretary
of the Cranberry Sellers Union of
Trenton, n. j., which showed that 90
per cent of the eastern crop was sold
last year at an absolute loss to the
grOWerS-nOt a very encouraging
prospect for those contemplating an
increase in their cranberry acreage
The prospect of the Wisconsin crop
this year is about 80 per cent of last
years crop, in New England the crop
is short of last year while in New
Jersey it is about the same.
Mr.. Mitchell representing II. p.
Stanley Co. Of Chicago and Mr..
Thacker of the Thacker Fruit Co. of
Chicago were present to look up the
prospects of the Wisconsin product
this fall. A committee of five men,
berS of the association was appointed
to confer with Mr.. Mitchell with
reference to the sale of the crop in
this section through II. P. Stanley Co.
The personnel of the committee is as
follows: Chas Briere, John A. Gay
nor, NelS johnson, Arthur Bennett
and Andrew SearlS.
1t was agreed to pay 10 cents per
box this year to pickerS and give a
bonus of ) cents per box to all pickerS
who continued work through the
season.