Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-08-15
CRANBERRY PICNIC.
One of tine Best Meetings Ever Held by the
State Association,

tuesday was devoted by the Gram
berry growers of this section to the
business and pleasure connected with
the session of the fifteenth annual
meeting and basket picnic of the
state Cranberry Growers Association,
which was held at Gaynor Brothers
marsh, about II miles southwest of
this city.
The day was perfect one for such
an outing and as early as O'Clock in
the morning mary Grand Rapids peo-
pie were vending their way towards
the scene of festivities. The GaynorS,
SearlS, Lester, Fitch and Bennett
families, representing the growers of
this immediate vicinity, were present
to receive and care for the arriving
visitors, and all appreciated and were
pleased with the unaffected hospital
ity shown them.
Besides the attendance of nearly all
the local cranberry growers, there
were many growers present from
abroad-frOm this state, Minnesota
and far-off Massachusetts, had
come to participate in the meeting.
Among these visitors and members of
the association were n. r. Laing,
manager of Stanley Cranberry Marsh
es, Berlin: S. F. Hamilton, Horace
Miner and c. A. Davenport, all grow
ers from Berlin: Mr.. Greenawault,
grower from Anoca, Mimi; Fred W.
Gebhardt and S. A. Warner of War
rem, Wis; T. W. Jerrard, grower OF
West Superior, Wis: j. NJ Wait, EN-
barress, Wis; G. A. Murray. New
Lisbon: Horace A. Vaughn; Middle
boro, Mass; Jonathan F. Smith, Ray
more, Wis; Fred Hoffman, Steve
Warner and Richard Rain OF Mather;
Ernest Peycke of Kansas City, Mo.
The cranberry growers spent the
morning hours inspecting the expert
ment station, which was found to be
doing in good shape just the work de-
Sinntd for it-that is discovering the
best varieties to grow and the best
methods of cultivation. A complete
and careful record is kept of all work
done here and the history of each vari-
ETY. propagated. A visit was also paid
TO the marshes of GaynOr Brothers adj
joining the station.
After dinner which is described I'M
der another head in this issue, the asSo-
citation was called to order by President
Briere and nearly the whole afternoon
was spent by the association in hearing
reports OF crop prospects received by
Secretary Fitch acd in discussing the
cranberry business in general in this
and other parts of the country. Mr..
Vaughn, a grower from the Cape Cod
district, Mass. described the differ
ence in the methods of culture be-
tween this and his section of country.
This difference he thought consisted
largely in greater care of the bOgS and
marshes by eastern growers. their
marshes being almost clean from grass
and other foul vegetation. Owing to
their care of their marshes it costs
them from so cents to 81 rs less per
barrel to gather their berries than it
does the western grower. They begin
picking in the east about the 1St of
September.
Ernest Peycke of Kansas City spoke
of the growing demand for Wisconsin
berries in the west, which he said has
become very pronounced in the past
few years. Buyers prefer the WiScon-
| sin berries to the eastern berries even
at a trifle higher price. This is due to
two causes. First the fruit is little
better favored and generally keeps
| better, and second, the barrels of ber-
ries weigh from 5 to 8 pounds each
more than the eastern product
Reports from different sections in
this state indicate about $1,000 barrels
as this years crop for Wisconsin
This was the largest attended con-
vention and picnic ever held by the
association and was as profitable
TO the growers as it was pleasing in
social way to the many guests pre-
sent. In the evening the young people
were invited to Mr. Benefits ranch
about mile distant where the jolliest
kind of dance ensued, the frolic being
kept up until an early hour in the
morning. Many young people from
the Rapids came down to participate
| in the dance