Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-01-16
THE FIFTEENTH ANNUAL.
A Notable Gathering of Cranberry Growers
al Grand Rapids Tuesday.
GROWERS HERE FROM ALL PARTS OF STATE


The Fifteenth annual meeting of
the Wisconsin State Cranberry
Growers Association was opened in
the city hall on the west side, Tuesday
morning, January IA. by Pres. Charles
Briere in a short address devoted to
the associations interests and the
condition of the cranberry business
throughout the country After which
Secretary ". FL. Fitch of CranmOOr,
read short paper on the statistics of
the industry. This was followed by
the election of officers, which resulted
in the reelection of all the officers as
follows:
President-Charles Briere. of Grand
Rapids.
Vice Presidents. n. WhittleSey,
CraumOOr.
Secretary-W. H. Fitch, Cranmoor.
TreaSurer-M. 0. Potter, Grand
Rapids.
Member of Executive Committee
Arthur Bennett, Walker.
Greatly to the pleasure of local
growers and to Grand Rapids people
generally, there was present at this
opening meeting of the association,
the largest number of members and
others interested in the cranberry
business, from outside districts in the
state that have ever attended the
annual meeting in this city. This Of
course shows very healthy condition
Of the association and speaks well for
the work it is doing in the state.
A mOng those present from abroad or
outside of this county were, FL. H.
HoInl vi o1~ LN.111 r
H. Porter, Kansas City, Mo-; Fl. h.
Lang and D. R. Burr, Berlin, Wis.
H. B. futile and HI. H. Sherwood,
Valley Junction; G.. H. Bacon, E.
K. futile, G. A. Plummer, Fred HOff-
man, Mather, Wis; II. o. Kruschke,
Auroraville: S. A. Warner, Warren;
j. NJ. Wait, Embarrass, also nearly all
Of. the local growers. Papers on the
following subjects were presented to
the associations: Gross Fertilization"
Ex-president A. G. Bennett; Blossom
Bud' pamphlets by E. S. Golf Of the
University of Wisconsin,: Higher
Organity," Judge John A. Gaynor;
"Relative Merit Of Raking and Hand
Picking," Jacob Searls of Grand
Rapids: "FlOoding," H. c. Bacon of
Mather; Preparing Ground and
Planting Vines" II. O. Kruschke of
Aurorayille; "a Buyers Experience, !"
W. A. Fisher.
There were on exhibition so differ
ent varieties of cranberrieS repre-
Senting the products of the various
states from Maine to California. In
fact the cranberry like the straw berry,
the apple or any other fruit can be
grown to represent almost any appear
ance or quality desired, and the
experimental station near CranmOOr
is producing splendid results in this
particular. 1t has been decided to
add nursery to the experimental
station, for the benefit of members of
the association, SO that different
varieties of cranberrieS can be secured
for planting new marshes or re-plant-
ing old ones. One distinct benefit
that this association work has pro-
duced, is the frequent bulletins issued
by the secretary of the association,
Mr.. W. III. Fitch, showing the state
OF the crop throughout the country
and the market quotations in various
parts OF the country, thus bringing
the producer and consumer nearer
together. Hence, the crop in this
section was this year for the first time
sold direct to the buyer, instead of
being consigned to third party for
sale, and the results were much more
satisfactory to the growers.
There was great scarcity of labor
this year and the railroads will be
asked another year to cooperate with
the association in helping to import
pickerS during the harvest season.
Owing to the increased acreage and
higher cultivation in Wisconsin the
past year the yield turned out about
normal. The crop reports for the
whole country show that 100000
barrels were produced in New Eng
land; 100, 900 barrels in New Jersey
and 10000 barrels in the west.
While the crop is the biggest ever
raised in the United States, the
demand has been good and prices very
satisfactory and about as follows:
Standards, $3.50 to $500 per barrel:
Choice, averaging about $3.50 above
these prices and Pie cranberries about
$3.50 less than these prices.
OF the cranberry it is safe to say
that of all familiar fruits it is the
least known generally. 1t grows wild
today in several of the states bordering
on the Canada line, in all the salt mar
SHE'S OF the coast states, in the gladeS
of the Alleghanies, as far south as the
Virginias and Carolinas and as far
north as the island of Kodiak. Alaska.
Unlike the strawberry, the wild cram
berry is distinctly inferior to it's
cultivated relative. Both grow on a
small, hard shrub, about six inches
IN height. The fruit takes it's name
from the appearance Of the flower.
which, just before expanding into
perfection, bedrs,a marked resemblance
to the neck, head and bill of a crane.
Hence the name ''Crane berry, which
usage has madeiutO cranberry.
Towards the close of the meeting
considerable discussion resulted over
the subject of grading berries and
some warmth of feeling was apparent.
still when the vote on the resolution
took place lit passed almostly unani-
mOuSly. The resolution referred to.
provides for grading berries according
TO size, Pie berries being those that
pass through a ! inch screen; Standards
those that pass through a / inch
screen and FancY'S are berries above
the Standard grade, form and color
entering into the qualities of the
Fancy grade.
Several samples of Fancy berries
were exhibited from Massachusetts
Michigan and Oregon.
There were some excellent nanerS
read during the session, some of which
we Shall Try TO give at a latter date in
the columns of the REPORTER.
Grand Rapids, being so favorably
situated as to railroads, it is the most
Al