Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-07-21
THE SEASONS PICK

1t has been said that the people of
Grand Rapids not only are great
onion eaters but also relish the delici-
Gus strawberry, especially when it is
home grown. A representative Of
| the REPORTER has interviewed all the
large strawberry growers in the city
and gives the following article as the
| results of his investigation on this
years local strawberry crop.
J.J. Canning began picking June 8.
His berries were placed on the market
June I, on which day 81 crates were
picked. Mr.. Canning says: "My crop
this year averaged better than those
of former years. At no time did l
sell berries at less than 10 cents a
quart. always sort the berries before
selling them. I received $500 quarts
from the two acres or about $3.50 in
money. I had daily from Is to 35
pickers at work. The greatest number
of quarts that were picked in one day
| was S96. Anton Nimps picked los
quarts In one day; this is considered
a good record
Dan Bailey had four lots planted with
| Warfeld and Lovett varieties. Pick
ing began June 8. The seasons pick
ing was 5,741 quarts. which at ten
cents quart will make s574.1O. The
| largest days work was June % when
696 quarts were picked. Mr.. Bailey
says that he lost one-half of his crop
| last year on account of frost and hail.
The red letter day of last year netted
only 19l quarts. This year Mr.. Bailey
employed daily eight pickers, while
last year from three to four could do
all the necessary work.
| The strawberry crop at the River
dale Seed Farm was very good this
year. About one and one-hdlf acres
yielded 351 cases, or 5,6l6 quarts. At
no time were berries sold at less than
ten cents quart. The whole amount
taken in from this source was there
fore $561 go. During the season there
were only from three to four picking
days week. The greatest number Of
quarts picked in any one day was $50.
Following is the greatest number OF
crates picked in one week: July %,
40 crates; July %, 81 crates; July "a,
% crates; July 26, SO crates.
Vine Wales received 1900 quarts
| from, laco fhap nnortor of on ooro
in all bringing in about 1925. The
berries were sold at cents a quart or
iSl.25 a crate. Twenty quarts were
picked one forenoon.
| Mrs. Ferdinand Zeamann picked
berries from lot 5Ox90 feet, and
netted 1925, the price of a good sized
lot in many parts of the city. In all
she received 1, l50 quarts which were
sold at from 10 to 124 cents. Mrs
Zeimann lays her success to the rich
and damp soil and also to the fact
that she had mixed twelve different
varieties.
| Mat White, of the west side, had
25X60 feet under cultivation. $50
quarts were picked and SS2 realized.
| John Sandman, of the Fifth ward,
lost 25 per cent. of his crop. From a
lot 40xS0 feet he received 800 quarts
from which he netted $50.
Rhinhard NeitZel, of the Seventh
ward, netted $50 from 600 quarts of
berries One lot was under cultiya-
| tiOn.
Knuth Oleson, of the Eighth ward,
received 40 quarts from a lot 25x67
feet. Berries were sold for 8 to IL
cents per quart.
Carl Dekoff, of the east side, took
in about Sl4, the number OF quarts
being I28.
Thomas Davis, OF the Seventh ward,
sold about $12 worth of berries, the
number of quarts being about 12O