Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-09-11
CUCUMBER AND ONION GROWING
IN WOOD COUNTY SUCCESSFUL
PICKLE Factory Here Experiencing the Best Season
in Its History--Cood Advice to the Growers
by Manager Wood

The picking station here, under
the management of G. w. Wood, is
experiencing the most successful
season in its history. 1t was opened
July 27 and will be closed next month
A representative uf the REPORTER
visited the factory few days ago anC
learned number of interesting facts
concerning the picking industry ir
Wood county from Manager Wood
Making "Cukes" into Pickles.
MI. Wood was busily at work al
the desk A small force of workers
stood waiting for "cukeS," as the
growers say. Farmers drove up and
brought in large crates of them. The
"cukes" and onions were thrown into
big vats. A large amount Of coarse
rock salt, RetSof salt, is necessary to
sprinkle between the layers of vege-
tables. There are alternate layers OF
cucumbers and salt and when the
water is added the resulting brine is
of equal strength in all parts of the
vats. Great care is needed that the
brine be of prOpar strength or the
pickles will spoil. Later in the season
these pickles will be specially treated
and then the "lills" will be ready for
shipment to all parts of the United
States
The smaller pickles are prepared
differently by methods known only in
the factory. The asserting of the
sizes is done 10y passing these smaller
cucumbcrs through hopper This is
composed of series of parallel Stats
arranged in cylindrical form, The
larger cucumbers are kept from pass
ing through the interstices and only
the smallest or "baby cukes" can drop
through.
Predicts Greater Prosperity.
"This is the third year of the sta
tion's existence" said Mr.. Wood.
"Alert & Mcclure, the owners, have
eight other stations in Wisconsin
which act as feeders to the Green
Bay factory. This year will not
prove the efficiency of the local sta
tion, but if the interest of the farmers
continues, as believe it will, | be-
lieve that the station will soon reach
it's full capacity of $4,000 bushels.
The company will then erect another
building on their grounds here.
"Of course the weather has re-
tarded the growth this year, but
with a few weeks of sunshine and
warm nights the farmers will get a
good crop.
"a little advice on the best mode
of growing and handling picking
cucumbers may be in order.
Some Good Advice.
The grower will do we'll to select
good rich land such as he knows will
produce a good crop of corn, or pre-
ferable, such soil as is known as
strong loan. The soil should be put
in good condition by the ordinary
methods. Manuring in the hill on
light soils, being careful to get the
we'll rotted manure six inches deep to
prevent burning the crop in dry
seasons, is very desirable way of
preparing the soil. A very good rule
for width of marking the ground for
planting is three by six feet. Plant
from 6 to seeds in hill, inch deep
in wet weather and l inch deep in
dry weather. When the vines are
ready to fall over thin out to four
strong plants in Hill.
"Air Stacked lime sifted on the
vines is very good preventative for
the striped beetle in case they should
appear. Early and frequent cultiva-
ton will drive them away.
1.-THE first few pickles should be
taken from the vines very small. not
left to grow to pick to deliver to the
factory, thus relieving the vines,
they will grow more vigorous and
should be regarded as part of the
cultivation. Experienced and emerge
tic growers have very few large Gu
cumbers, knowing this grade is not
so profitable, and every bushel of