The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-23
Special to The Journal.

special 20 Inc journal.
Grand Rapids, Wis, Sept. 23.-Wood
county ranks among the first cranberry
producing localities of the United
States, From 10000 to 10000 barrels
Of choice cranberries are picked annu-
scattering growth of wild and infer
ior cranberry on the marshes in this
county, but today there are over four
hundred acres of cultivated cranberry
vines which produce this large annual
crop.
A. G.. Bennett, now in this city, may
be regarded as the pioneer cranberry
grower in this section. The idea ap-
pealed to him, when he saw the berry
growing wild, that the same result
might be obtained in cultivating it
sachusetts.
He therefore set about to improve his
marsh lands by building bitches thru
which to carry off the great quantities
Of surface water and by cutting off the
heavy underbrush. Then he took off
one foot Of the top soil, thus removing
the grass, weeds and roots, and this
soil he used in building dams and dykes
until now one may see as perfect a
cranberry garden as is in existence.
Mr.. Bennett has about sixty acres of
cultivated cranberry beds which pro-
duce 5000 barrels of berries. Each
bed contains about four acres and
these are so surrounded by dykes and
ponds Of water that when the frost sig
nal is given the dams may be opened
and the entire marsh flooded. When the
weather clears up again, this water may
be run off by drains in an hour or two.
Flooding the Marshes.
The cranberries require about five
months; to mature and if frost comes
fall, when the berry has not been
picked, it. causes total loss if it is not
possible to flood the marsh. So far, a
year has not passed but that the marsh
has had to be overlooked because of a
late spring frost or an early fall frost
The soil upon which this choice fruit
grows was considered absolutely worth.
less for any purpose whatever, it be-
ing a light brick soil supported by a
and ingenuity Of Mr.. Bennett and
others, this land produces as well to the
acre as the choicest heavy soils.
Securing the Crop.
The picking season is now on in full
| force and it is g sight to see the SOC
men, women and children down on their
knees, securing the cranberries. This
| is one way of picking them and is EN-.
ployed only among the choicest vines
and where the berries are plentiful;
where the vines are old and tough and
| the berries are scarce they are picked
with the cradle.
The pickers are farmers and theil
families, who have finished the summer
harvest and want to earn little more
money and at the same time have an
outing. When the days work is done
each person places his pickings on the
roadway and guards them until the
paymaster measures the berries and
pays the wages.
| The berries are then hauled to the
cranberry house, where they are placc cd
in shallow boxes to remain for little
over three weeks, to dry and ripen, then
| they are picked over and run thru a
grader and tanning mill so as to as.
sort them properly as to size.
Employment for Indians.
The picking season affords much en-
tertainment to city people. Indians are
employed in great numbers and live in
their little villages. Among other pick
ers one finds almost every nationality
represented. Persons of sill ages, from
the 5-year-old child to the 7O-year- old
man or woman are employed Mr.. Ben