The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1912-06-20

A large number of berry growers or
the Pacific Northwest will be in the
city on Saturday to attend the berry
growers meeting at Berrylyn. The Tri-
bune on the part of Lynden's citizens,
bids the visitors hearty welcome,
and trusts that their stay among us
may be both pleasurable and profita-
ble Mayor Heaton, on Saturday MORN
irg, will turn over the keys to the
city to the berry growers, with the re-
quest that they make themselves at
home, and proceed to enjoy them
selves. and extends them an invitation
to repeat their visit to our fair little
city.
The bountiful berry crop at Lynden
and in the Nooksack valley this year.
must be an incentive to the berry men
of this section to strive for better re-
suits in the future. That there are big
financial returns from berry culture in
this section of the country. has been
indisputaby proven. There is no better
soil lying out doors, neither do more
favorable climatic conditions obtain IN
any place than exist here in our high
ly favored locality.
1t has been claimed by experts that
the Nooksack valley will in time surpass
the now famous Puyallup section In
the raising of berries. 1t is compara-
lively only few years since that val
ley was of but small import so far as
this industry Is concerned, but through
united effort on the part of those en-
gagged in berry raising, it has become
the banner berry producing section IN
the United States. And this Is due en-
tirely to the efficient organization of
the Puyallup and Sumner Fruitgrowers
Association.
This association last year, as has been
previously reported in this newspaper.
had in round numbers, 1900 members, OF
whom over 900 are shippers of berries.
The business done last year amounted
to 1851, ,1S9 so. and will reach this year.
it is expected. to more than $6Oo,Wo IN
addition to disbursing sIS7, 1902 to the
growers in direct returns for their pro-
duct. and in payment of railroad tolls
cannery expenses, etc. the association
had on hand at the end of the year.
sS2. .1S7. "a, besides $35. &c worth of fruit
anu peTSOIdi piopeitH' ~ hhh''SN '"'>
year lO4 l67 crates, and l2lO boxes of
fruit Its business has been growing to
such an extent that it has been oblig-
ed to enlarge it's warehouse facilities al
most every year. 1t purchases its ma
terlals. such as sugar for which it paid
last year $40 per hundred in large
quantities. thus minimizing expenses.
There are thousands Of acres of logged
off land in the Nooksack valley that
can be bought and cleared and set to
berries, and paid for with the profits OF
the first two crops.
To illustrate what can be done in ber-
ry culture here, the place of Chap
Eayes at whose beautiful Berrylyn the
growers meeting is to be held, affords
an example. 1t cost Mr.. Bayes about
{. hundred dollars an acre to clear MS
land, which was unusually difficult TO
clear having some % to 80 large cedar
and fir stumps to the acre. After the
land was cleared and put in condition,
the strawberry plants were set out IN
perfectly straight rows. about two feet
apart, the rows being three feet apart.
thus requiring about 700 plants to the
acre The average for the past three
years has been 800 crates to the acre,
which have brought hlm $780, 1t cost
him $75 per acre for picking; $50 Tor
crates and grading; $35 for field boss,
carriers and hauling to market: $50
for cultivating and hoeing, and he will
reduce the expense yearly. Mr.. Bayes
grades his output and about one-half
of his berries are sold at the packing
shed.
Now. If Mr.. Bayes has individually ac-
complished such splendid results. ana
with better returns to follow from now
on, how much more may be done II
all the growers operating here become
thoroughly organized, purchase their
supplies in quantity. and cooperate In
the marketing of their product, as does
the Puyallup association? The expense
II Is safe to say, would be fully one
fourth to one-third less.
One of the greatest benefits that can
come from the meeting at Berrylyn on
Saturday will be such a plan to CO.
operate in this matter OF berry raising
which is certain to become one OF the
principal commercial factors of this Sec
tion. Cooperation will do what coop
Grafton has done. The marvellous de-
velopment of modern industry could new
er have come about as result or sep
crate. individual effort, but only through
nIans which enabled men to unite theil
efforts-to cooperate. Rapid develop