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Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association / Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers' Association. Thirty-first annual meeting, Grand Rapids, Wisconsin, January 8, 1918. Thirtieth summer meeting, pavilion, Nekoose, Wis., August 14, 1917
(1917-1918)
Lewis, C. L., Jr.
Paper by C. L. Lewis, Jr., Beaver Brook, Wisconsin, pp. 25-27
PDF (691.7 KB)
Page 25
PAPER BY C. L. LEWIS, JR., BEAVER BROOK, WIS- CONSIN Mrs. Whittlesey has asked be to present to the association a review of crop conditions in the northern section of the state and to present any other points that may be on my mind. We have five companies of growers in our vicinity: The Burnett Cranberry Co. at Shell Lake, The Lewis Cranberry Co. at Minong, The Cameron Cranberry Co. at Cameron, and James Z. Colton at Spring Brook and Badger Cranberry Co. at Beaver Brook. If weather condi- tions will permit the maturing of an abnormally late crop I should judge that Minong would produce 1,000 to 1,200 barrels, the Burnett Cranberry Co. 500 to 1,000, Cameron 100 barrels and the Badger Cran- berry Co. 500 barrels. Spring Brook has not reached the producing stage yet but Mr. Col- ton's bog looked very pretty when I visited it early this summer and he will be heard from in earnest next year. Our own property did not come into full bloom this year until the last week in July and it is a question whether the latest bloom will mature. It certainly will require a warm September and harvesting will be delayed until about October Ist. Our season all through has been decidedly cold. All farm crops in our country are two or three weeks late and the possi- bility of ripe corn is very slight. I merely mention these other crops to show that cranberries are not an exception in being so backward. As to the problems of the day in the cranberry business; it is hard for one to put his finger on any definite ones that trouble all growers alike. One grower is troubled by lack of drainage and its resulting difficulties, another by lack of water, one by weeds, another by insects or fungus, one by the labor question and another by poor quality of fruit. It is at these meetings that we should earnestly endeavor to help straighten out each others problems. In the midst of our trou- bles we are threatened with the loss of our Experiment Station, and loss of interest by the state authorities. Are we going to permit this decline through lack of cooperation? The purpose of this association as I understand it is to promote cooperation among the growers. \Wisconsin raises about 10 per cent of the annual cranberry crop. From the state's viewpoint we are en- titled to state aid in proportion to the value of the crop produced and to the possibilities of production within the state. Suppose we can produce in Wisconsin 300,000 barrels of cranberries on lands which are unfitted for other crops. We should then command a very respect- able recognition by the state authorities. This is in my opinion at least, entirely possible. Now if we can convince the state of the possibilities in this industry, we should have no trouble in obtaining these possibilities. These must be realized in two ways; by more intensive cultivation and by extension. Our industry is both extremely scientific and ex- 25
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