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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-
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