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WISCONSIN CRANBERRY GROWERS' ASSOCIATION             17
Mvirs. S. N. Whittlesey,           Tomah, Wis., Dec. 27, 1921.
Cranmoor, Wis.
Dear Mrs. Whittlesey:
In reply to your letter of Dec. 13th, will state conditions as they
were here. In the fall of 1920 the budding was poor-we went into the
winter with a light flood. During the winter our outlet went out twice.
exposing the vines to some severe weather during February and
March. We had our severe loss at that time, thus giving us a poor
start in the spring of 1921.
In 1920 we were severely hit by fireworm. They were scattered all
_       over the marsh and in one or two places took everything, but the
vines
came on all right and the fruit buds set for our 1921 crop.
In the spring the vines came along nicely (those that survived the
winter) and we had a fairly good blossoming. If the fruit had come
on we would have had 500 barrels, but when the berries began to set
they just dried up. Wherever the vine produced two fruit shoots from
one upright (and this was the case in nearly every upright which had
been hit by fireworm the summer previous) the vine did not have
vitality enough to produce the fruit. In other words, wherever one
could find fruit it was produced on single uprights from a lone bud.
During the past season we had very little fireworm. What there
was appeared very scattered, and early in the fall the vines seemed to
recover well from the attack and due to the late fall they set buds and
came on very well. We have a good flood on now and are hoping for a
larger crop next year.
Yours truly,
Vere Johnson.
EXCERPTS FROM LETTERS RECEIVED
"The main problem before the growers today is to increase their
crops and improve the quality of same. By continued advertising we
have increased the demand more rapidly than we have increased the
supply and it Is important that the supply be increased in order to give
the people what they want."
A. U. Chaney,
New York City.
"May I suggest that I think more publicity should be given to cran-
berries in the newspapers north, south, east and west. Freight rates
are too high. (ost of package too much. Barrels, $1.00; half-barrel
boxes, 50 cents. Cost of marketing is too much."
Lucian J. Fosdick,
Boston, Mass.
We are publishing the letters of Dr. Shear and Doctor Stevens In
*       full, as the information given and desired should attract the attention
of all growers. Dr. Stevens' request may stimulate some record keep,
Ing in the future. No one seems to have kept any data heretofore.
December 7, 1921.
Mrs. S. N. Whittlesey, Secretary,
Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers' Association,
Cranmoor, Wisconsin.
Dear Mrs. Whittlesey:
Replying to your kind favor of the 5th inst. I regret to say that it
will not be practicable for me or Dr. Stevens to attend your next an-