The shipments extended over a period of two months. The 

 crop of berries was so great that the next year, 1891, when the 

 berries were almost as abundant, a forked shovel was used to 

 pick the berries. This fork took with it not only the big 

 bunches of berries but the leaves as well. 



A fanning mill was used to separate the leaves from the 

 berries. The use of forked shovel, however, is said to have 

 proved a disastrous thing. The following year the berries 

 were scarce. 



The Indians have always been the best harvesters of blue- 

 berries. Their field has always been wild rice and blueberries, 

 and today the Chippewas are found engaged in the same 

 work only most of them are on the lakes in the extreme north- 

 ern part of the state. 



In 1890 the price of blueberries was about 12 cents a quart 

 at retail. This year they sold in the Minneapolis and St. Paul 

 markets for 25 cents a quart retail. 



The price of picking berries has not been raised, however. 

 Records kept by the superintendent of the lumber company 

 who devoted two months to blueberry picking in 1890 show 

 that the Indians were paid eight cents a quart. The same 

 price was paid this last summer. 



Demand is as Great. 



The passing of the blueberry is not considered strange by 

 those familiar with its growth and the soil on which it thrives. 

 With the passing of the forests, the blueberry has also gone. 



The demand for the blueberry is just as great as it ever 

 was, however. It might well be made a serious study. The 

 raising of blueberries might prove a profitable undertaking. 

 Here is found another argument for state forests. The blue- 

 berry would thrive as a profitable by-product on much of the 

 state non-agricultural land, land that cannot be used for any- 

 thing except the growing of trees. 



25 



