CRANBERRY CULTURE 107 



injured fruit. From these machines they pass to belts or tables, 

 to be picked over by hand. From here they pass into barrels 

 containing one hundred pounds. 



During this same time the berries are graded according to size, 

 color, quality, etc. 



Marketing. While there are still some independent growers who 

 sell their own berries depending on locating their own markets, 

 or through commission men, the larger part of the berries are sold 

 through a cooperative association of the growers. The different 

 grades of berries are given brands, which brand name indicates 

 certain specifications in size, color, quality, and variety. This 

 cooperative organization does the work at actual cost to the grower, 

 maintaining offices and in all ways carries on the business as usually 

 followed by cooperative associations. It has proven very successful 

 and a great benefit to the business. 



Formerly there was little care on the part of the consumers as to 

 the kind of berries received, all cranberries being alike to them. 

 In recent years, however, the markets are growing more and more 

 particular demanding car loads of an even grade, quality, and pack 

 of fruit. 



Insect enemies. There are three classes of insects, those that 

 "attack the fruit, the vine, and the root, to combat which the main 

 reliance is upon water. A bog that has no water must depend 

 upon spraying wdth poisons. 



In conclusion let me express the hope that the time is not far 

 distant when Massachusetts will appreciate more than she does now, 

 the importance of this highly specialized industry within her bor- 

 ders. The next ten years should reach a crop of five hundred 

 thousand barrels a year and an average selling price of six dollars 

 per barrel should mean three million dollars annually and nearly 

 all of it is money coming into the State, for this is the one big crop 

 in Massachusetts which is exported. A cheap and healthful food, 

 which should be used more liberally in every family because of its 

 food and medicinal value, its economy and the many uses to which 

 it can be put, for there are few foods which lend themselves to so 

 universal a use in cooking as cranberries. 



