6 
WISCONSIN HORTICULTURE 
September, 1918 
CRANBERRY CULTURE 
Edited by Mrs. S. N. Whittlesey, Cranmoor, Secretary Wisconsin 
Cranberry Growers Association 
The event of most interest to 
cranberry growers during the 
month of August was the annual 
summer meeting of the Wisconsin 
State Cranberry Growers Associa- 
tion. The convention was held at 
the Grand Rapids Street Car Co.’s 
Pavilion midway between Port Ed- 
wards and Nekoosa on the Wiscon- 
sin River, an ideal place in the 
summer time. We are pleased to 
chronicle more than one hundred 
wide awake people in attendance — 
members coming from Tomah, Val- 
ley Junction, Mather, Warrens, 
Black River Falls, Phillips, Berlin, 
and Minong beside the nearer by 
points. AVe were also honored 
with the presence of Field Agent 
A\ . F. Callander of Madison and 
Mr. McIntyre of the Wisconsin 
Farmer. Owing to unavoidable 
delays the short morning session 
was given up, the time being spent 
in greeting arrivals. The next 
event of interest was the basket 
luncheon, which, after a lapse of 
two years was a noteworthy one. 
About seventy-five were seated at ' 
the tables and to all appearances 
did ample justice to the well-filled 
baskets. The comfort of the meal 
was greatly enhanced by the serv- 
ing of hot coffee and ice cream — a 
most kindly and generous tender 
of the Wood County National 
Bank of Grand Rapids. After 
luncheon the meeting proper was 
called to order by President Searls 
who in a few well chosen words 
presented the needs that at this 
time should be considered. Most 
of the afternoon was most profit- 
ably taken up with discussions on 
these various subjects. 
A report of a pumping outfit in- 
stalled on the Williams Cranberry 
Go’s, marsh at Mather was given 
by W . A. Fowler, the manager. In 
this months issue we publish the 
timely paper of Miss Clara S. 
Smith which all will appreciate. 
Miss Smith is one of a very few 
young women actively engaged in 
the real cranberry work, and In- 
experience knows whereof she 
speaks. The excellent paper by 
Mr. E. K. Tuttle of Mather will be 
embodied in our l!)lf) annual re- 
port and so reach later those not 
present. 
Each year takes its toll among 
our members. Our Mr. Russell 
Case of Norway Ridge answered 
the final summons las t March. 
Mr. Case was one of the oldest and 
most esteemed members of our as- 
sociation and though of late not 
able to meet with us, we still felt 
his interest and now his loss. 
Messrs. F. J. Hoffman, C. R. Treat 
and C. M. Seeker were appointed 
a committee to draft suitable reso- 
lutions of regret. 
Adjournment was followed by a 
meeting of the Wisconsin Cran- 
berry Sales Company when among 
other matters the State Fair Ex- 
hibit received added attention. 
A little six pound cranberry 
lady made her appearance at the 
home of Mr. and Airs. Hubert Fo- 
ley the morning of August 21st 
and received a hearty welcome. 
Co-operation on the Wage Ques- 
tion. 
I have been requested to write a 
paper on Co-operation on the 
Wage Question so will take just 
enough of your time to present a 
summary of ideas as expressed by 
several growers. Co-operation is 
one essential to success in any- 
thing. The growers co-operate in 
many ways, the Sales Company for 
instance which has proved its value 
to us all. Among the individual 
growers, one does for the other 
whenever possible, therefore it 
would not seem impossible for the 
growers to unite on the wage ques- 
tion. 
We all believe in giving a man 
a fair livable wage but where the 
trouble presents itself is when one 
grower pays a livable wage and an- 
other who is perhaps a little short 
of help, or bent on getting all 
kinds of it, regardless, offers a 
higher salary. This leaves the first 
man in the lurch, he probably loses 
his men. Of course it isn’t all the 
growers fault. Men will come to 
hire out provided you pay what 
So and So pays his men and he 
pays such and such a price. Nat- 
urally you feel you have to meet 
the demand if you wish for help. 
Some days later you find neighbor 
So and So never paid or promised 
to pay such a sum. Your men 
have told the neighbor’s men what 
they are getting and this informa- 
tion generally causes discontent 
and probable loss of help. No 
grower would purposely cause all 
this trouble for another, but just 
the same they’ve done it, all un- 
consciously. 
( ’lara S. Smith. 
There is no vacation on the fir- 
ing line. 
