164 
WISCONSIN HORTICULTURE 
August, 1919 
CRANBERRY CULTURE 
Edited by Mrs. S. N. Whittlesey, Cranmoor, Secretary Wisconsin 
Cranberry Growers Association 
Cranberry Growing 
I wish to say this in our way of 
growing cranberries. We took 
our winter flood off on the 27th 
day of March, and up to that date 
we had a very heavy bloom this 
year. But do not think that you 
should do this every year, because 
some springs are early and some 
are late. I would kindly recom- 
mend A. Searls & Son, for they 
have been successful growers. 
What I mean by successful grow- 
ers is having an average crop 
every year. Do not be afraid to 
ask them any questions, because I 
know they will be glad to answer 
them. This year we started and 
put in some Searls’ Jumbo vines. 
We ploughed the bog and put our 
ditches around the sections. Then 
we leveled it and then put on 2% 
inches of sand. We got through 
planting on the 1st day of July, 
1919, and so far there’s, not many 
weeds in sight. All the vines are 
growing nicely, but there will be 
some weeds coming in spite of all. 
Try and keep them out for at 
least three years. In going to the 
expense to plant marsh that way, 
get the very best vines you can. 
Ones that will yield good. Ones 
that will raise a fancy kind of 
berry. A good keeping quality 
and they will bring a good price 
and you will never be sorry for all 
you went through. Yours truly, 
Cai‘1 Getsinger. 
The thirty-second summer meet- 
ing of the Wisconsin State Cran- 
berry Growers’ Association will 
be held in the Grand Rapids street 
car pavilion near Nekoosa, Wis., 
August 12, 1919. 
As many growers from away 
like to visit the Cranmoor marshes 
there will be no attempt at a 
morning session, leaving this time 
open for this purpose. Neither 
will there be an effort made this 
year for a picnic dinner as many 
prefer a hot meal which at this 
place is unattainable. However, 
any one desiring to take their 
lunch will find tables and other 
conveniences for their use. At the 
Herrick House in Nekoosa and the 
several hotels and restaurants at 
Grand Rapids good meals can be 
procured at prevailing prices. 
Those coming by train will find 
the street cars running between 
Grand Rapids and Nekoosa very 
convenient and timely. 
The meeting will be called to or- 
der by Pres. Searls at 1 :30 p. m. 
sharp and it is hoped every one 
will make it a point to be on hand 
at the opening of the meeting. 
Invitations have been extended 
to Prof. Whitson of the University 
of Wisconsin, Dr. Pracker of the 
State Entomological Dept, and 
Sec. Cranefield of the State Hor- 
ticultural Society to address the 
meeting. Also to Mrs. F. R. Bar- 
ber, the sweet singer of Warrens, 
to favor us with a musical treat. 
The balance of the afternoon will 
be taken up with crop reports and 
exchange of ideas affecting our 
welfare. 
Let the attendance be large and 
every one come prepared to take 
an active part. 
Some Observations 
The old saying is as true today 
as it ever was. Do good unto all 
men as you have opportunity. I 
cannot but think of the changed 
conditions under which we are 
now living, and especially along 
the lines of growing cranberres, 
and the sprit of unselfishness man- 
ifested by the growers in general. 
I recall a little incident that 
took place about twenty years ago 
told by one of the growers at an 
association meeting. This grower 
had made a visit to the cranberry 
bogs of the east for the purpose 
of learning more of the methods 
then employed there in the grow- 
ing of the berry. In the east they 
were then more up-to-date than 
here in Wisconsin having used 
more scientific ways of planting, 
caring for them, and in their har- 
vesting, etc. This fact was known 
to the growers there, and they to a 
certain extent endeavored to keep 
this to themselves — a secret. In 
other words, they were a good 
deal like a clam — you had to pry 
it open to know what was on the 
inside. I had the pleasure of vis- 
iting these bogs in 1901 and what 
the grower said about keeping 
their methods a secret was par- 
tially corroborated. But we need 
not go to the east alone, for this 
same spirit existed among some of 
the growers here in Wisconsin. I 
remember that a number of years 
ago one of the growers had a fine 
crop while his neighbors had but 
few berries in comparison and 
they were wondering how this 
grower could manage to get such 
a good crop while theirs was in- 
significant. It was quite a while 
before any light was thrown out 
on the subject. He simply man- 
aged the water in a little different 
way than the others with the 
