CRANBERRY GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. The Nineteenth Annual Meeting of the American Cranberry Growers' Association was held in the Board of Trade Rooms, Trenton, N. J., January 15th, 1889. The President, Dr. J. H. Brakeley, on taking the chair, said: GENTLEMEN :—I have written no address to-day. I have no doubt there are a great many facts in connection with the crop of last year, its gathering, marketing and other matters, that would be of the highest interest if they were properly presented to us, but I regret to say that I have not been able to get such a grasp on them as to prepare an address. There is one item, however, I will mention, that of the circulation of the recipes for the cooking of cranberries, with the statement concerning the class of berries which make the better sauce. This has been done to a very considerable extent, and I am satisfied that it is telling largely in favor of lighter colored berries. Having used up the quantity of recipes printed by the Association, and not being satisfied to send my berries without some of these with them, I had twenty-five thousand printed for myself. I think it would be wise to circulate these with all the berries we send out, and I know we will derive benefit from it, as we are already doing. The minutes of the last meeting were approved as printed. STATISTICAL REPORT. MR. PRESIDENT:-I regret that this, my last statistical report, must be, in one important particular, less authentic than heretofore. The Old Colony system of railroads moves the crop of Plymouth and Barnstable counties, (Carver and Cape Cod) Mass., and of some less important sections. A number of years ago we secured permission of the Boston office to compensate one of their clerks for sending daily reports of the entire cranberry movement by that system. During the last two years these reports have been prompt and apparently very full and accurate, and the stipend paid seemed quite satisfactory. At the commencement of the present season I wrote as usual to the same clerk for the reports, but got no reply to my first or second letter. I then wrote twice to the General Freight Agent, with like result. Then I tried the Superintendent, and finally got the statement that Mr. Poor, who had done that work, had been put in a different position; that they were making up their annual amounts, and required the entire service of all their clerks. To my inquiries as to getting the reports when the extra work referred to was over, I got only evasive replies. I then respectfully inquired if other reasons than those assigned, stood in the way of a continuance of the reports, but got no reply. I report to you this matter so fully because I think some adverse influence must have induced the company to shut off these reports. The largest movement by this system is to New York, and this I have been able to get through the Mercantile Exchange, and find it is 15 per cent. smaller than that for the corresponding time last year. I fill up the tables by assuming the same ratio of shortage to other points of destination. This season, as last, I have no official report of shipments West by Pennsylvania Railroad via Trenton, but from information sent to me by the President and Vice President, supplemented by my own knowledge and some verifications by station agents, I think this important item is substantially correct. (Tables showing movement by months of cranberries from commencement of crop season to January 1, 1889, from New Jersey to Philadelphia; from New Jersey to New York; from New Jersey to the most direct; from New England to different points, also from Wisconsin to different points, are given full in the Association's published report.) These summarized show the following results as contrasted with crop of 1887: The reported movement from Wisconsin to Chicago amounts to 75,344 bushels. Assuming as heretofore that one-fourth goes elsewhere, the entire crop of that State, assuming that all has Additional (estimated.) | Total. 1887. Reported. Additional (estimated). Total. 1887. been moved, would be 100,459 bushels, against 140,672 the previous year. The New England crop was in the interior sections almost destroyed by frosts and greatly reduced in Carver and Cape Cod. The publication of the August report was so much delayed that I was able to note therein the first serious frosts, but further and perhaps greater damage occurred afterwards. Frost and fire also considerably reduced the Wisconsin crop. THE COURSE OF TRADE. The New York market for Cape Cod cranberries opened in the first week of September at $8.00 @ $8.50 per barrel. A week later prices were more than $1 per barrel less, and so continued until the first week in October, when, with increased demand and reports of great damage from frosts, an advance of fully $1 per barrel occurred. The following week a further advance of fifty cents per barrel occurred on the best Cape Cod, bringing the quotations up to the opening prices of $8.00 @ $8.50 per barrel. Sound New Jersey berries were at this date (October 13), quoted at $1.75 @ $2.00. This was the highest point on Cape Cods, and at the end of the month the highest quotation was $8, while Jersey crates were $2.00 @ $2.25. On the 3d of November the market was reported very dull, with quotations of best fancy Cape Cods at $7.75 @ $8.00, and running down the scale to $3.50 @ $4.00, with best Jersey crates at $2. The next week Cape Cods were quoted $7.25 @ $7.50 down to $200 @ $2.50 for inferior and frosted, Jersey remaining at $2 per crate. From this time until December 1st there was some improvement in the very finest Cape berries, and the outside quotation reached $8.50 again, while all other sorts, including Jersey crates, were unchanged. No material changes occurred in December. The quotations of Jersey crates were advanced to $2.00 @ $2.25, with accumulated stock, and in the latter half of the month an exceedingly dull market. When a customer appeared and the quality suited, the price did not seem to stand in the way. But so few could be sold that quotations seemed quite nominal, and without significance as to obtainable prices on any considerable quantities. There seems to be at least two palpable reasons for this unpleasant state of trade, viz. : the poor quality of the New England crop, which, scattered through the country, has hindered consumption and entailed loss upon dealers, and the great abundance and cheapness of apples and canned goods. The unmoved stock of sound fruit is, as usual at this time of year, mostly in New Jersey; and if no more than the amount moved is short of the August estimate, we might reasonably expect a revival and some improvement in prices ere long. The report was accepted with thanks of the association. FOREIGN TRADE. Under this topic the Secretary said: There is another field of usefulness to which, I think, the Association may direct its attention with advantage and profit to all concerned. For many years we have been giving such careful attention to the cultivation of cranberries and the overcoming of obstacles that presented themselves, that we may soon-perhaps too soon-find ourselves confronted with the fact that we have more fruit than market. Some three years since we had a foretaste of such a condition, and the same is liable to be repeated whenever a full crop is had in the East and West. It is true that our markets are continually expanding, and new fields being opened up at home; but this expansion is not equal to our increased acreage. I believe it is practicable and possible to educate the people of Europe to so appreciate this delicious and healthful fruit as to create a demand which shall tax our utmost capacity for production. But it cannot be done without cost, or by a few persons; it can only be accomplished by a united effort and a liberal expenditure. But it will pay big returns to cranberry growers. The efforts of the Fruit Growers' Trade Company and others have been productive of some good; but on the whole, I think we have aimed too high, and our shots have passed over the heads of the masses, or middle class of people, who are the consumers of such luxuries. My plan would be to secure liberal contributions of fruit from growers, and send a live man into the field; have him secure a |