Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-09-16
Peach Orchards ofIne west.

4
The evidences presented upon the State
Fair grounds show that the Lake Shore Is
no mean peaOh-groBing country, as to
quality or quantity. But the West beats
us in the size of its peach orchards. The
st. Joseph region-thoss portions Of IIli-
nOis and Miohigsn about the head Of Lake
Miobigan-is celebrated for its fertility
The Ghicsgo Journal gives some particu-
lars Of the Perch Orchards near the town
Of ST Joseph, Indiana, from which we take
he follewing;
q The largest Orchard in the St Joseph
region, is thsEof MessIs. Smith s. Howell,
which covers sixty acres. Of territory
Messrs. Smith s HoWen ship nearly all
their peaches in boxes-the best mode.
The boxes are made in the orchards, from
wood grown on the farm. They are Of un-
form size, as are the baskets used-hold-
inghslf & bushel. Mr. Howell estimates
that they will ship from 10000 20 $4,000
baskets, from these orchards, this season.
Thew have st present some twenty-five
hands at work gathering and packi0gj
next week they will have about forty at
*
fruit. Parties who wish 70 see the ele-
pbapti at his hugest in this line. will do
we'll TO visit 81. Joseph next week or the
week following, when the work will be ct
its height
aThe trees in this orchard literally
gr0an' (thoss say who hear very sharp
with fruit You cannot walk under the
trees; You have to walk round them. The
sight Of = large tree split down the trunk
and lying prone on the ground-borne to
the earth by the very weight of its own
progeny, is no uncommon one; q poetic
warming to those who contemplate large
familles Of children.
"a few facts relative to the extent Of
orchards and yield, will ppeak for them
selves. Il is roughly e. imated that the
probable yield this season Of sll the orch
ards together will reach 250, 600 baskets,
which will wholesale at from 90 cents 10
81 25 per basket Tor box. There. is little
difference between the wholesale prices at
81 Joseph and the same in Chicago. The
large number Of dealers from Chicago wh0
come down here from day to day, keep the
market prices about equal. Of eoui Sc there
are scarcely any buyers at st. Joseph, eK-
cept those who buy for Chicago. The
freightto Chiaago is ten cents per basket
or box.
"Next In size to the orchards Of Smith
& &Hosel (66 cores, are Parmel'y's, %
acres; Collins, 30 acres Dunhamis, so
and Moultons, 20 acres. There are, be-
sides these, about one hundred other
orchards, varying In size from ten to
twenty five acres. COlleotedly, these
orchards would cover about two miles
square Of ground; but they are distributed
over territory Of some 96 square miles
The work Of gathering is more carefully
performed than most people suppose. The
trees have 70 be carefully passed over by
the gatherers again and again, as the
fruit gradually ripens in different parts OF
the tree. Every peach is gathered by
hand, and transferred thence one at a time,
with great care in packing, to the ship
ping baskets aud boxes. Ths gathering
baskets are baskets capable Of holding per-
hsps 9 peck, and having handles over the
TOP, TO which handles are attached iron
hooks, by which the baskets are suspended
to limbs in the tree, within reach Of the
gatherer's hand. The gathering is mostly
performed by boys, but sometimes women
sssist-not, it is 20 be presumed, ever
climbing the trees, however; but when it
is known thatinthese orchards the trees
are 50 heavily laden with fruit that the
limbs touch the ground IN many places,
and that one can very seldom pass tree
without STOPPING, it will be seen that Il is
unnecessary for the women to climb. The
preference for shipping is given to those
long boxes made Of Stats, which all our
readers have seen. They keep the peaches
in better condition, ii is thought, than do
the baskets. Where baskets are used,
dealers prefer to have them covered with
notwithstanding, but some growers use
brown psper instead"