Middletown transcript., 1868-07-04
3ortltultural Department.
From the Cultivator and Country Gentleman.
Delaware Fruits and Vegetables,

I want to call public attention to the
great success which is attending fruit cul-
ture in the above State.
The ''little fruit State" as she is some
times called, possesses wonderful capaci-
ty for raising every description of berry,
fruit or vegetable, not only excelling all
other States in abundance, but beauty, size,
vigor, color, taste, earliness, and freedom
from disease, to an extent little known or
appreciated by those who have paid no at
tention to the subject.
The distinguishing features ofDelaware,
are warm, rich soil, and the carly season.
A large portion of it is from one week to
ten days earlior than New Jersey, and, in
the Southern portions of the Peninsula,
some crops are harvested two weeks or
more before they ripen at Philadelphia.
To gardener or fruit grower an advan-
tage of this kind is worth thousands of
dollars.
Sooner or later the entire Peninsula
must become the great fruit and vegetable
garden for early products for New York
and Northern markets, and there are many
excellent opportunities for those who like
life among fruits and flowers.
I will give you few instances of sue
cess.
Apple trees thrive as if they knew or de-
sired no more favorable locality. Nothing
can exceed the beauty of the trees, their
healthiness, freedom from disease, vigor of
growth and production. Trees yield here
from one to two years earlier than further
| MD pIx Abo
prices received are almost fabulous From
a seven year old apple tree, 81 worth have
been taken, and from 12 year old one
$50 have been realized. Large orchards
are exceedingly profitable.
! Pear trees yield early and in perfect lux
uriance; all kinds succeed to admiration,
and are troubled with no disease, worms
or leaf-blight whatever.
An orchard of 100 dwarf pear trees on
ly A years old, averaged, last fall, one bas-
ket per tree: and from one tree three bas-
kets all were sent to New York, and av-
eraged SO per basket, or $2,400 for the
entire acre. Two pear trees at Milford
yielded the owner $56.
Peaches, which form the largest orchard
product of the State, are exceedingly profit
able, whether grown on small or large
farms. Some idea of the magnitude Of
this production can be gained from the fact
that last year the entire crop sent to mar
ket by railroad and water communication
reached the figure of 2,10S,000 baskets
by railroad, and $50, 900 by water.
James Fennimore of New Castle Co.
sold from an orchard of 100 acres 10, ,000),
in four consecutive years, $87 900 worth
of peaches. This is positive fact. Ano-
ther case is true, where an orchard of less
than 1000 trees yielded in one season 81,
f 900 net profit.
Another near Dover, which myself saw
, in crop-time, yields from 20 acres prof,
of Sic, 900 yearly-the purchaser buying
the crop on the trees.
} There are other instances where place
of 40 acres yields $4,000 per year; one o.
81 acres yields $500 per year; one of
acres 81, ,300-one of 20 acres yielding
; frnit to tie amount Of $4,000 annually
G and one of five acres also where the income
+ from the peaches is greater than from tho
rest of the entire farm of $50 acres.
At Milford, between IS, 900 and 80, 9,0O(
have been cleared in three seasons from
$500 trees.
Orchards in two lower counties rang
from 5000 to 10000 trees, and one gen
8 tleman in Sussex county put out 10000
the last season. It is generally estimated
a that peaches will average at least 81 pc
i Tree pruns. $50, -,
Strawberries and all hniaods OF berrle
t promise to be most prolific and proftabl
Q crop, Last spring strawberries, shipped
i, In small quantities to New York, brough
+, 81, ,25 and 81 per quart, the price grad
Q ually declined to rs Q. then 50c. and 40c
t was the lowst price obtained, the last Der
/, ries bringing the same price which the ear
l liest from Hammonton obtained.
y From one thlrd. Of an acre at Dover