Middletown transcript., 1869-09-04
The Round Top Farm.

We take from the Crumptonian, the fol-
lowing account Of the extensive peach Or
chard and canning establishment at the
Round Top Farm, in Queen Anne's coun-
~, Md.
To those who have never visited a large
peach orchard and canning house, and who
feel desire to do SO, we would RECON-
mend Round Top, the largest in the Uni
t.d States, situated ON Chester river, about
six miles below Crumpton, the property OF
Messrs. Morton Il Harris. At present
every department of the business is in full
operation The orchard contains over
100, 900 trees, occupying 800 acres, Of
which $50 acres are i'll full bearing. This
season ths crop is immense. many of the
trees having broken down beneath the
load Of fruit. The early varieties, not be-
ing suitable for canning, were packed in
bushel boxes and sent to market. As ma
ny as 1000 boxes have been sent in a sim
gle day and rarely less than 1000. On
one occasion we observed 10 men at work
in the box-making department, the wood
being cut with circular saw driven by
horse power.
AS the season for canning does not ex-
ceed six weeks, it is necessary to employ
large force and use expedition during
this short season, in order to secure such
an immense crop as is this year in Round
Top. 1t was intended to pack l, 1,000, 900
cans, but this will not be done, not for
lack of fruit, but want of facilities for do
ing the work in u short time. At present
there are about $50 female and 150 male
employees, consisting of men and women,
boys and girls.
The peaches are gathered in baskets
and hauled by the wagon load to the par
ing room, where number Of women and
girls prepare them for packing From
the pairing room they are lowered to the
packing room below, where the process OF
packing and soldering takes place. The
cans are then placed in box, about six
inches deep, 30 i'll each box, and placed
on u truck, which, when loaded, is pushed
along railway track to the process room.
Here IA hosting machine hits each box
and imnerscs them in boxes of boiling wa
ter, where they remain short time, are
then taken out, each can mnutely exam
ined to discover leaks, the leaky ones re-
moved, the truck loaded and passed along
the railway to the store room ON one side
of which the cans are placed, while ON the
other side there are tcus of thousands OF
empty cans. The cans are labelled, packed
in cases, and shipped to their agent in
Philadelphia. The processing room con-
tains four hot water receptacles, and they
are kept fully employed.
twithstanding the immense quantity
of peaches required for canning, 1t is i'm
possible to use them all, it has therefore
been necessary to chip 1000 boxes per day
to Baltimore or Philadelphia.
In order TO have Il sufficient number of
cans in readiness, men are employed all
winter in this department, and i'll Spring
additional nicn are employed, according to
crop prospt cts. There is no time to make
cans during the peach season, as the men
are required 10 solder up.
Nearly all the employees live on the
premises, board and lodging being provi-
ded for those ho desire it. For the reg
ular employees houses are provided, but
they are not the neat and comfortable cot
tages. with tastcfully laid out and we'll cul-
tivated gardens, indicating refinement, in
dustry and thrift, which the visitor would
naturally expect to see.
Round Top canned peaches rank A No
in market. This is owing to their prime
condition when packed, great care being
exercised to use none but good peaches,
and the employment of competent assist
ants in the departments where experience
and skill are required. Mr.. Harris person
ally superntends the entire establishment,
and the regularity which prevails, and the
rapidity with which the work proceeds,
indicates thorough knowledge Of the bu-
siness and great executive ability.