Middletown transcript., 1870-08-20
THE PENINSULA.


The following article is from the pen of
the Rev Chas. b. Boynton, and was
written for Chicago paper shortly after
his return to Washington from IA late visit
to his family at Keenc's Landing, in Car
oline county.
Perhaps some of your readers may be
interested in u brief account of region of
which little is generally known, in which
the writer has lately spent few days,
enjoying the luxuries of the fruit season.
1t is the peninsula lying between the Del
aware Bay on the cast, the Chesapeake on
the West, and the Atlantic on the south.
1t seems especially designed by the Crca-
tor to supply the markets of the great At
lantic cities with fruit and vegetables, and
may properly be regarded as the largest
natural garden spot in the world; and
doubtless there are many larger tracts of
more fertile soil to be found elsewhere,
especially on the broad prairies, but taking
into consideration soil, climate and loca-
ton, it is probably true that this penin
sula is unsurpassed for the special purpos-
es of market gardening, and for the sup
ply of every variety of fruit which can be
grown on the seaboard in climate in
which the best of North and South is de-
lightfully mingled.
This region is by no means all, or main
ly, garden now. Much of it is lying
waste much is very poorly cultivated;
but enough of it is properly treated to
show that its future is already settled
As a whole, it is located just where fruits
and vegetables can be most advantageous
ly raised for Washington, Baltimore,
Philadelphia, New York and Boston, as
its season is from week to ten days car
ler than New Jersey, and its productions
can be placed in the great markets in "A
fresher condition than those from Norfolk
and the adjacent portions of Virginia.
With some capital aud skill it will there
fore have decided advantage over re-
gons farther north and south. Being IA
peninsula, and narrow in proportion to
length, its coast line is very long, and be-
sides it is indeuted by almost countless
bays, large and small; and there are
moreover, several large rivers on the wes
tern side which are navigablc for steamers
that can traverse Chesapeake Bay. In
addition, there are many tugs which go
up the creeks and shallow bays to bring
out fruits and other productions to the
larger steamers.
These give to the peninsula almost un-
equalled facilities Of water transportation.
But the railroads have done even more
for the Improvement of this region. One
trunk line runs the whole length of the
peninsula, from Wilmington, Del. on the
Philadelphia x Baltimore road, to Girls
T. 1 ~ porfbnrp mint N tho
Atlantic, connecting there with line OF
ateamboats from Norfolk About thirty
miles south of Wilmington, branch road
runs southwest to Easton, on the Chesa-
peake, and another runs from Seaf)rd,
near the southern end of the peninsula,
westward to Cambridge, on an arm of the
Chesapeake, while still another line con-
meets this trunk road also with the Dela-
ware Bay Nearly every point OF this
whole region is thus within reach of either
"A railroad, or some water communication.
In relation, Therefore, to the great
Northern Atlantic cities, it has the posi-
ton of garden. Its advantages are now
becoming better known, and capital and
skill arc flowing in from the North, and
the owners of lands, which a short time
since were devoted to corn, wheat and to-
bacco, almost exclusively, are entering
1argely into the culture of fruits, and
making large profits from the new EN-
ployment. Peaches grow here with great
luxuriance, and are celebrated over the
whole country for their peculiarly delic-
ious flavor. The extent of this culture
may be seen from the fact that last year
there were shipped from here four millions
of baskets, and the orchards are being
rapidly extended.
It is impossible to estimate the amount
obtained from the strawberries, raspber-
res and blackberries, but it is very large,
and the plantations are being multiplied
on every side
The wild fruits, such as the blackberry
or dewberry, as the early variety is called,
and the whortleberry, bring annually q
very considerable income to the colored
people who gather them in immense
Quantities. They are sent to the cities,
where the blackberries are used principal
]v for wine and cordials, or canning when
the quality is good. There are several
yery fine varities of native blackberries,
which. if cultivated, would equal the best
that are sold. This will ere long be done,
and plantations of these will soon be seen
loaded with the most luscious fruit, as
tempting and as valuable as those which
are displayed by our nurserymen.
The most delicate shrubbery grows
here with perfection that richly repays
the cultivator, and few conservatories can
show more splendid roses than adorn the
.5 lawns and gardens of those who have Wis
ion and taste. The whole region is in a
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