Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-07-09
FIRST EDITION.


MORE HOPEFUL REPORTS FROM THE MATURING
cRoP-THE RAILROADS PREPARING TO MOVE 800,
900 Baskets.
1t was intimated in the COMMERCIAL, some
weeks ago, that an estimate. of the peach crop
for the present season other than that of the
Peninsular Peach Growers Association would
soon be prepared, and that the latter estimate
would exceed the figures of the former with
greater probability OF accuracy. That estimate
is now complete. 1t has been made by the rail-
road companies and upon it will the prepara-
tione be made for the transportation of the crop
to market,
This last estimate places the aggregate ship
ments at 800, 900 baskets-35S 900 baskets in ex-
cess of that of the late convention OF the Peach
Growers at Dover. The manner of gathering
the data for their estimate was different from
that of the peach growers. 1t was prepared by
the agents at the several stations along the
railroads, under Instructions, after thorough
canvass among the growers, and IL more likely
to be correct than the unsystematic way in which
the estimates are arrived at in u convention of
the growers. The latter, for instance, do not
take into consideration the smaller orchards
when making up their estimates, but base their
calculations solely upon those of forty, fifty and
sixty acres in extent The railroad agents in
clude all, and thus get nearer the actual ship
ments each year.
There in a great discrepancy between the two
estimates in the probable shipments from the
several stations. Forinstance, the Peach Grow
ers' Association allotted 5000 baskets to Sails
bury and 1000 to Delmar, whereas there will
not in all probability be any shipments from
either station worth speaking of The whole es-
innate of the growers, in fact, from the lower
end of the road is thought to be too high by the
Railroad companies, and that OF the upper end
too low. From present indications the Hale 8
will constitute one-half the shipments, or 400 900
bau lata Wypminp Ianrpl thQrn
are no other varieties upon the trees; below that
point there are few of any kind. The yellow
varieties, which make up almost one-half the
shipments, are almost entirely all killed.
Of course this estimate of the Railroad Com
panies is liable to prove in excess of the actual
shipments when the crop natures, especially
since about one-half the estimate is based upon
the Hale varieties which il never certain until it
il in the market. 1t il the most uncertain of all
the varieties; and sometimes fails even a few
days before it is fit for picking. Only yesterday
a gentleman related to us his experience with
Hale's one season which establishes its preeari-
BUSINESS. few years ago this gentleman had a
most excellent prospect for heavy yield The
fruit looked healthy, was well-developed and
ripening nicely. One Saturday he went down to
his orchard preparatory to the commencement
of picking on Monday but on Sunday thunder
storm approached and light shower fell upon
the fruit which was followed by a very hot sun,
and the consequence was that the fruit rotted
before IL coulu De plcheu on mohuhy. hithouSh
twenty-four hours before it was intended to be-
gin picking the fruit the prospect was 80 ell
couraging not single basket was shipped from
the orchard, the fruit having perished IN this
short time.
If the Hale's are marketed as fully as the in-
dcations now point the estimate of 800 1000 bask-
cts il believed to be not too great. The grow
ers themselves, it will be remembered, differed
in opinion as to the extent of the crop when III
convention, and fully one-half of them pro
nounced the estimate then made entirely toe
low.