Middletown transcript., 1877-05-19

/ years ago, the yielu SteaQilY lncFeuseu hhhi
1875, when 9O72 car loads, or about 1885,
600 baskets of peaches were shipped BY rail.
This was the largest crop ever raised, but
! the figures given, it should be borne in mind,
only represent sixty-6ve per cent. Of the
actual ,ield. The rest of the crop was sent
to market by water, canned, distilled into
brandy, used in home consumption, or al
lowed to rot in the orchards.
Startling ns these figures are, they will not
compute the prospective crop of the present
year. Mr.. /. N. Mills, Superintendent of the
Delaware division of the Philadelphia Will
mington and Baltimore Railroad believes
from present indications, that 100000 bas-
kets will be shipped by rail this summer.
The fruit promises 10 be of MUCK better
quality than heretofore, because the trees are
apparently more vigorous and the buds more
evenly spread than formerly.
To provide markets for this unprecedented
yield, is u question that is now claiming
the attention of growers and railroad men
generally. In 1875, the crop was shipped to
points as far south as Richmond; TO Toronto,
Canada, on the north ST. Louis on the vest,
Boston on the east, and Milwaukee on the
northwest. This year it is proposed to ex-
tend the shipments as far west as Omaha and
Council Bluffs, and north TO Quebec, Cam
ada, and to supply many intermediate cities
not hitherto touched. Arrangements are be-
ing perfected to this end, and it is probable
that European shipments will be again al
tempted
BY system of fast freight trains inaugu.
rated in 1875, peaches can be shipped to Chi
cago in 81 hours, to Cincinnati in % hours,
to St. Louis in 40 hours, and TO other points
propOrtiOnally quick. They arrive there in
good condition, and bring prices entirely
satisfactory to the growers. In 1875 they
netted from 80 TO 45 cents per basket, while
the Eastern shipments, including New York,
neited but about 30 cents per basket.
The growers desire this year to bring deal
ers TO their orchards and sell there. By do
ing this, they say, they will be relieved of
dealer, in personally experimenting the pur-
chase and shipment of his fruit, will get
better article, and be remunerated by higher
prices. This plan was tried in 1875, and
was found to be advantageous to the grower
and dealer alike Then the dealer paid ST. .O6 |
per crate at Middletown for fine peaches,
shipped them 10 Chicago at cost of 9s cents
per crate, and sold them there at So. .7s per
crate.
Peach shipments will commence about July
goth, will reach their height during August,
and end with September Hale's Early is
the first variety to ripen, and it is followed
in turn by Troths Early Red, Early York,
Early Crawford, Reeves Favorite, Moore's |
Old Mixons, Stump, Late Crawford, Pullens,
Crockets, Smock and Salway.
tits found that the peach thrives best on
the upper part of the peninsula, while berries |
grow in greater abundance on the lower part,
or south of the Nanticoke river. The berry |
product has gradually increased from year to |
year, and is now a source of great profit to |
the growers. In 1870 there were 2s2 car
loads shipped, and this year it is estimated
300 car loads, or about 1000, 600 quarts, will |
be sent to market They have heretofore
netted on an average ten cents a quart, and
there is no reason to believe that the profit
this season will be less than that of former
years. Shipments commence about May ls,
reach their height by the 2sth, and cease on
June 18th. Last year the fruit was shipped |
IS far as Buffalo, and reached that city in
good onditon.-Phila Ledger.