The Democratic advocate., 1877-05-26
OH Sarmer.
The Psa0h Region.

sula commences at kirkwood, Del, IA
miles below Wilmington, and extends to
Cris6eld, Nd, 109 miles distant But
the whole peninsula, embracing territory
Of 6000 square miles, hemmed in by the
Delaware river and bay and the Atlantic
Ocean on the east, and on the west and
south by the Chesapeake, is well adapted
to fruit culture. Its soil is rich and easily
cultivated, being free of stone, and climate
mild. Railroads tap all its important parts
and have admirable connections with
farther-reaching arteries Of trade, and nav
igable streams within its borders add to
the facilities for shipping its products.
Forty years ago the farmers of upper
Delaware commenced growing the peach,
but it was not until 1856, when the Del
aware railroad was built, that this fruit
was grown with view to profit About
1860 peach culture became general in the
State, and gradually extended to other
parts Of the peninsula; aud, from the few
thousand baskets grown fifteen years ago,
the yield steadily increased until 1875,
when 9072 car loads, or about 4,536,000
baskets of peaches were shipped by rail.
This was the largest crop ever raised, but
the figures given, il should be borne ID
mind, only represent sixty7fve per cent. Of
the actual yield. The rest Of the crop
was sehtltol market BY water, canned, dis
tiiled into brandy, used IN home consump-
tion, or allowed 70 rot IN the orchards. =
Startling as these figures are, they viii
not compute the prospective crop of the
present year Mr. |. N Mills, Superin-
tendent Of the Delaware division of the
Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore
Railroad, believes from present indications,
that 1000, 900 baskets win be shipped by
rail this summer. The fruit promises to
be Of much better quality than hereto
fore, because the trees are apparently more
vigorous and the buds more evenly spread
than formerly.
To provide markets for this unprece-
,leuted yield, is a question that is now
claiming the attention Of growers aud rail
road men generally. In 1875, the crop
was shipped o.points as far south as Rich
mond; to Toronto, Canada, on the north;
st. Louis on the west, Boston on the east,
and Milwaukee on the northwest. This
year it IS proposed to extend the ship
ments as far west as Omaha and Council
Bluffs, and north to Quebec, Canada, and
to supply many intermediate cities not
hitherto touched. Arrangements are being
perfected to this end, and it is probable
that European shipments will be again
attempted. 4
BY system Of fast freight trans, inau-
gurated in 1875, peaches can be shipped
to Chicago in 81 hours, to Cincinnati in
% hours, to st. Louis in 40 hours, and 10
other points proportiOnately 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, lpetted but about 30
cents per basket.
The growers desire this year to bring
dealers to their orchards aud sell there.
BY doing this, they say, they will be re-
lieyed of much trouble and annoyance,
while the dealer, in personally superintend-
ing the purchase and shipment Of his
fruit, viii get better article, and be re-
munerated 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 sl,O6 per
crate at Middletown for fine peaches, ship
ped them to Chicago alta cost of So cents
per crate, and sold them there at s3.7S
per crate. 49,,
Peach shipments will commence about
July 10Th, viii reach their height during
August, aud end with September. Hales 5
Early is the first variety to ripen, and it
is followed in turn BY Troth's Early Red,
Early York, EARLY Crawford, Reeves Fa-
yorite, Moore's Old Mixons, Stump, Late
Crawford, PuIlens, Crockets, smock and
Solway. sa.,..
Il is 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
source Of great profit to the growers. In
1870 there were 282 car l6lds shipped,
and this year it is estimated 500 car loads
Or about z 900, 900 quarts, will be sent to
market They have have heretofore netted
on an aycrago ten cents quart, and thcre
is no reason to believe that the profit this
season win be less than that Of former
years Shipments commence about May
18th, reach their heighth BY the 28th, and
cease on June 18th. Last year the fruit
was shipped as far As Buffalo, and reached
that city in good condition,
The farmers Of the peninsula, especially
those Of Delaware, are now considering the
subject Of sugar beet culture. They be-
liese The soil and climate there are well
adapted to the growth Of the beet, and, as
the sugar made from 1t sells for quite as
much as taat made from The cane, they
think its cultivation will be even more re-
muneratise 70 them than their fruit Is now.
The last Legislature appropriated money
70 defrny the expenses connected with an
experiment Of beet cuItrue In the State,
the Board Of TFade of Wilmington has
1aken an Interest. Ia the natter, and the
philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore
Raikaad Is encouraging the enterprise IN
rnapF Tsys France last year exported
z20Vf toss Of beet sugar, and tho fact
Nat she qTar the beets 90 soil and ID
climate very eipilar 10 that Of Delaware
encourages The pa9plc Of that State 10 be-
Iiege lhat tbey ean successfully compete
With her 10 this matter.-PtiKn. Ledger.