The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-11-23


ther development of the bud for a month
to come. Only the most exceptionally cold
weather can damage the trees until the
blossoms open, and until that time the fruit
is safe from ordinary frosts; but with every
mild spell the buds make some growth. ex-
peiiencing check with each return of cold
er weather; and the chief peril lies in their
making too much "hcadway under the
influence OF the March and April suns, SO
As to open the blooms Just in time for exc
cution by the late Spring frosts. On the
other hand, should these frosts be deferred
until the trees are well in leaf and the
young fruit considerably advanced. there
is little danger, except from ice or sleet.
After 4 very heavy crop the preceding year
the vital force of the trees seems weakened,
and they exhibit less power of resistance
to cold. half crop, however, is more
remuneratiye than a full yield. the fruit
being finer and the prices running higher
than in a heavily stocked market. There
several insect pests which threaten the
peach in this State, especially the borer,
which Injuries the trees by converting a
large portion of tile sap into gum, and a
species of .iphis which preys on the young
leaves.
When the blooms are fully open there
are fewer lovelcr sights than an extended
orchard landscape, and the man must tie
indeed a poor creature who can fail TO be
charmed by its lowered beauties, and,
breathing in the balmy air freighted with
delicate perfume, thank God just for being.
Here and there on the far horizon are masses
of dark forest foliage, with the clean stems
and feathered, palm like heads of some pine
grove cut clearly against the sky; over
head, the glad sunshine smiling through
the bright blue ether. the iieecy cirrus
clouds floating on the higher currents of
unfclt air, the fishing hawk circling with
joyous cries, aud far, far above him the
lordly eagle, mere speck upon the sky
calmly sailing beyond the cloud wreaths on
seemingly morionless wing; in the fore
ground, and stretching into the distance
until lost in hazy uncertainty, an expanse
Of many shaded green. broken 10y receding
road lines, cut into squares and polygons
10y fence and hedge, and varied by broad
patches of pale pink color, with now and
then the snowy hue Of apple blossoms, the
white flash of sail upon some unseen
water course, and, ii may be. the siivery
CLEAN of water from the far oil bay. Add
a snug farm house here and there n group
or two of cattle and the glad song of sweet
throated birds, and one has an experience
of what Nature and Industry together can
do in the way of sensuous beauty which
dwarfs every effort of human art.
But all this beauty is evanescent. and
shades of rapidly into the sober hues of
practical utility. The blossoms fall, and
are replaced by the all pervading green of
summer foliage; the birds berake them
selves to the simple duties Of domestic
architecture and its sequences; the cirrus
clouds mass themselves into heavy cUmu-
las and aimJuS, and begin 10 weep over the
fallen blooms; and, following Natures ex-
ample, we leave the peach orchards for a
while TO catch a glimpse of the ..small
fruit interests, these latter being now III
season. There is one visitor, however, Who
having like ourselves but recently become
interested in peaches, is not disposed to
leave the orchards SO readily. Within a
year reports have spread through the peach
,F Lao Of a.,
which feeds upon the buds, and promises
to become very destructive. The writer
has not been able to secure a specimen, but
from all the descriptions, it must Le no
other than the rose breasted grosbeak stop
ping in small iiocks on his northward Jour
ney from the distant South to replenish
his commissariat from this newly -discov-
cred base of supplies. There need be no
apprehensions of serious mischief from
this source, for the hungry songster will
never come in numbers sufficient to make
him terrible. lie has no special prcdilec-
tion for peach buds, but will feed on any
other sort quite as readily; and, indeed,
will do a real kindness TO the producer by
relieving his trees Of their surplus fruitage
in a way much safer for what is left than
that pursued by either frost or thrcshiry
stick. BY all means let the grosbeak or
peach bird y be encouraged.
We have already seen, from 4 few figures
representing small section, how great
must be the small fruit interest of this re.
gion. All kinds are cultivated to a great
extent and with very profitable results, bu,
the strawberry, the raspberry, the black
ant the cherry. too, growing rapidly into
favor. Every part of the peninsula is well
adapted to this industry, but it furnishes
especially IN the lower counties, where the
light, sandy soil makes but poor returns of
other products. The small town of Prin-
cess Anne, in Somerset county, has this
season shipped as many as six car loads of
Strawberries daily. OF this luscious berry
mere are innumerabc varieties, the finest
of which are retained for home consump.
tion. The Wilson," prolific and firm
fruit, though very acid, has practically
driven all others from the market on ac-
count Of its attractive size ard color and
its excellent carrying qualities. The finer
fruits, as raspherries and straw berries, are
carried to market in pint and quart boxes,
packed in crates of from sixty to seventy
quarts capacity. The other kinds 90 in
open buckets, except the grape, which is
sent in cases or small boxes No sooner is
the berry season opened than everything is
IN confusion. Domestic servants, the col
ored population and small boys generally
begin TO show signs OF an unrest which
soon ripens into utter decentralization
Everybody turns out to pick berries at five
cents per box. The growers obtain gratui-
tously from the can makers the tin disks
cut from the covers, have them stamped at
a thrilling cost and issue them as checks.
4 regular office is established in the field,
where boxes are distributed to the pickers.
and a check given for each quart of berries