Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-09-12
ACRES OF PEACHES.
Picking, Packing and Drying Fruit
On A Maryland Farm.
Washington Post Sept. ,.

portance and numerous interesting in
cldental statistics, that attracted wide
spread attention, and was regardtd by
the local trade as "A move in the right
direction. In view of the extent and
rapid growth Of the traffic of which the
peach trade il the most important fac
tor, The Pot re Gently detailed a repre-
sentative to proceed to Marshall Hall,
Charles county, Nd, and write up the
peach farms of that section of the Poto-
mac Accordingly the scribe took pas
sage on the popular steamer John w.
Thompson, of the Seaboard and Inland
Coasting Co.'s fleet, and after very
pleasant and attractive ride down the
historic river, was lal ded on the narrow
and primitive wharf ut Marshall Hall.
Asecrtaining that the farm Of Mr.. j..
Webb Little, bordering on the river 1T
that point, was the most prominent in
the vincinty, The Post commissioner
wendell his way up the shaded slope
through the picnic grounds, and was
soon in the presence Of the young pro.
prietor, whose family occupy an ancient
farmhouse near the shore. Mr. Little
owns over 200 acres of peach trees, ex.
tending from the very banks o(the Poto-
mac to point a mile or more inland.
The inspecting of the orchard was
most interesting, novel, and pleasant
pastime. A large gang of colored
people of all ages and sexes were
bu,iIy engaged in picking the market
able qualities, the fruit being hauled
away for shipment as rapidly as gath
cred. The season being nearly over,
only the Smock varieties were being
collected, but in different parts of the
orchard, later varieties were found in
abundance, and viii supply the popu.
lar demand fortnight hence. The Lit.
tie farm consists Of 20 900 trees cover
ing an area Of OF over two hundred
acres. OF this quantity, 1000 are young
trees. yielding excellent crops, and
1000 are old trees. The varieties en-
brace the Beatrice, Hales, Rivers,
Troths, Monumental Rose, Wards late,
Red Rare-Ripe, Sllway's late, Crocketl's
Crawford's late, and other well-known
species The bearing trees are planted
III blocks ranging from five hundred to
two thousand. The old trees were plant
ed, probably, twenty-five years ago, and
being u fruitful source Of profit III the
past, induced the proprietor to plant
younger trees and to take an interest in
the culture Of the fruit. The result has
exceeded all expectations. During the
past season 5000 crates we're picked on
this farm alone, which two Years ago,
only yielded about 1000 boxes, and
next year if the season is favorable, it
is estimated that the crop will aggregate
10000 To 10000 boxes. An excellent
market is found in Baltimore in the
canning trade, for which the largest and
ERNEST fruit is selected, and also in
Washington and the leading cities of the
west the remainder or "cullings" are
dried by the process described below. In
addition to the trees on this farm, chat
yielded a crop this year, about six thou
sand young trees have been planted,
which will yield in one or two wears
Among these are number of fancy
varieties, such as the southern Amelia.
Nites, st. John and others, the plant
ing of which is experimental. The sea-
SON begins about June % and continues
until the middle of September. All the
peaches selected are divided into three
grades; the fancy fruit, which is shipped
in neat peck and half-peck rustic
baskets to New York, Washington,
Baltimore and the West for store trade:
u prime quality, firm and large, for
canning and ordinary purposes, and
the remainder for drying. In order
to utilize the third quality or Cuttings"
to an advantage patent evaporator is
used. This consists, first, Of Il furnace
six feet high and four I, g in diameter,
from which an intense heat is thrown
into shaft extending fifteen or twenty
feet above. Into this shaft are fitted
twenty-five shallow, alright trays that
work with an automatic movement
and keeps them forced gradually TO che
top of the shaft, where the unner trav
is removed, and another is fitted in at
the bottom. Toe peaches, pared and
cut in halves, are put in the trays. A
temperature of 215 degrees is then sun.
piled by the furnace and penetrates to
the top Of the shaft, being gradually
distributed and lessened as the travs
ascend, and are subjected to n tempera-
ture Of 1875 degrees when removed. b,
this treatment the aqueous liquor is
extracted from the peach, the sacchar-
inc matter is retained, and the fruit is
pressed to compact form. It is then
transferred to Il bin. and subsequently,
is packed by layers III boxes Of two
three and five pounds each, similar in
style TO the Turkish prunes. The evap-
Grating process occupies four hours, and |
125 bushels OF the green fruit can be
treated daily 10y its use. When it is |
considered that the evaporatsd peach |
last year retailed at 40 and 80 cents per
pound, the wisdom of thus utilizing the |
small and otherwise useless peaches is !
obvious. During the past season there
has been erected commodious and |
convenient frame house, OF two stories
and cellar, for shipping and evapor-
ating. The front room on the first
floor is fitted with inclined trough.like |
tables, twelve or fifteen feet III length, |
on which the peaches are culled AZ
they are propelled by gravity TO
the lower end. where the bet
ter qualities are separated from
the cuttings and boxed. Tie /