The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-04-08
The Peach Country.

fnR FRUIT uNINJuRED AND PROMISING A RIG
YIELp-A BRIGHT OUTLOOK FOR THE AP-
PREACHING sEAsoN--Is PEACH CULTURE
MARCHING SOUTHWARK ?--AN INTERESTING G
THEORY.
Correspondence Wilmington tDel) Every Eve
ning.l
Dover, April 6.-Contrary to expectation
the peaches have gotten along so far with
out any serious damage. Growers, VINO are
always watching the weather, were seri.
ously alarmed by the open winter, fearing
that severe frosis In March or April might
min the buds which were expected TO be
open ut much earlier period than usual.
When the freezing days Of two weeks
| ago came on it was thought that in few
days the fruit would exhibit signs OF in
| iuIy, but a. careful examination Of some OF
! the most important orchards in this vicinity
and in Sussex county fails TO discover any
material damage to the crop.
The trees are now pretty generally BIOS
somed out, and the buds present healthy
appearance. From more than fifty twigs.
gathered from orchards in this county and
in Sussex, not more than one bud
| in twenty has been found upon an
average to be injured, the most seri-
Gus damage being perccptible in the
buds about Georgetown, Sussex county.
The trees all over the Peninsula are now in
nourishing condition, and, although a
good many orchards have been pulled up
during the past year in New Castle county,
the number of trees in training all over the
peach region is probably as great as ever,
or nearly so.
| II the frosts hereafter do not make havoc
of the present prospect, there will be the
largest crop Of peaches this year ever
grown on the Peninsula. The trees in
New Castle county are, by reason Of not
having been burdened with crop last year,
| in promising condition. and, although
some good peach authorities contend that
peach culture in New Castle is played out,
there i reason in the present outlook
among the orchards therein now TO hope
that the fear Is unfOunded. 1t has for some
years been pet theory among n class oi
very excellent judges OF peach culture that
the growth of The fruit is not possible ex-
cept for limited time in one locality, and
that after time the crop will drop of and
entirely disappear. In the course OF time,
it is cOntended, the soil will regain IFS ca
pacity 10 mature crop, and the trees Will
bear again.
The curious fac. Of tic irpossibility tc
grow peaches about Delaware City and in
northern New Castle county, where the
fruit once flourisbed, is cited as proof, and
the failing of the crop in and about Middle
town is presented As confirmation. This is
an interesting theory, and worth considera'
ton.
Although the prospects are now exceed,
ingiy encouraging. the crop has long and
critical period to pass through before it can
be pronounced safe. The best authorities or
peaches do not consider all damage passed
until June, hut The present healthy condition
of the trees and tbe buds is such as TO war
rant the belief that the crop will pass tbrougt
the danger in safety.
The entire crop last year was nearly
4.OOO,N00 OF baskets, and although very
large. was a source OF great revenue 10 th'
Peninsula. Should the present indications
hold out. the crop for the approaching sea
son will be very much larger, and it is no
extravagant to say that it is possible that
NAV reach 1000, 900 of baskets. Since las
season large number of orchards have beer
planted in Sussex county, and in lowe
MARYLAND. This was owing 10 the repeated
failure OF the crop above and the eXpecta
tion that the climate in New Castle county
has become uniavorable to the growth O
fruit.