Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1883-09-27
A MODEL PEA CH FARM.
y. Merritt Wilkins Remarkab
Orchard-Grcat Crops and Big

OrchArd-Grcaf Crops and big
Prices.
Special Correspondence OF State journal.
CHEsTERTowN, Nd, Sept. 19.-Lankford
bay is wide arm of Chester river, deep
AID blue, separating Broad and Quaker
necks, Kent County, Md. This stream of
water runs through, as it formerly were
a high ridge, leaving both of the shores
bluff, and is navigable for steamboats, aid
vessels almost its entire length. At the
head of the bay, on the Quaker Neck
side, Ia situated the York farm,a beautiful
track of land owned by $. Merit
Wilkins,a son of the late Colonel Edward
Wilkins, who was at one time a noted
Republican politician, and famous peach
culturer. This farm contains about 400
acres of land, 100 of which is wood land,
and the remaining tillable.
Sixteen years ago $4,000 peach trees
were planted, beginning with Crawford's
Early and running through all of the
late varieties After the trees were three
years old 5000 trees were removed, leav-
ing an orchard of is, 600 trees. since the
trees were fonr years old there has been
but one total failure of peachss, in the
year 1881, following the exceedingly cold
winter, in which year there WAS failure
throughout the entire district.
Your correspondent knew but little Of
this farm prior to the year 1875, but thus
carefully watched the yield of fruit and
proceeds therefrom since that year.
During the eight years, including this
year, since 1875 there have been gathered
81, 800 baskets of peaches, yielding the
amount of gross sales Of 100000. Some
Of these years the crop seemed to be
enormous. In 1875 the crop was 80, 900
baskets; in 1879, 100000 baskets; in
1882, $4,000, and in the present year
$4,000.
To pick a crop Of peaches from farm
yielding as does this farm, requires a
small army Of workmen. Your CORE.
spondent has seen in the orchards 70 men
at work with hook and baskets. These
men are mostly colored, and divided into
three gangs, each led by boss, either q
white man or a colored man. These
bosses regularly enroll their men, and
cause every man to answer to his name
when the roll is called four times day,
the same being reported every night.
From early morn until noon, and from
that time until night, the work of picking
progresses, the men not being permitted
to leave their rows, except to taks drink
of water from the barrel, which is carried
| on wheels from one part of the orchard
to the other all day long, by boy and
horse.
At the landing, which is situated on
the farm, the work of culling and loading
the boat is carried on, some 90 men being
employed. John A. Groves, who has
been a tenant of this farm since 1875,
closely superintends the packing of his
fruit, which goes daily to Baltimore
market. The chilling is done by means
of machine, invented by John A. Jones
of New Castle county, which separates
| the sizes and runs them into separate
boxes, thus making each of the three
sizes uniform. Mr.. Groves has cullei
800 baskets in one day through one Of
| these oullers.
1t is sight we'll worth remembering TO
SEQ this army of nearly 100 men at their
| dinner. 1t is also al item of expense,
when the calculation is made as to what
| 1t will cost to feed them 1t requires a
great deal of cool Judgment and calculs
tion to pick and market such crop Of
| peaches and to provide and feed such an
army. This orchard is really remark
able one. Although it is 16 years old, it
is thrifty looking. and strong, and will
last at least 10 more years, for in all of
these years there never has been seen
one premature peach on any OF the trees.
Colonel Wilkins told your correspondent
some years ago some remarkable sales Of
peaches. In one year he sold 5000
boxes for which he received $4,000 AT
another time he sold 1000 boxes for
which he received $4,000. In the year
1869 from the sales OF his peaches he
realized the gross sum Of $4,000.