National Republican., 1886-08-31
PRINCE oF PEACH GROWERS.

PRINCE OF PEACH GROWERS.
MIR. j. p. II. Polk, who Raises More
Peaches Than Any other Man In the
World.
Mr.. j. p. r. Polk, OF Kent county, Nd,
the prince Of peach growers, was in town
yesterday. Hei a handsome man about
forty years Of age, and belongs to the same
family Of which President Polk was a
member. For several years he has been the
most extensive fruit farmer in the United
States. he has those immense peach farms
In Kent and Cecil counties, Md. and at
Cannon, Del. His crop this year will be
about 175,00O baskets OF peaches. the largest
number ever put into the market by any
one man. Carloads Of his fruit pass daily
TO the north and west, and merchants from
oil parts OF the country arc flochng TO his
Kent county farm and the fruit exchange
at Barnard's wharf, which he was chiefly
instrumental in establishing. During this
busy season he has large steamer-the
Meteor-runniDg almost constantly be-
tween the wharf and the railroad shipping
points. The season lasts only six weeks,
but all this time Mr.. Polk is certainly one
of the busiest men, as he superlntends per-
sonally the sampling, sales, and shipping Of
his fruit. The growth OF Mr.. Polf's fruit
interests has been remarkable. His grand
father, Maj. Reybold, planted the first
greatest peach-producing territory In the
world. He first set out 1000, and they
were the wonder Of the whole county.
People came from miles around to see them,
and wonder at the new industry that had
been introduced into their county. They
did not know then that the soil and climate
about their homes was the best adapted in
Nhat nrl1 fNn F.I
bold's large crops soon showed them how
precious their lands were, however. In a
few years dozens OF farmers gave up gen.
orally farming to devote all their attention
to orchards. The industry grew rapidly,
and to-day Kent county produces more
peaches than any whole state in the Union.
The 1000 trees Of Mai. Reybold thirty
years ago have increased TO over quarter
Of million In 1886. Within three miles Of
Still Neck Pond there are over $4,000 trees.
Most OF them are owned by Mr.. Polk,
though Mr.. Barnard and j. s. Harris own
large numbers. Mr.. Polk has Of late given
his whole attention to his farms. He is
graduate Of Princeton College, a law
yer OF ability, and has been law
partner Of Secretary Bayard at Wilmington,
Del. He is a scientific farmer. Every In
vention In the agricultural line finds him a
ready patron, and he is one OF the first to
utilize all discoveries looking TO the i'm
provement Of fruit growing. He has also
revolutionized his method of selling the
peach crops. He concluded some time ago
that fruit exchange was just as necessary
as a stock, or grain, or petroleum exchange,
and induced his associates to erect fine
building on Barnard's wharf In which to
effect their sales. This was opened short
time ego, and is already an assured sue
cess. The sales go on from sunrise to sun
set. Just as soon as the peaches are picked,
Nl,n,y h,,e. laI 49, Nl.. NInl
and sold at auction. They are put aboard
thel Meteor and carried to the railroad
shipping points. On account of the large
| number OF visiting merchants Mr.. Polk saw
the necessity Of hotel to accompany the
exchange, so one has been built and has
done such good business that another will
be ready for occupancy by next August.
Mr.. Polk has made many hundred thousand
dollars out OF his crops In the last ten years.
His crop this year brought In nearly $780,
| 600 and he made considerable from pears
| and other fruit. He puts most OF his profits
| every year into new orchards, and his trees
are increased In number thousands yearly.
The Kent county people have no fear Of
| losses from bad crops. The crops are good
| peake protecting the trees from frosts
and extremes Of temperature. This sum
mer, for instance, while the Delaware crop
was nearly failure and while there was no
| peaches In the west, and the New Jersey
fruit is not nearly ripe, Kent county trees
are loaded down with excellent peaches.
The soil is that sandy loan with clay bot
tom which is so perfectly adapted to
peach growing. OF course 1t has to be
carefully cultivated. Mr.. Polk and the
other growers fertilize and till II as care
fully asa gardener attends to the most deli
cate plants. Long experience and scientific
methods enable them to bring forth the
fullest producing capacity Mr.. Polk seems
to have had the element Of luck added-at
least so his neighbors think. Every plan
proposed by him has been successful, and
every new variety introduced by him seems
to find In his orchard its proper home. He
spares no expense in improving and ex-
tending his farms, and the results fully
justly his expenditures, for II present con-
ditions continue he will be millionaire
several times over before he is an old man.