Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-02-18

eAteub us Jeps
UNDOUBTEDLY KILLED.
Editor Gazette Dc journal: 1 have taken
much interest for several days past to
ascertain whether peaches were killed by
the last cold snap, and, after a personal
examination of several hundred samples
from many orchards can unhesitatingly
say that peaches in this locality are killed,
and from reports from other points l
believe the destruction is general.
There are, however, few orchards
that have some live peaches in them. The
Rev. j.. 3. Willis, after thorough ex.
animation of his large orchards neai
Magnolia, says that he finds about hall
of the peaches on the topmost branches
of his trees alive and believes that he will
have tenth of crop. His theory is
that it is Il colder at the lower branches
than ut the top of the tree. True, cold
descends and heat ascends from the earth.
Will some scientist elucidate the reverend
gentleman's theory? Clarence Hopkins,
whose orchard is about five miles from
here has, with several other experts, ex-
amined peaches from his fine orchard and
finds about one-half alive and in
good condition, but he is not
sanguine that they will mature.
In the orchard of Draper Brothers, near
the bay, peaches on the variety known as
Harker's Seeding are about one-half alive.
The latter gentleman had crop of about
800 baskets in 1881 on the same orchard.
With the three exceptions above stated
have not heard of peaches within a radius
of ten miles sufficient for family use.
have interviewed probably three score OF
large and small growers, among whom are
the following well-known gentlemen, who
answer, "My peaches all killed !" j. B.
Gilchrist, Robert FL. Davis, Wynkoor
Brothers, @. G.. Sackett a. Son, A. Van
Luvan, General Van Worst, John Har.
rington, trustee Of Potter estate, John A.
Bickel, John d. Bickel, Geo. H. Draper
Col. A. S. Small, JIG. Wilbur, d. H. Hol
land 4 Son, William Chapman, Captain
Derrickson, j. H. Chapman.
know that it will be hard to convince
people in the cities that peaches are killed
because they will think It the old ''annuai
cry" but they will believe it when the
time comes for receiving them as fully Of
they believed it in 1881.
The loss of this important crop will be
sorely felt by the people of Delaware, as
the picking, hauling evaporating and
| preparing the fruit for market gave EN-
| ployment TO many Thousand men, womer
and children, and, iu comparison with
grain, peaches distribute more money and
| pay the growers better. j. o. TRUITT.
MILFORD, February 18th.
MORE sANauNB VIEW.
| In this latitude the peach buds, Will,
in the undeveloped condition proceeding
the swelling or growing process, have
resistance to the fatal effects of cold rang
ing from zero to about 10o below, til,
difference in the vitality of the peacl
germs depending on the vigor, age snt
condition Of the trees, location and vari
Gus other and unknown causes.
An examination of the trees in diffnren
orchards after the temperature hat
reached zero, would show some deat
buds. From that point down they would
show a greater or less proportion o
killed, depending on causes above stated
until at 10o below zero, if any, woult
retain sufficient vitality to resist tn
changes of weather and temperatur
during the critical period of blooming.
This variation or difference in til
vitality or resisting power of the peic
germs accounts for the different etfeC
produced on trees at given degree q
cold, and not in different localities only
but the same difference will be found t
exist in different varieties in the sam
orchards and, in less degree, in difforen
buds on che same trees. Hence, in est
mating the injury to the peach buds pre-
duced by o low temperature, one grove
, will report his all killed another will est
mate his at one-half while third will sa
of his they are practically uninjured an
his prospect good for crop. Thes
various reports, though seemingly con
Trajectory, are all true of the orchard
examined, the germ vitality differing il
} the different orchards or localities, tn
buds as rule having greater vitality O.
younger trees and in orchards which Dor
little or no fruit the preceding year.
As the lowest point of depression O.
the Peninsula during the recent col
varied from q to 81 below zero it j
! safe to assume that large portion of th
buds are killed, and in some localitie
and in some orchards there may be q
entire failure. At the same time, however
the temperature was not sufficiently 10,
in all sections to warrant the belief tina
the injury is general, especially, as in til
present undeyeloped condition of th
buds, they have never heretofore been Al
killed with the mercury at less than 10
below zero. Besides, nature is eve
generous in all her provisions, and if on
in five of the buds grown on tree re
mains to make fruit 1t would give an e1
traordinary crop.
There are some critical stages for til
young peach between now and the Jun
dropping, but should it escape furthe
serious injury the peach crop will not b
failure. H.H.
] MIppLxrowN, Feb. Is.