Smyrna times., 1888-07-11
Peach Growers in Session.

Peach Growers in Session.
The Peach Growers Convention
was called to ordor at noon Friday
in the Opera House at Dover, with a
large number of interested parties
present. John ii. Hotfecker, of Smyr-
ma, was called to the chair and Colonel
Wilbur H. Burnite elected secretary
The object of the meeting was explained
by ManlOve Hayes, the secretary of
the Delaware Railroad and president
of the State Board of Agriculture, who
stated that in view of the immensity of
the crop in prospect it was necessary
that the growers and all others inter
ested should unite on the same plan
for marketing it.
Erwin +. Smith, of the Government
Agricultural Department., who spent
two months last Fall, in investigating
the peach "yellows," read paper
which, in effect, stated that nearly all
the orchards in New Castle and Kent
Counties were affected, but very few
in Sussex. He agreed that the disease
began in the North and travelled South.
He had not gone far enough to suggest
any remedy.
w. n. Brown, secretary, gave de-
tailed account of the workings of the
Delaware Fruit Exchange. This in
stitutiOn has been in existence four
years, and in that time it has succeed
ed in a measure in reVOlutiouizing the
manner of marketing peaches. A res
olutiOn asking the Commissioner Of
Agriculture to reappoint Erwin f.
Smith to continue his investigation of
the " yellOws" this year was adopted,
as was also a resolution thanking Sen
ator Eli Salisbury for the additional
appropriation he had inserted in the
Appropriation bill in the Senate.
The following resolutions were
adopted
Resolved, That auction sales of
convenient lots of fruit that have been
honestly reported and legally inspec-
ted give the best results to both BUYERS
and sellers; and that this method is
most salutary in redeeming the bus
iness from its earlier lottery like feat.
ures.
Resolved, That the transportation
lines, which are interested alike with
growers and dealers in profitable mar
keting OF all this crop, should aid this
year TO demonstrate that the OncOming
orchards have cause to exist, and these
lines are' thus admonished that a re-
duction of % per cent. in freight rates
on this product would do more to solve
our problem than solicitors of bureaus
or secretaries of exchanges canvassing
the season through, or conventions as
sembled, however harmonious, syste-
matte, business like or energetic.
Resolved, That cooperative effort
Is necessary to hunt out new markets.
to perfect the connection of railroad
routes thereto, and to introduce to the
people of such markets the special
claims Of the peach"
j. +. Barnard, secretary Of the State
Agricultural Society, read the fol-
lowing:
WHEREAS, the Delaware State
Board of Agriculture has called this
Convention for the consideration ana
harmonizing of all methods for the
profitable marketing Of the immense
fruit crop now promised in this PENN
sula, estimated at from 100000 to
100000 baskets; and,
WHEREAS much merit is found in
both the systems of the Delaware
Fruit Exchange and in the Fruit
Growers Bureau of Information and
Distribution, we deem it wise to employ
both of them to dispose Of our unpre-
cedented crop Of fruit, as we think
they are not antagOnistic in their pur-
poses We, therefore, emphaticallv
recommend all fruit growers to sell as
much OF their product at their home
exchanges as may he unSsibI,. o,J 10
ship the surplus beyond that amount
through the agency of the Bureau of
Information and Distribution until
some better method shall be devised"
}. Z. Il. Polk, of the Bureau of Infor-
nation and Distribusion, stated that
the exchange, with all its branches
could not sell at home over 100000
baskets, and the bureau proposed TO
look after the other 5,OO0.O0O which
would be shipped over the railroad.
In view OF the statement by an official
OF the Pennsylvania Railroad Companv
that cars could not be furnished to
points IN Canada, Mr.. Polk offered the
following, which was also unanimously
adopted:
" Resolved, That the peach growers
in the Convention assembled at Dover
Del, this 9th, day of July, 1888: re-
sSpecuully but earnestly request the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company to an
nounce that they will permit consign-
ments of peaches in their cars to anv
OF the towns east of Chicago and south
of Montreal"
The meeting adjourned at Pm.