Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-09-12

Thursdays Philadelphia Record said: A
Delaware farmer who has made 100000
from his peach orchards In the past ~
years said yesterday, as he pocketed a big
check from his Water street commission
merchant, Sin ten years Delaware peacn
will be as rare thing In this market as 1t
was 80 or more years ago. when old Major
Reybold shipped the FIRST cargo OF the fruit
to Philadelphia from his farm near Della
ware City. There are now no peaches
grown about Delaware City; the peach belt
has moved south on the peninsula. In 10
years peaches have become precariods
crop, and 1t looks now as II the greatest
peach country of the world will Ia decade
he az bare OF peach trees as IL was when
Reybold planted his first orchard. The
yellows,' the deadly enemy OF the peach,
has driven the orchards ont of existence,
and the average crop. which was few
years ago more than 3,0O0,00O baskets, Is
| now less than 1,000,Oo0."
THREATENED COLLAPSE OF PEACH GROWING.
Peaches have been for thirty years more
| plenty and more luscious In the Eastern
| cities of the Uoited States than anywhere
else In the world, and the prospective COM
plete collapse OF the growing OF the fruit In
| the great peach belt so near this city ts q
most interesting fact.
The peach crop of the Delaware and
| Maryland Peninsula has for the past 20
years been worth more than $2,000.000 a
| year to the little stretch known as "the
peach country" extending s5 miles north
and sourh of Dover, the capital OF Dsa-
ware. and so miles east and west between
the two bays. In the past 22 years, includ-
| ing 1888, the Delaware railroad, which
drains this peach country, has shipped 81
| 356 AIT baskets OF the fruit, and fully 15.-
100000 baskets have found their way to
market by water.
A THREATENED LOSS OF MILLIONS.
| .,,tlI ls,t tnra ,,,Ii
ion baskets, and next years probably less.
| The dscadence OF the peach crop means
| not only loss to the farmers but an enot
nous loss to the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company, which owns hoth the Philadal-
phla, Wilmington AMI Baltimore and the
Delaware Roads, over which all peaches
shipped by rail must pass.
So important is the question presented
by the prospective disappearance ot the
peach from the peninsula that the United
States government has detailed special
agent to the region to study peach culture
with hope that something may be done
to stop the ravages of the "yellows" and
restore the peach business to its old-tIme
glory.
THE GOVERNMENT SEEKS A REMEDY.
Since 1887 Professor Erwin Smith, a
special agent Of the department Of agri-
culture. has been studiously at work, and
he has hopes OF ultimately ascertaining the
not only prevent the spread but to provide
means for the utter eStermination OF the
disease. The ficst symptoms os the
"yellows" is a premature rlpening or the
fruit, red spots appearing on the interior
aud exterior Of the peach. The affected
fruit is practically tasteless, although from
q distant view. It has an appetizing appear
ance. In the first stages the trees may ap-
pear to be perfectly healthy, but later the
foliage turns yellow.
Affected orehar is can be seen for miles,
SO distinctly yellow is the appearance OF
the trees. The disease Is not alone con-
fined to the Delaware Peninsula, but it Ia
prevalent In every county of Pennsylvania
and New Jersey and In the upper part oil
Maryland. 1t ieges In the latter localities
with all the deadly effscts that are 80
alarming to the Peninsular producers.
THERE IS LINGERING HOPE FoR THE PEACH.
J The "yellows" have prevailed i'll South
western Michigan orchanis for the pas
! twenty years. Professor Smith, who ha,
! made an inspection OF the Michigan or.
! chards, advises penlnsular farmers to sup
plant the affected trees as preliminary
= preventive, and to this end the late Della
ware Legislature passed law requiring
growers Ia lower Kent and in Sussex
" counties to dig up trees that have symptom
aof the contagion. The enactment 10 being
observed pretty generally.
The losses to the growers by the "yel'
lows% have already amounted 10 millions
of dollars. Young orchards appear to b,
! more easily affected, although trees of al
ages fals ready Victims TO the ravages o
Profe ssorS Smith is stationed at Dover
and hone hAs not yet been given up that
! remedy NAV wet pc found. In the mean
, time, however, peach lovers are likely. e
find their fruit h2uch decreased IT, quality
, and quantity, but largely increased In price
/ ~