Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1889-02-14
PEACH YELLoWs.
An Interesting and Successful Conven-
tion OF Peach Growers to Discuss the
Disease and Exchange Views.

| DOVER, Feb. 13.-Ihe State Board o
Agriculture are to be congratulated upol
the success of their peach convention
to-day. 1t was, the largest meeting o
the fruit interests of the state that hai
ever assembled in Dover
The meeting was called to order by ID
p Barnard, secretary of the society. DR.
| Hugh Martin was called to the chair anC
Wesley Webb selected as secretary
Among those present were e. r. Cochran
y. T. Barnard, George Parvis, c. Gundy
brown, Manlove Hayes, ]. q. Brown, A.
n. Brown, J. Frank Bacon. Richard NJ.
Cooper Joseph l.. Bonsell Marcellus
Jones, William r. Dickson, J. W. Taylor,
Daniel N. Ridgeley, Caleb jackson,
Colonel Z. l.. Martin. DR.. Hugh Martin,
Wesley New, S. Harrington Messick,
Jabez Jenkins, Wilbur H. Burnite. vii.
liam H. Burnite, William H. Ridgeway.
Alexander j. Cummins. George w. Cum
minis, ]. H. Boyce j. j. Soule, Professor
A. n: kaub, H. P. Cannon, ID. M. Wilson.
4. w. Wilson, J. Thomas Lowe, Joshua
Ridgeley.
Manlove Hayes made an address stating
the OBJECT OF the meeting. The object
Delhg lhat the farmers and fruit growers
from ali parts Of the state may have an
opportunity of comforting with each
other and Of interchanging views and
opinions as to the adoption of some
method by which the disease in our
peach orchards called ''yellows." NAV he
eradicated. Mr.. HAYES dwelt at some
length upon the importance of the peach
industry of Delaware. Professor Edwin
+. Smith of the Department Of A9ricul-
ture, who has been in the state two wears
investigating the matter. was then in.
PRODUCED. He said in part The disease
first appeared in this state at Delaware
City in 1912. In 1915 ithad become serious
and 1855 the orchards were nearly all
out. II appeared at Middletown in 1865
became serious in 1870 and in 1878 the
orchards We're out. In 1880 it reached
Clayton and Smyrna and in 1885 or 1888
II had become serious in that locality. 1t
reached the vicinity of Dover about the
same time. At present in New Castle
county all the orchards are affected and
many are ruined. There are but few
old orchards left, the young ones are now
attacked. In the upper third of Kent
county at least four tifths of the orchards
are attacked, and nearly one third are
entirely ruined. In the middle OF the
county three-fourths of all the orchards
have the disease Some are ruined and
the disease is just beginning in the
others. In the lower part of the county
one-half Of all the orchards are affected.
but at present there are only a few az
tected trees in each Orchard. and ma.
lority of the trees are still healthy. The
disease at present is only prevalent to a
limited extent and mostly about Milford
in Sussex county. 1t is not present at
Bridgeville, SeafOrd or Laurel unless it be
IN two or three young orchards at Sea
Iord IN few trees recently imported
from New Jersey. Next season will en-.
able me to decide positively on these
doubtful and suspected trees Now as
to the question as to whether the yellows
is a contagious disease. believe that IL
IS. As to my reasons, first, it does not ap
pear to be due to poverty Of the soil. my
reasons for this conclusion are first that
chemical analysis are contradictory
They do not agree in showing deficiency
Of lime, potash or phosphate. and second
copious applications of these and other
chemicals have not arrested or cured the
spread of the disease. Third. trees set In
place Of those dug ont on account Of vel.
lows are not more likely to contract dis
ease than others in the same orchard
And then it does oppear to be a contaq-
ious disease. My inoculations show that
it can be conveyed from tree to tree bv
budding and it is therefore foregone
conclusion that part of it must come from
the nursery. The disease also appears to
spread in the orchard from tree TO tree
Not all Of it comes from the nurseries
because old trees are not exempt from its
ravages Now what has been effected by
legislation. Michigan, New York and
Ontario have laws. The Michigan law
was adopted in 1875. The county of
Barien was excepted. but four years later
there was so little fruit in that county
that it was taken in and now some of the
best yields are from that county. While
they have no statistics there the people
of the state are convinced to a man that
the law was all that saved their
orchards. Now as to law for
Delaware. No results can be accom-
plished unless there is a sentiment in
favor of it. The law if put upon the
statute book must be enforced. There
viii be no advantage if only wanted by
q few men, there must be united effort
1t meaRs the taking out Of a great many
trees. Whatever is done ought to be
done in earnest. Pay the yellows commits
sioners high enough so as to make it
personal matter. Fix it so that in FIVE
years you will know the result. 1t will
be good thing to have inspectors in
several hundreds and have them to report
TO one head inspector. At the conclusion
of Professor Smiths address Manlove
Hayes presented the bill that had been
introduced in the House by Representa-
tive Hackett, and it was read by the
chairman
w. r. Case Of FELTON, explained that
the reason the limits were as they were
the trainers were afraid the people above
wonld fight the measure.
Jacob q. Brown of North Muderkill
hundred said as far as the bill was con
cerned he had nothing to say. He simply
wanted to deny the pernicious report
that had gone out that Kent county
peaches We're done. 1t is not true that
Kent county has lost its peaches, or Is
going to lose them. From this station,
Wyoming, 200 cases Of peaches or about
450, 600 baskets were shipped last year.
Had the Smocks not failed we would
have shipped 105, 900, and all from this
narrow belt. / believe in FIVE years we
will ship /, 600 600 baskets from there
But what does this bill dO2 Is the vel
lows a diseasel Who knows it, A month
ago we had convention and men were
present from a number Of experiment
stations, and none of them knew. Men
who are paid by five states did not know.
| have had an experience of fifty years.
Who shall be the commissioners. / know
no man in my hundred whom I can trust
for he knows not We should be better
Sitisfipd what mach vplloxvs IL frst haar