Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1890-01-30
PEACH FELLOWS.
THE DISEASE DIAGNOSED BY PENN
SULA FRUIT GROWERS.


Reports OF Decrease In Fruit Grow
ing.
A special dispatch to the Baltimore
Sun from ChestertOwn, Md, says:
"Yellows, and not the probable effect of
future cold weather upon the peach crop
was the main point of interest to-day to
the fruit growers who are here attending
the convention Of the Peninsula Horti-
cultural Society. The cause assigned by
some for the yellows is the excessively
cold winter Of 1879, which hurt the
trees. rendering them weak and sickly
ever since. Since then 10 is said, trees
have been grown from the seed of the
sickly trees or budded from them. thus
producing diseased trees. As to this
being the true cause of the yellows
though accepted generally, many growers
have doubts. IL is believed by nearly ali
that the crop Is safe enough for the
present. and none care to look ON the
dark side Of the cloud when a glimpse Of
its silver lining can he seen.
John A. Groves who is considered the
peach king Of the peninsula, and who
has 800 acres Of orchards in Kent county
and on Paca's Island. In the lower part Of
Queen Annes, with 81, 900 peach trees in
bearing, is very hopeful as to the out
look. He says he has no cause at pres
emit for fear. The fruit-growers are
frightened, he says, for a loss of this
years crop means a big blow TO them.
Corn does not pay for the raising, and
with wheat 1t is even worse. Peaches
are the only thing that they have to look
to. III we have two freezes week,
he says, with a temperature Of thirty
degrees or lower. the trees will be pre-
vented from blossomin9 before the first
Of April, and then we will be as safe as
safe as we usually are. While they are
in full bloom. however, temperature of
twenty four degrees will kill them.
There has been some talk about trees
blooming now. The trees spoken of are
Of Southern variety. They are isolated
as a general thing. and rarely bear any
way.
s. H. Messick of Bridgeville, Del, then
read the report of the committee on
peaches.
DR.. John J. Black of New Castle
thought that the law against yellows in
peaches in force in section Of Kent
county. Md and in parts of Delaware,
should be made general in every state
where peaches are grown. He is of the
opinion that the disease Of the bacterial
origin, and advo, ates the tearing out and
burning of every tree that is the least
diseased. That is the only way the dis
ease can be thoroughly stamped out,
q, Brown thought great deal Of
harm was done to the Peninsula by al
lowing reports 70 be spread about that
/ peach growing is decreasing. His trees
are better than they were eight years
ago, and his young trees are entirely free
from yellows Thousands Of trees have
gone out because Of the excessive wet
weather: but, he continued, are we to
say to the world that the chief crop of
the Peninsula has been ruined by too
much water2
Norris Barnard said be believes the
disease is contagious, and that the nur-
serymen are not to blame for it.
The discussion closed with a resolu-
tion offered by Dr. Black ami unani
mously adopted by the convention. 1t
states that while they acknowledge
the existence Of yellows in some parts of
the Delaware and Chesapeake Peninsula,
the business Of peach growing is by no
means destroyed aud If the process Of
destruction be applied to all diseased
trees they have faith that there will be
continued profit in the cultivation Of
peaches on the Peninsula.
The report of DR.. John Black, chair
man of the committee on pears, stated
that the season Of 1889, so disastrous 20
Peninsula crops generally, made no ex-
ception to the pear.
I'VE recommend more care in packing
fruit and making 1t as attractive in ap-
pearance as possible The more labor put
on pears in packing and preparing them
for market, the more profit there is in
them, especially in small packages. The
average man don't know anything abont
the flavor Of pears. He buys for their
attractiveness TO the eye. Dealers know
this and prefer to handle fruit put up in
paper in small packages for the fancy
trade
Professor w. S. Bishop, of the Mary.
land Agricultural College, read an ex-
haustive paper on tomatoes, their study
and improvement. He gave a descrip
ton Of the experiments made at the ex-
pertinent station with this vegetable, and
recommended the raising o. those varie
ties that are evenly shaped ard have the
largest amount Of cell formation or flesh
with the smallest amount Of seed.
DR.. John j. Black of New Castle
county, Del, advised the farmers to lei
seedmen and their catalogues alone anc
depend upon the state experiment sta
tions for their information about new
varieties Of fruit. vegetables and Other
farm products. This was the only way
he thought, to avoid imposition by dis
honest seedmen.
DR.. Arthur T. Neale, director OF tn,
Delaware experiment station, made al
address advocating the state control an,
inspection Of fertilizers, comparative
tests Of the methods Of different races o
! milch cows, and a comparative trial o
9 sugar beet seed from different growers
Z Ee also urged the society to develop
$ registration Of plants on the place Of tn
3 herd books, which have accomplished s.
o much for dea ers and financiers Of thor
+ oughbred horses and cattle. Dr. Neale
& suggestions were received with approbs
ton, and a committee was appointed {
consider the best methods Of carrying
them out
a Morris Barnard, submitted the repor
4 Of the committee on apples "Owinr I
= the fact that this Peninsula has proved
2 especially adapted to the cultivation q
m the peach, he said, 1.-THE apple has take
r a back seat. and to day finds us withou
o such list Of varieties adapted TO on
n soil and climate as should mske this in
dustry especially profitable here.
A. n. Slaymaker, for the committee o
small fruits, reported that the pas
- season was very bad one for all sina
! fruits. The cause of the failure was du
4 to the exceptional wet weather. viii
:, bad picking and careless handling hav