Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1890-01-29
PENINSULA FRUIT GROWERS.


Special Correspondence EVENING JOURNAL.
CHEsTERTowN, Md, Jan. 29.-Chester-
town is filed with farmers and fruit
growers from all parts of Delaware and
Maryland who are attending the third
annual convention of the Peninsula Hor.
ticultulal Society. which will be in ses-
sion two days longer. The prospects Of
the peach crop and the effect of the re-
cent mild weather on the orchards nave
been the principal topics Of discussion
Every report submitted to the convention
contained some allusion to this subject and
talk outside the convention was even
greater than that inside. The general
opinion, as matters now stand, is
that the peach crop of the entire PENN
snla Is safe. As yet the peaches have
not been materially damaged, though it
would probably have been better for
them II the weather had been colder
The buds are swollen, but they are still
in condition to stand r temperature ten
degrees above zero If It comes along
steadily without rain. At ten degrees,
however, matters would be in critical
condition unless this degree Of tempera-
ture was accompanied by the most favor
able circumstances. With everything
favorable from now on there is prospect
of big crop.
According to s. II. Messick OF Bridge.
vile, Del, the peach-Rrowing business
has been boom within the last five or
six years. The great crop of 1875 made
q glut in the peach market, which so dis
Outraged the growers that they neglected
their orchards and allowed them to run
down. This In turn resulted in scarcity
Of the fruit and somewhere about 1888
there was big advance in prices. This
gave the business a stimulus. Immense
numbers of new trees were set out, fields
we're turned into orchards and people at
tended them as they never did before.
| Young trees are expected to bear ire
mendously this season, and the outlook is
for as large crop as that OF 1875. An
other prominent peach-grower said that
in a ride from Dover to Seaford, he had
examined the trees carefully, and found
an average of about one in five blossoms
killed. This is no more than is usual at
this time of the year, and il four buds in
every five were killed there would still be
big crop.
Others say that many trees have bios
somed out fully, and that the blooms
have all been killed, that there is little
chance now for the crop, and that the
| highest estimate that can be put upon 1t
Is about three millions of baskets. as
/ against from six to nine millions which
the hopeful predict II is but fair to say.
however that the discouraged ones are
in the minority
The business of the convention went
along smoothly. Hon. James A. Pearce.
the well-known lawyer, made the address
of welcome. He spoke of the depressed
condition of farming and the inequalities
Of taxation.
President ]. w. Kerr followed Mr.
Pearce. There was, he said. "a sort
OF see.saw tendency in all horticultural
| operation last year. VINO in this an.
dience ever saw the Troth peach succum
to wet as it did on the peninsula ia 1891
A very exceptional season indeed is re-
| quired to swerye that staid old VARIETY
| from the iixedness Of its even tempered
ways. There has been a marked inn
provement in the care and intelligence
shown in planting. The selection q
sites, trees and varieties, the practica
operations Of planting and culture. ans
the selection and application Of fertilizer
indicate that the peach-grower of to.da,
Is Of a distinct type from the fruit
grower Of ten years ago. believe tina
peach growing will be the great indus
trial interest of our people, and that il
has the promise Of long life and great
usefulness. The peach in its broadcast
sense Is the goose that lays the golden
egg for our peninsula.
DR.. w. s. Maxwell, chairman of the
| general committee on fruits submitted
his report. Speaking on peaches he said
THE peach is the first fruit in import
ance grown on the Peninsula, and il I
little wisdom is displayed it will confirm,
to be our moneyed crop. The removal Of
diseased trees as fast as they make theii
appearance Is absolutely necessary for til,
success Of the fruit. In the propaea-
ton OF peach trees the seed should be
selected from the strongest growing
varieties known to be healthy. Ten
nessee natural seed should be dis
carded, for we have been credibly
Informed that most of these seed com,
from Northern canning houses. Tn,
only known remedy for 'yellows' is th,
removal Of the tree To accomplish thi,
in all orchards is necessity, and half.
way measures win not do. The law mus
be radical. This can be remedied to
great extent by picking all the fruit as /
ripens and destroying all that i
rotten"
The report Of S. H. Messick, the grea
Delaware peach man, which he vii
submit tomorrow, contains general IN
structions for planting and cultivatin,
the fruit, and some information about tn
soil best adopted to it aud some Of III
most desirable varieties.
At the farmers meeting held in ia
morning resolution was adopted Y
questing the Legislature to vote agains
any law looking to the taxing Z
mortgages.