Smyrna times., 1890-07-30
Echoes from ChesWold.

A general dullnes is just at this time
pervading our town and community.
Grabbing and Beach parties, croouet
and tennis or something of this nature
inspired by the young are all we have
to make merry and tighten the path
way OF many weary travellers pulling
hard against an adverse current. Ow-
ing to total failure of the peach crop.
nearly failure Ofpearsand apples, there
is little shipping of fruit which robs
farmers OfOne Oftheir sources ofemplov.
ment and profit as well. A peach is a
real curiosity in this locality, pears are
so scarcee they are scarcely worth nam.
Ing as crop, and apples are so de.
formed and knOtty many of them are
likely to drop, but should they hold to
the tree they would only make about
one tenth of crop. The tension of
hard times seems yet to tighten and at
the end of the year the farmers losses
are likely to prove greater than last.
Our deft house wives seeing the
scarcity of fruit do not anticipate that
the preserving season drawing near will
find them surrounded by baskets of
choice fruits as heretofore. They are
consequently somewhat concerned lest
fruit cannot be had at the right time
Many little conferences are being held
by them in regard to their possible sit
uatiOn. Says one, "some people call If
r06bing the hog but l expect to utilize
the watermelon rind and the cantelone
this year. | have in my life time put
up the melon rind and thev were
greatly enjoyed by our family. There
are many things that could be a,vored
to taste and made inviting upon the
table in case fruit can't be had
My usual amount of shelving must he
hlled in order to carry us through the
long winter and spring months out of
something" Others may do well TO
take notes in this particular.
The views of Mr.. D. J. Cummins
upon the peach situation as published
IN the TINES two weeks since has
caused a great deal of comment and
exchange of views upon the subject
We find few who endorse Mr.. Cum.
minis views and many who dissent
therefrOm.
we here quote the views of one who
talks fully upon the peach subject and
other farm topics. Says he, "Mr. Cum
minis isa man Of large experience in
peach culture and he also has found
them profitable. Therefore l have
great respect for his views
upon the subject. If, as he saws.
the wet seasons of the past is
the cause of so many diseased trees
then we might expect dry seasons
would be the remedy. But with
many others with whom have talked
from time to time believe the
peach is doomed under any weather
condition. You know there were
thousands of sick trees hauled ont Iast
winter and spring. went throusb
my orchard last year and marked
every sick tree with much care. NV
neighbors, some of them did the same
thing as did most of the growers prob.
ably in Kent County, hauled ont
and burned nearly one tenth of forty
two acres and now 1 think there is
nearly as many sick to undergo the
same treatment.
In any direction you may ride even
in tho month of June can be seen in
the distance across fields peach orch.
ards spotted with the scared and vel
low leaf as though there had been a
bonfire here and there through them
Even trees but little over a wear ola
are plainly marked with disease No
sir, the peach is doomed. Mr. Cum.
MINIS or no one else will ever see the
crop OF 1876 repeated ON this PENN.
suia. II will Ouly require from eight |
70 teny years to clean out our orchards
at the rate they are now going saa