Milford chronicle., 1891-07-24
The Kent County Farmers Insti-
tute Meeting at John j. Rosa's
Farm

day afternoon last ana was dtlcnuSt ~.
about one hundred representative far
ners ofthe county. including several from
Cedar Creek hundred, in Sussex county
. In the absence Of the president T. B
Coursey was called to the chair anC
opened the meeting. After the genera
order Of business was gone through, The
resignation of T.. W. Bancroft as presi
dent was read by Secretary Wesley Webb
and accepted by the Institute. I. B
Coursey was at once elected to fill the
vacancy, and John J. Rosa was elected C
the chair of the vice-president. Contrary
to the general rule, there we're no essays
or set speeches, but subjects of general
importance to agriculturists and horu
culturists were discussed by the members
aud those present. The FIRST question
dissected by the Institute was the Peach
! Yellows," a subject that is receiving uni
versal attention, as it viii, if not checked,
play havoc and probably destroy the
peach industry OF this Peninsula and
everybody knows what that means. There
are thousands and thousands of dollars
! invested in this branch of agriculture on
this Peninsula, known as the peach belt,
and the ravage of this dread disease has
already cost many grower hundreds OF
| dollars. There has been experiments
made with the disease that have proved
successful to a certain extent, hut what IS
wanted is a permanent cure, and ]. 5
| Willis hopes that he has succeeded in
discovering that remedy. He will not
give it out until he is positively sure that
It is a certain and positive cure, however,
aud is now making experiments, the re-
suit Of which have so far proven success
full Last fall the experiment was made
on FIVE trees that We're affected with the
willow growth. This was all cut off and
a hole bored into the trunk of the tree
about two inches above the ground, the
chemicals pnt i'll and corked up. This
summer ali FIVE trees have limbs laden
with perfect fruit, and the trees do not
have the appearance Of ever having been
diseased Those who have seen the trees
referred to, complimented Mr.. Willis
and expressed their belief that he had
found the long sought after remedy. II
the experiment proves as successful this
wear, and Mr.. Willis is convinced in his
own mind that his is the cure, he will
make it known; and now if any farmer
wants to experiment with 1t, Mr.. Willis
will make some of the mixture for that
purpose, but will not divulge the differ
ent chemicals that it contains. The sec
ond question taken up was, care the
Premature Peaches Injurious to Health "
This is also a question that is agitating |
the minds of the people this year on |
account of the immense quantities OF |
this fruit that is being shipped TO market. |
The fruit is bitter hard and dry, there
fore it is indigestible and unfit for eating. |
Dr. Pratt said that such fruit shoulc not
be put in a mans stomach, and altogether
It was decided to be not at all nutritious.
Some of the members said they would
not ship basket of the fruit and great
many more of them have none to ship.
The question as to whether the black
kernel in peaches, caused by the heavy
rrosts Of Nav Ath. 5th and 9th, was sign
NJ their death was opened for discussion.
The kernel was made black by the frost
and it was asked if that was sure sign
.hat the peach was dead. Some con
ended if was. while others were of the
opinion that a peach could mature after
he kernel had tuned black as It de
pended upou the peach for life instead
If vice versa. The next subject taken
10 was introduced by John ]. Rosa when
ne asked the question, 'How can we get
our Berry Crates Returned Inc snip
Ders are caused much trouble and neon
genience hv the railroad company not
returning the empty crates promptly, and
in MANY instances have had to buy new
)ues lust on that account. The subject
was discussed at length by the members.
The high rate of freight also came Ill lor
a share of the discussion, and from hg-
lres quoted the cost of shipping green
fruit over this division IS about ifteen
times as high as the general nierGhan-
lise rate. Why is this was asked II
1oes not cost fifteen times as much Tor
the company to get i'll readiness TO nan
lie this freight as it does for other freighl'
In fact. it was said that all the expense
the company went to was the shelVlnS
Of the cars, as they did not employ any
help to load the cars. as they do Tor otner
goods. but expect the shipper to load MS
own fruit. and the farmer suffers from
at the hands Of the railroad
employees An instance was
cited that occurred at the depot here only
4 few days ago, when part OF carload
IF peaches and apples were thrown 10
he floor and really ruined as far as mar
Seting was concerned, caused bv an en-
gineer carelessly running his train INTO
he car, instead of backing slowly, as ne
should have done. Several men stand
ng in the car at the time were thrown
Town and one or two bruised somewhat
The DELAYS were also discussed, and es-
the delay in the return OF berry
rates. which, it is said, is caused by ne
elect at SMYRNA, as the crates are sent
1ack that far and there they stay. Sew
,ral Of the gentlemen present, who are
arge shippers of small fruit, said that
lart of their berry crates were not yet re-
urued. and of course this incurs a great
expense on the shipper, as new ones have
o be bought nearly every year and taxes
III the profit out Of the business The
institute was surprised at a statement
made by Mr.. T 7 Smith from near Har-
ingtou that the fruit shipped by express
rom this branch road did not 60 straight
Trough as they thought it did, but was
lways laid off at Harrington to wait for
he express from the main division, and
,ftentimes the train is late aud the delay
aused thereby often amounts to several
Iours. It was asked what could be done
o prevent these delays aud neglect on
he part of the railroad and express COM
,anies, and after several suggestions a
of FIVE, including the presi-
euL as CudlIuldUt was slJpOAhlGtA ~ Nel-e l
pom the railroad magnates and see If
could not be done. DR.. Pratt .
vas of the opinion that it was not wholly ,
ue to the railroad company for the ne 4
lect mentioned but thought that It was
ue to the neglect and carelessness on
he part of the employees. OF course the
ompany is responsible for the actions of t
Is agents but he thought it could aud S
rould be remedied if the proper parties c
lere notified The Institute adjourned q
o meet on August 10, subject to change
{ Spring Branch camp ground when the
MEMBERS of the Grange and Farmers
.lliance will be invited to participate in
general Notification of speech making
nd discussion Of subjects most interest
1g to them A committee consisting Of
B. Coursey, B. T. B. Woodall, ]. ].
.osa, Wesley Webb and G. W. Killen,
las appointed to arrange a programme
nd select speakers for the occasion.
.fter they adjourned Mr.. Rosa escorted
he members over his farm which is said
D be one Of the best cultivated in the
ouutxy Fvervthiup was at ifs hest and