The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-10-10
POOLS Island.

Out IN the broad chesapeake, SllSnIly 10
the east of the Gunpowder rivers mouth,
and within two hours ride from Baltimore
by steamer lies Pools Island, spot long
noted throughout the upper bay shores for
its fertility but of which the vast majority
of the people of the State have but little
knowledge. Many know that excellent
peaches are raised there, but very few peo-
Pile outside of those who deal in the lus-
cious fruit know that nearly the entire is
land is a peach orchard, or that it is the
model peach farm of the State 1t is not
so large as some Of the big peach farms of
Kent and Queen Anne's counties, many of
which contain from thirty thousand to
sixty thousand trees, but from the quality
of the island fruit, and the manner in which
the farm is conducted, it is said to be almost
without arrival
The island is long and narrow, much
broader at its northern than at its southern
end, and on its eastern side is indented
with pretty cove. 1t is nearly a mile and
a-half long, with an average width of three
eighths of a mile and contains about 280
acres. Many are the stirring incidents
connected with the islands early history,
when Claiborne was making things lively
along the bay shores, but for the past half
century or more it has been quiet farm
home 1t was bought in 1903 by Pere-
grine Wethered, who for more than fifty
years ran the place as a grain farm, raising
crops that were the wonder and the admi-
ration of the farmers all along the bay.
Here were kept large numbers of slaves.
Both before and after the war, whenever
a colored farm hand in the bayside counties
was questioned as to his strength and abii-
ity to work, the best recommendation he
could give, and the one of which he was
proudest, was '.Tve cut wheat on theisland.
This was usually enough 10 secure him
employment
There has been much conjecture as to
the origin Of the island, the general sup
: position being that it is Of volcanic origin.
Some think that it was formerly portion
of the mainland but the character of the
soil is entirely different from that of Har-
ford or Kent counties, which are within q
mile or two of it, and then again chest
nut or pine tree has never been known ON
the place, while both are abundant along
the neighboring shores. The soil is rich
black loan, varying from eighteen inches
to eight feet in depth, with heavy clay
sub-soil. 1t is so rich that the most
abundant crops are produced today without
the aid of fertilizers, none except the ma
nure made on the place ever having been
used on it in IFS hundred years of cultiya-
ton. Numerous wells of clear sparkling
water are scattered about the island The
water also differs from that usually found
along the bay, being soft instead of hard,
resembling greatly that found on the high
lands in the western counties.
Peaches were never grown in any guam
titles on the island until 1872, when Geo.
Merett, who bought it from John Weth-
cred, son of Peregrine Wethered, set out
an orchard of over 5000 trees. This be-
gan the places reputation as a peach or
chard, which has been kept up ever since
The island was bought in May, 1882, by
Mr.. Charles G. Homer, president of the
Second National Bank of Baltimore, and
Mr. John j. Masheter, of Ohio The
story of the purchase is rather peculiar
one. Mr.. Masheter, who has the entire
charge Of the farm, was farmer in Ohio,
but came East and was associated with Mr..
Homer in business in Baltimore He
went to the island one day on fishing trip,
and returning told Mr.. Homer that he had
found piece of Iowa soil in Maryland and
wanted it. The place was examined, its
possibilities for peach culture recognized,
and it was bought shortly afterward by
Messrs. Homer and Masheter. and Mr..
Masheter took charge. As many more
; trees as were then on the place were set
out, extensive improvements were made
from time to time, and the island was de-
voted to peach and sheep raising, in both
of which branches of agriculture Mr.. Mash
eter has been remarkably successful.
The orchard is peculiar in that it con-
tains some of the largest peach trees known
, to fruit growers The trunks of a great
number of these are ten inches in diameter,
while many run as high as fifteen and a
few measure eighteen inches. These large
trees have great spreading branches, and
from one was taken, two or three seasons
ago, twenty-seven boxes of choice fruit.
This was only about two-thirds of the trees
yield, the remainder being lost by some
branches breaking down from the weight
of the fruit upon them, which fruit of
course, did not ripen. The orchard is not
remarkable so much for the quantity as
for the quality of the fruit which is raised
upon it, although in 1856 the yield ap-
preached $4,000 packages
Several unsuccessful attempts have been
made to secure portion of the island for
an excursion resort, but none have been
successful as yet. On one end of the island
is beautiful grove, with hard white
beech stretching before it for half mile
or more. The timber here is of original
growth, very large, and none of it has ever
been cut.
Electric Storms.