Middletown transcript., 1891-11-05

THE MODEL PEACH <FA'K1f<0F MARY.
LAND Is IN THE MIDDLE OF
THE CHESAPEAKE.

rivers mouth. and eight miles from
Tolchester and the same distance
from Legoe's Point, lies Pools Island,
"a spot long noted throughout the
upper shores fer its fertility, but Of
which the majority of people know
little. Many know that excellent
peaches are raised there, but very
few people outside Of those who deal
Fin the luscious fruit know that nearly
the entire island ID peach orchard.
or that il is the model peach farm Of
Maryland. Its notso large as some
Iofthe, 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 che farm is conducted, it is
said to be almost without . rival,
The island is long, and marrow.
much broader at its northern than at
| its southern end, and on its eastern
side is indented with q pretty cove.
It is nearly mile and a-half long,
with an average width of three
eighths Of . mile, and contains about
280 acres. Many are the stirring in
cidents 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 1908 by Peregrine
Wethered, who for more than fifty
years ran the place as grain farm,
raising crops that were the wonder
and the admiration Of the farmers all
along the bay. Here were kept large
numbers ofslaves. Both before and
after the war, whenever d colored
farm hand in the bayside counties
was questioned as to his strength and
ability to work, tbs best recommends
ton he could give, and the one Of
which he was proudest, was I've
cut wheat on the island z This was
usually enough to secure him employ
ment. = g8S
There has been much conjecture as
to the origin Of the island, the general
supposition being that Is Is Of volcanic
origin. Some think thatit was form
erly portion of the mainland. bnt
the character of the soil Is entirely
different from that Of Hartford or
Kent counties, which are within q
mile or two 1t, and then again q
chestnut 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 q heavy clay
snbsoil. 1t is SO rich that the most
abundant crops are produced to-day
without the aid Of fertilizers, none ex-
cept the manure made on. the place
ever having been used on it in its
hundred years of cultivation. Numer-
GUS wells of clear sparkling water are
scattered about the island. The
water also differs from that usually
found along the bay, being soft I'M
stead Of hard, resembling greatly
that found on the high lands In the
western counties. i.s
Peaches were never grown in any
quantities on the island until 1872,
when Geo. Merett, who bought it
from John Wethered, son of Peregrine
Wethered, set out an orchard Of over
5000 trees. This began the places
reputation as a peach orchard, which
has been kept up ever since. The
island was bought in May, 1882, by
Charles G. Homer. president Of
the Second National Bank of Balti-
more, and John j. Masheters 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 q fishing trip,
land 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 il Was
bought shortly afterward by Meesrs.
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 devoted to peach and
sheep raising. in both Of which
branches Of agriculture Mr.. NASH
eter has been remarkably successful.
| The orchard is peculiar in that it
contains 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 ss fifteen and few meas.
ure 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
Etwo-thirds Of the trees yield, the re-
mainder being lost by some branches
lbreaking 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
las for the quality of the fruit which Is
raised upon it. although in 1885 the
yield approached Is, 900 packages.
Several unsuccessful attempts have
been made to secure a portion of the
lisland for m excursion resort, but none
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