Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-04-19
No HOPE FOR A Peach CROP
No Earthly Chance of Any
Fruit This Year.
WHAT LEADING GROWERS SAY
All Their Opinions of the
Same Doleful Tune.
ipoclal Correspondence OF Gazette and journal

Special Correspondence OF Gazette and journal
BRIDGEvILLE, April 13.-Though it is
generally conceded that the peach crop
was killed by the cold weather Of about
three weeks ago. yet there are many who
were hopeful and believed it was only the
annual scare.
That might have been under some con
ditions, but not when the trees are in full
bloom and subjected to snow, ice, frost
and hail with the thermometer as low us
1872, which were the conditions in this
locality.
North of here and through Kent county,
Md, it was generally thought that the
peaches were only slightly injured, but
that section has Jared just as badly during
the storm that is now on.
Pears, cherries and apples are damaged
to considerable extent though fair
crop is expected. Strawberries are not
injured, though it is feared blackberries
are.
In order to satisfy all doubt in the inat-
ter TIE GAzETTE's correspondent inter-
viewed the persons who are quoted below
and who can be relied upon. These per-
sons are the largest growers in the State,
while the two growers who were inter
viewed in Kent county, Md, own orchards
of 1000 trees each, and all are authority
ON peach culture, as well as small fruits.
i. N. Mills, special agent for the Della
ware railroad, and recently its superin-
tendent, said: "Tho storm of this week
was the worst / ever saw at this time OF
the year. think the peach crop was en-
tirely destroyed two weeks ago. the check
ing OF the sap in the trees being as fatal as
the killing of the bloom. Was hopeful of
the pear crop until the recent storm, but it
is very doubtful now, and no one can tell
the damage until the fruit sets on the
trees. Small fruits are not extensively
grown around Clayton"
DIR. H. Ridgely, DoYer, said in the midst
of the fearful snow storm of this week
that was then raging las it is now snow
farewell to our peaches. A month hence
| can say something"
+. fl. Harper, Still Pond, Md: SIT is
generally conceded that the peach buds
were killed by the storm of three weeks
ago, though not entirely destroyed. This
weather makes it very gloomy for peaches,
pears and cherries. The buds not previ-
ously killed are in bloom but should it
freeze after this awful storm it would
wind up all the peaches and do great
damage to pears and cherries Small fruit
not damaged"
]. G. Brown, an extensive grower at
Wyoming, says: las near as | am able
to say, the live buds on my trees to-day
(ruesday), if they mature, will average
one-half basket to the tree. Keiffer pears
half killed, Bartlett uninjured. Small
fruit not injured" At this juncture il
began to sleet and snow, and Mr.. Brown
was unable to tell the effect, but thought
it would be disastrous.
John Bell, nurseryman and large
grower at Chestertown, Md, said: 81 had
much rather give you my report for pub
LEGATION al out July. The recent cold
weather, though, has done much damage.
plenty of peaches for crop, except the
late varieties, which are totally killed; not
one in twenty alive" p
As an awful storm was raging Tuesday
and since. it makes the prospect around
Chestertown very gloomy.
John j. Rosa, proprietor of the Walnut
Hill fruit and stock farm at Milford, said :
THE peach crop is gone, that is all there
is of it. Pears seem uninjured as yet,
Berries of all kinds promise CROP" u
Mitchell Layton, Bridgeville: II had
5000 baskets of peaches last year, but
don't think will have even so this season.
We have had two killings. as the term
goes, first by freeze and then by frost,
which has virtually destroyed all varieties.
Blackberries and strawberries are not be-
lieved to be damaged"
thSAAhS AASAooJt ASahACAs fIOiu SllRuI
observation and general information the
peach crop in this section is comparatively
a total wreck. There may be few Of
some extra early varieties but not enough
to cut any hgure in the market. Wilson
black berries slightly damaged. Pears in
iured. Strawberries, apples, cherries, &C.,
think not damaged to any great extent"
p. l.. Cannon. Bridgeville, who owns
10000 trees, very emphatica.ly says: "The
peach crop is surely killed without any
doubt. They can't withstand such
weather.
Colonel ]. ]. Ross, very large grower at
Seaford, says: 1.-The late cold weather
totally destroyed my peaches. ] see few
live buds of an early variety in a neigh
bors orchard. This variety do not grow.
Twill not have enough peaches for my
family supply. Small fruits | think are
uninjured especially Strawberries as they
are not yet in blossom"
r. w. Cannon. Bridgeville: "My peach
crop is entirely destroyed excepting prob
ably few early varieties that are not very
desirable. | think nearly all the peaches
in this locality are dead, and if there be
any in the State they will be found along
the bay shore, as the water often acts as a
protection IN keeping off the frost and
cold"
w. S. Moore, large peach grower and
the owner of the largest blackberry patch
in the State, lives at Laurel, and being in
terviewed said: Peaches are all killed.
The blackberry buds look all right, though
the cane seems to be dying SO It is hard to
tell what amount of buds will mature.
Apples, pears and cherries are injured,
Strawberry plants have blossomed and
these blossoms have been killed, though
enough are left for good CROP"
II. p. Cannon, who has $4,000 trees in
this section, says: "The peach buds are
killed and l will not have enough fruit
for the use of my family. think black
berries and strawberries all right. Pears,
apples and cherries are slightly damaged.
Isle, Pa, of which l am president of the
company, writes me that peaches are also
killed there. also received letter from
J. M. Slower, the pioneer grower of West.
ern Maryland, who owns 10000 trees near
Edgemont. the centre of the peach belt,
who also states there will be no peaches in
that section"