Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-05-16

From careful survey of the prospect
for q crop of peaches in Delaware this
Season, the outlook at this time is by no
means altogether discouraging, for while
The fruit has suffered from fungus and
other dangers in some sections, it has
Sustained no injury which is now APP
parent in the majority of the orchards
through the State.
VA This conclusion is the result of
careful Investigation made within the
past week by THE GAZETTE. There
10 no doubt of injury having been done
the trees in some sections of the State,
but these sections are limited, and the
general opinion Is that the majority of
the orchards have escaped harm so far.
What the future may have in store of
corrse no one is able to foretell, but the
experience of past seasons goes to show
that the fruit seldom suffers injury
from the weather after the 10th OF May.
A great deal depends upon the extent
of the "June fall" But growers are
inclined to look upon the bright side,
and hope that 1t will leave plenty of
fruit on the trees. Realizing the adj
vantages to be derived from paying
crop of fruit, the people of the entire
Peninsula will unite in the hope that
they may be thus favored. Ex-Gov.
Charles g. Slockley of Georgetown, is
of the opinion that the fruit is as yet
not SO much injured as has been stated,
and has strong hopes of harvesting a
paying crop from his 10000 or more
trees in the district around the county
town of Sussex.
In conversation with Tue GAzETTE's
correspondent on last Wednesday he
stated that the trees throughout the
county were in perfectly healthy con.
diiion and the majority arc about the
proper age to bear good fruit. The
yellows which have destroyed trees
throughout the upper part Of the State
and in Kent county have not reached
Sussex, except along the Kent border,
and this fact causes many to believe that
if the buds mature properly there Will
be an old time peach crop In the lower
county.
MIR. Stockley Iecollects but two in
stances in time past when the fruit has
been materially damaged after May LIST.
A few years ago heavy frost killed
peaches all through the State on the
night of May 9th and one previous to
that the fruit was killed by freeze the
latter part of the same month.
a. Opinions differ as to the damage done
by the late wet weather, but while this
is the case, there is no denying the fact
that there has been injury done IN some
orchards. DIR, Philip Layton Of George
town has made an examination OF his
trees and has found that the wet and
foggy weather has damaged large
percentage of the buds, but does not
think the prospects for good yield
have been injured to any alarming ex'
If Al Ia h,tl nut nf or
natures there will be as many on the
trees as they will be able to hold.
Ex-Governor Stockley is of the
opinion that "half crop will be bettei
than full crop" for the reason that {
glutted market and low prices are al
most certain to follow an over-produC
ton, while with fair crop prices arr
reasonably sure to be satisfactory to thu
producers.
Clerk of the Orphans Court Coler
Ferguson, who resides near Blackbird
states that he has heard no complain
among the farmers of that neighborhoot
regarding inquiry to their peaches. Oh
his own farm 100 pear trees which CAV
very flattering prospects of heavy crol
two weeks ago have been "blighted'
and but very few healthy buds are lief
on the trees. On some branches ever,
bud is dead. The "blight" seems to at
feet only certain localities, and 1t is sal,
that other pear trees in the neighbor
hood have apparently escaped injury
While any past injury to the peache
can be known and an estimate given a
to just how far it extends to certai
extent, Mr.. Ferguson is of the opinio
that nothing definite can be learned un
til after the "June drop" When thi
takes place we will then be able to lear
whether the crop will be success or
failure.
Over in the neighborhood of Registe
of Wills Cooch's home the land
mostly high, and there has been notf
ing, as far as can be learned at the pre-:
ent time, to cause any uneasiness anon
the farmers.
One of the largest pear orchards i
New Castle county is on the farm {
James Il. Shallcross, near Macdonougl
and it is understood that an examin;
ton of the trees has not revealed thi
any serious injury has been done then
The land in this neighborhood, liz
that Of the upper part OF the county,
generally high, and it has been notice
that the trees everywhere on high lane
seem to present better prospects LOT
crop of fruit at the present time tina
those in districts where the ground
low aud not properly drained.
Reports from near Milliugton, Md
are not such as to cause alarm, and it
generally conceded that whatever dan
age done has been slight. The orchar'
of the late Ex-Governor Biggs, whit
~ have been prolific in years past, are sa
TO be in good condition and likely
give good yield.
While there is no doubt OF the peat
crop having been damaged 10 some e
tent, and while i. is possible that in son
districts this damage will be almost COZ
plete, these districts are not lar
enough to cause very general alarl
There are still plenty of peaches
Delaware, if they do not meet with Ia
frosts and storms
Na,y Iarsev OHicers Here