New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-11
THIS YEARS PEACH CROP.
COMPLETE FAILURES IN BOTH MARY
LAND AND DELAWARE.


Each year after the late frosts in tie months
OF April and March prophecies OF the failure
Of the peach crop in Delaware and Maryland
are heard. and again after few WEEKS ana 'he
young fruit begins to show on the trees the
story is repeated until the public has come TO
look uron II as n sort Of stock report ana out
little attention is paid to it, for New-fork mas
always a plentiful supply Of peaches during the
season. no matter what the early reports nave
been. But. for once, this year the reports ABOUT
the peaches in Maryland and Delaware were
true and The crop is a complete failure Iha'
elieht snoWetorm which whitened the roads and
fields from Boston to Norfolk along the Atlantic
Coast in the latter part Of last April carried
with II icath to the delicate peach buds. which
throughout this section Of the country were in
fu' boom So disastrous was this cold storm
tha' many orchards in the locality from which
bOO0 to 10000 baskets have been shipped in
single season this year will not yield a dozen
baskets Of fruit
+ more beautiful sight is seldom seen than
presented one drove over the peach
section Of upper Maryland that cold spring
morning. For miles as far as the &C could reach
o. either side Of tho road were orchards, every
tree a towering mass OF bright pink. while over
AL like a soft. white coverlet Law the damp,
cold snow. which in all its beauty brought de
struc..on t. the blossom: and their promise OF
fruit.
THE FIRST YIELD ALWAYS LIGHT.
The peach tree begins to bear fruit in It's third
scar but the yield is always light. only the
now wood or young branches Of last year s
growth bear the fruit bIds. and as th" tree mas
had but year To- start it's branches IL cannot
p.ye great quantities OF peaches. After ii has
fairly begun To- bear. however. if no severe draw
backs are encountered it will continue growing
and giving rorjh good crop each year for
twenty or more years The worst enemies the
peach tree has the spring frosts and cold
storms for the FIRST days Of spiing Will
cause the sap TO run and the tiny pink BUDS
to put their heads forth. and then the cold nips
them Although April and May are the months
for fruit blossoms. II the weather is warm
enough fer 4 few days even in March or Fcbru-
ary the peach buds will start and as the trees
lloom prior 20 leaving there is no protection
for the buds from the cold Weai her sure 10 fol-
low. IL they weather this danger the wind
storms Of early June are likely 10 shake of most
Ct The Young fruit or tho li.tle boring Worlds
VIII eat into the buds which have formed and
thus Kill them When the June drop is over
walk through the orchard viii usually give a
fair idea OF the prospect for fruit tut not sure
T. for the weather may be too wet and cause
The fruit 10 rot the trees or too dry and
make il shrvcl up before getting full size
After all these conditions are cont"nded with
there is vt another and more fatal trouble
with which the trees may be- attacked and
that is q disease known as the 'yollo~s" which
cause the leaves to turn yellow ana drop on
eventually killing the tree y, known cause or
cure has been found for this II seems L. be con
ia-icus. and tree found ancCtcd rs re
r1ovcd from the orchard AT once. but often the
whole orchard will have TO be dug W and re-
planted with young trees on account Of IT,
THE SOURCE OF NEW -YORkS sUPPLY.
For many years tho Ncw-York and surround
in~ markets have depended Oh tho states OF
MARYLAND and Delaware for the larger part
G their supply. with some from NeN Jersey. and
many sections 81 this territory have extensive
orchards. the cultivation ~ the fruil being the
chi,f indus. ~ OF the inhabitants.
Certain soil and climatic conditions cause tho
peach to grow better than others. These condi-
tons exist In many parts Of the United states.
from the extr, South to the Middle West. as
vel a. along the Pacific Coast. and the sec
tons near by have failed these places at greater
distances have been called upon to contribute
their share toward keeping the supply equal TO
the demand at all times. Fast freight service
and the express companies have brought these
far-away parts within easy access OF the New
YORK market. During the last few years the
State OF Georgia has shipped enormous quaint
ties 81 peaches North, they begin coming carly
IN July. when straw berries are yet to be had.
and last aboIt month. From eighty to
ninety carloads day viii be received and sold.
The fruit from this section has uniformity OF
culture sci lon seen. and in consequence has