Smyrna times., 1900-10-10
PENINSULA PEACH CROP
A DISAPPOINTMENT
GROWERS SAID TO BE THE GREATEST
SUFFERERS THAN ANYONE ELSE.
American AgricuIturist Says They Can Stand
The Loss Without Financial Embarrass.
meut-Fruit Brought Low Prices.

Inc Loss without Financial EmbarrasS-
meut-Fruit Brought Low Prices.
The Delaware and Eastern Maryland
peach crop has been marketed, and the
results were bitter disappointment to
most growers, says the American Agri-
culturist. Great expectations had been
built upon the crop, as it was the
first one in four years, and with the
improved financial condition of the
country good prices were expected, not
withstanding the large crop. But prices
were ruinously low, so low in fact that
it did not pay to pick the fruit, and
thousands of bushels rotted on the
ground. The trouble was with the
small size of the fruit This was
caused by the enormous quantity of
fruit on the trees, together with very
dry weather. In some places in south
ern Delaware timely showers helped to
fill out the crop, and in such places the
fruit was better. In ordinary years the
'FJune drop" is depended upon to thin
the fruit, but this year the drop was so
small as to make no impression upon
the crop, and, thinning by hand was
only done here and there by an en-
thusiast, the general run of farmers
being glad of the promise of such an
abundant crop. The necessity of thin
ming fruit to produce profitable grades
was never more strikingly shown, nor
on so large a scale.
At Bridgeville, Del, the largest
peach shipping station on the PENN
sula, very little strictly fancy fruit was
to be had, fruit of that quality selling
at from 60 to 80 cents per five-eighth
bushel basket. The ordinary grade of
fair shipping peaches sold in mid-sea-
son at from 10 to 90 cents per basket.
and low grades at from 5 to 10 cents.
Buyers who were determined to get
good fruit had much difficulty in fill
ing orders. One man succeeded inget
ting a carload of about 700 baskets at
AZ to As cents, but even these were not
fancy. The shipments from Bridge
vile in August were 384 carloads, and
the total for the season was about 475
cars. Thirty-four cars was the largest
daily shipment. The standard ship
ment is 600 baskets per year, but many
cars were crowded, some holding near
ly 900 baskets. A large quantity was
consumed by local cannery, and the
total marketed was about 325, 200
baskets. A crop of 500, 900 baskets had
been expected
During the midsummer, yellow
peaches only could be sold, whites be-
ing neglected at any price, but later
white peaches were in demand. Pack
ers took large quantities at and 10
cents per basket in mid-season, and
from 10 to 20 cents for Smocks at end
of season; baskets were returned to
growers by Gamers. Very few fac
tories packed peaches exclusively,
most Gamers having contracts with
sweet corn and tomato growers that
had to be attended to, and peaches
were canned between these crops as
opportunity offered. The total canned,
however, must be very large, as there
are many small canneries in the peach
district. The canneries were care
full buyers and refused to take culls at
any price. A large quantity of fruit
was suitable only for pie peaches.
This grade is canned with the skin on
it, simply being split and packed in
cans. The better grades were peeled
and handled with more care.
Throughout the Eastern Shore no
grading was attempted, but fruit was
sold as it was picked, though growers
took care to have the large fruit at the
top of the basket. Growers were the
greatest sufferers, as buyers generally
bought by the bottom of the basket,
and not by the top. A great deal of ir-
ritation resulted from carelessness in
filling baskets. In most places the
crop was sold to cash buyers at the
railroad stations, although growers
sometimes shipped on consignment tc
Northern cities. The results from cash
sales were more satisfactory than from
shipments. Peaches were shipped in
both ventilated and ice cars, the lat.
ter preferred for distant p3ints, such
as Boston, Providence, Pittsburg, Buf
falo, etc. For New York and nearer
cities ventilated cars were used. Th,
charge for icing was $50 per car, or II
cents per basket in addition to freight
In car lots freight from Bridgeville t.
New York was Al cents per baske
and to Boston and Providence thirt,
cents. Shelves in cars were Furnished
by the refrigerator company or tn
railroad, but buyers had to pack thei
own cars.
Ono of fha most distressing featura