Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-04-11
THE FRUIT OUTLOOK.
Grave Fears Entertained That
The Delaware Peach Crop
Will Be a Failure. Other
Crops Reported Injured.

SlopS NcpoIleu LII ltIeu.
That the Delaware peach crop will
be failure this year there seems but
little doubt. The cold weather of last
Saturday had a disastrous effect upon
this most important product of the Del
aware farmer. and from all parts of the
State comes the report that the crop is
either totally destroyed or seriously
week caused the buds to swell and in
some portions of the State the blooms
were out. The temperature fell thirty
degrees on Saturday and the buds now
show a shriveled and lifeless condition.
There is one thing in their favor, how
ever. That is the heavy wind which
blew much of the water from the trees.
and possibly saved some of the fruit in
the more exposed places. Ice formed
to the thickness of almost an inch in
Sussex county on Saturday night.
1t should be borne in mind howt Yer.
that these early representations are not
altogether reliable; for frequently in
examining old, diseased, or poorly nur-
tured trees. it is found that great pro-
portion of the blooms have been blighted
when there may have been but little
damage done in the healthier orchards.
There is some reason for fearing that
the strawberry crop has been materially
shortened The blossoms are near the
earth. and as the ground at the time
was frozen. there is no doubt that
many Of the blossoms were killed.
The effect. though, may be simply to
retard the maturing of the fruit. so we
may infer that, while many of the earl
ier blooms have been killed, it will only
result in giving the later ones a chance.
GRAVE FEARS IN MILFORD.
Milford, April 6-There is much anx-
iety among the fruit growers here for
the safety of their peaches and other
small fruit. as ice nearly an inch thick
formed Saturday night and the weather
remained cold nearly all day yesterday.
While the result of the freeze cannot
yet be wholly reckoned, yet it is the
opinion of most growers that consider
able damage has been done. They
think fully one.half the buds on trees
now in blossom have been killed, may
be more, and that considerable harm
4, Il .. lot
is gotten from the face that a high
wind which preceded the freeze Satur-
day night blew the water out of the
blossoms and probably prevented the
scald that usually does the real damage.
There is also some apprehension felt
for Strawberries, raspberries and black.
berries, all of which were so far ad-
vanced as to be in danger of blighting
by the cold. \ heavy frost covered
the ground this morning. which adds
to the anxiety of the growers.
DAMAGE ABOUT BRIDGEvILLE.
Bridgeville, April 6.-Great damage
has undoubtedly been done to the fruit
crops on the Peninsula. Yesterday and
this morning ice formed half an inch,
and this morning there was a very
heavy frost. The thermometer regis
tered 25. Peach trees are in fnll bloom,
and while great damage has doubtless
been done, the full effect will not be ap-
parent for few days.
Strawberries are also damaged. but
the effect, it is believed. will but make
the crop a little late. Some farmers
say the damage is very severe to all
fruit crops. and one party estimates his
loss at 81, 500 1t showed here Satur-
day.
BAD REPORTS FROM LAUREL.
Laurel, April eff there is quarter
of crop of fruit in this section the
farmers will be greatly surprised. Sew
eral prominent growers this morning
said Saturdays storm had played havoc
with the crop and that but few peaches
would be shipped from the Sussex coun-
ty belt.
HAVE LITTLE HOPE.
Bethel, Del, April 6.-But little hope
is expressed for the peach crop in this
vicinity. Apples were badly damaged
by Saturdays freeze, and the straw
berry crop is also thought to be total
loss. Ice formed here three Quarters of