The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1906-03-31
PEACH TREES UNFRAMED

This cold, snappy weather is just the
thing for fruit, said aWeStern Maryland
peach grower today. I'VE don't want it
TOO cold but just crisp enough to keep
the sap in the fruit trees from starting
mp too soon. So far everything is safe,
and the mountain fruit belt growers are
in high feather
All the reports received today from the
Eastrn Shore and Western Maryland
fruit regions were that peaches. pears
and small fruit escaped injury by the
heavy sect and snow storm that swept
over the fruit country the first of the
week The gravest apprehension was
felt at first that the heavy coating of ice
that incaSed the more delicate buds
would result in the wholesale destruction
Of the fruit. These fears prevailed par
ticularly in the Eastern Shore fruit
growing counties, where. under the i'm
pulse of the mild weather of the past
winter. fruit trees had shown signs of
responding to the temperate weather by
the swelling of the buds.
AS it is impossible to tell of the effect
Of the cold on the embryo fruit for sew
eral days after trying weather condi-
tons. FRUIT growers for some time were
unwilling to commit themselves in re
gard to the conditions prevailing in the
fruit regions. Ample time has elapsed,
however. since the recent cold spell. and
horticulturiStS from all sections of Mary
land and from the Pennsylvania peach
country take an extremely optimistic
view of the situation. They insist that
virtually no injury was done but that.
on the contrary. the cold spell had the
effect Of rctnrding the starting of the sap
and will cHuSc Il later bloom and lessen
the dangers from late froStS.
no DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE
Representative Cunts f. Crane. of
kert county. one of the most extensive
packers in the East. says that 50 far rs
he can learn there l. an excellent set of
bu'~ on all kinds of fruit trees in the
Eastern Shore fruit sections and that no
damage was done.
representative David Smith. from
Queen Anne county. made an equally
satisfactory report.
"ThoUgh the buds had shown signs of
swelling" said Mr.. Smith, ''they were
protected from the entrance of water
by the heavy outcr coverings. and | am
disposed Ia think that they are perfectly
safe up to thlS time.
Reports from the Western Maryland
mountain peach belt are of a most re-
assuring nature. The fruit buds have
made virtually no development there.
and all varieties are considered absolute
ly safe.
Anne Arundel county fruit and truck
farmers are iuhilant over prevailing con
ditons. Not only do they consider their
fIS6S safe up to this time. but not in
y4any years have trucking operations
q cen so far advanced mt this season Of
the year. Fully two-thirdS of the spring
pl"wing has been done. vast quantities
of IarSe fertilizers have been distrihut-
ed over the thousands of acres of patches
of small fruits. hot beds are all pre-
pared. and some of the earlier crops
have been planted.
Under the impulse of the prevailing
high prices for canned tomatoes the acre
age of that vegetable this year will be
large. New packing establishments are
being erected. md the capacity of some
of those already built is being enlarged
to handle the increased product of the
larger acreage.
VEGETABLE OUTLOOK BRIGHT.
Great numbers of berry crates, and
other fruit packages have been hauled
m"ny details th"t usually CONE in the
sr'ing to ra%zlr the farmers have been
arr 'nged.