Smyrna times., 1906-08-29
LOCAL PEACH SHIPMENTS
FAST DRAWING To A CLOSE
CRAWFORD'S AND SMOCK ONLY REMAINING
VARIETIES AFFECTED BY WEATHER.
This Week Will About Wind up 0ne of Most
Disappointing Peach Years Growers Have
Ever Realized; State Board Advice.

inIs WSek WIN ABOUT Wlnu up Une OF mOSl
Disappointing Peach Years Growers Have
Ever Realized; State Board Advice.
The Delaware peach crop is now
nearing its close and this week the ac
tive shipments will about be finished.
The famous Elberta, the Queen peach
of them ALL which ordinarily brings
the growers handsome prices and big
bank accounts, has been marketed to-
gether with all the other varieties ex
cept the Crawford's Late and the
Smock. OF the later variety there is
but sprinkling in this vicinity. The
Crawfords might have brought better
prices, but the rains of Saturday, Sun
day and Monday played havoc with
this crop and the top price for the best
of them is hardly reaching more than
80 cents basket. The wet weather
has cracked them and made them un-
marketable at almost any price, The
Elbertas in some instances brought
some fancy prices, but taken as a
whole, the season has been one of the
most disappointing the growers have
experienced in years. In June the
prospect for a peach crop never looked
more promising. Indeed there seemed
to be general opinion among grow
ers throughout the state that Delaware
would harvest the largest and finest
crop in years and in view of this fact
shippers and Railroads prepared for
the great exodus that was to be made.
But 1t never materialized. The. almost
continuous wet weather and hot suns
played havoc with the luscious fruit,
causing it to rot and premature until
thousands of baskets dropped from the
trees, reducing the previous estimate
to less than half crop. One farmer
alone estimates that he lost between
S., 900 and Sc, 900 from the wet sather
Those successful in having good fruit
realized good prices but this was due
largely to the great activity among
buyers at the Smyrna boat landing
and at Brentord and Clayton railroad
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fruit at almost any price. This sctiv-
ity was possibly greater than ever be-
fore. At Clayton licensed auctioneer
relieved the situation by auctloning
the peaches off to the highest bidder.
With all the activity of the buyers,
growers seem to be generally pleased
with the good treatment and square
dealing received at their hands Wet
weather. ,however, upset all calcula-
tlons and the fruit destroyed means a
loss of thousands of dollars to the
growers.
Timely Warriag to Delaware Peach Growers
Fhe State Board of Agriculture has
sent out the following letters to peach
growers: Peach yellows has made nm
usual headway in Delaware this year
and is prevalent in all parts of the
State where it was so destructive years
ago. 1t is also extending southwark
and is now found in the vicinity OF
Bridgeville on the western side of Sus-
sex County and not far from Glendale
and Milton on the eastern side. It's
rapid increase this season is an en-
phatlc warning to peach growers that
they must wage a relentless warfare il
they expect to save their orchard from
this fatal disease. The experts of the
United States Department of Agricul.
ture and some of the State Experiment
Stations have lsbored in vain for man,
years to discover the cause of this NAL
ady and to provide remedy. Their,
is no known cure, and the only pre-
ventive is the prompt destruction O
all infected trees. The experience O
practical growers notably in Michigan
is satisfactory proof that prompt cut
ting out and burning control the di
sease and prevent serious losses. TIL
peach industry of Delaware is too val
liable to lose. We have no rosette no
little peach else the San Jose Scale ha
beer conquered. 1t Is worth while t.
try and save the orchards from yellows
but the value of the cutting out an
burning process consists in its immeC
late application. 1t is easy to stop
fire when it first starts, but let
spread over prairie or through cit
and no earthly power can stay il
course. 1t is hoped that you will az
promptly if you have diseased tree
and that you will also suggest to you
neighbor that your welfare as. we'll {
his should induce him to follow yor
example.