Smyrna times., 1910-01-26
FRUIT GROWERS LOOK INTO
DELAWARE PEACH CULTURE
ESTIMATE PLACES ACREAGE AT
40 PER GEM Or TEN YEARS AGO
Horticultural COMMITTEE Finds That
Peach Acreage Has Fallen OFF One
Half But is 6eing Revived

The peach crop of the peninsula
will be reviewed and the exact con-
dit;on Of t. is once great industry
will be known in every fruit growers
home on the peninsula in a few weeks.
The impression outside of Delaware
IS that tie peach industry has been
wholly abandoned. but, notwithstand-
ing this, there are many peach or
chards and there will be peach crop
this year-prObably a good one. An
investigation has been going on for
several weeks to get at the real con-
dition of peachgrowing on the penin-
sula which made peaches famous.
W G.. Dawson. one of the penln-
sula's most progressive and best
fruit growers, was appointed by the
Peninsula Horticu tural Society as
chairman of committee on peaches
TO investigate the conditions. Mr..
Dawson set to work with a will and
his report is full of interest and
actual conditions. In order to secure
its information, the committee
adopted the plan of sending out
several hundred question blanks,
covering the peach situation, and out
of the many inquiries sent out, re
plies were received to forty per
centum, which makes the committee
very thankful.
Result of the Committees Finding.
Consequently, the committee finds ::
That the peach acreage has fallen off
more than onehalf. That a conserv-
ative estimate places the acreage at
forty-five per cent of ten years ago.
That during the past few years more
trees have been pulled out than
planted. That during the five years
ending in 1903, the Delaware railroad
moved 5, $40. 993 baskets. That dur
ing the next five years, ending with
1908. the total was 8, ,164, 59S baskets,
a decrease of 2,456, 395 baske s.
That the year 1909 shows the total
peach movement on the Delaware
railroad was IL, 474 baskets, although
the severe weather had practically
killed the crop. That while these
figures do not include water ship
ments. they are 6 ven more particu
larIv for comparison. That in strik
ing an average of results, decrease
of income of 5000, 600 per year from
ten years ago, is shown. That th'
invasion of the San Jose scale causet
the destruction of numberless tree
before it was learned to successful.
combat it. That at present "we fee
positive that we know how to kee
this scale in subjection, and if every
body sprayed as should be done tn
scale would not be source of yer
great menace Either the home
made or the bought mixture will d
the work if the spraying is dor
thoroughly. That the "yellows'
more serious than the scale. 1t
not so thoroughly understood al
there has been no remedy found bl
the axe. That other sections of Il
United States have the "yellows
and are continuing to grow peach
proftably.
Influences Against Peach Culture
Chairman Dawson then goes on
his forthcoming report to show 9th
reasons for peach depletion.
saws: Without doubt, the awake
ing of our people to the fact that Q
conditions of soil and climate are
particularly suitable to the prodI
tion of other crops of fruits and We
cables has had much to do with
curtailment of peach growing. II
is fortunate as it has Influenced us
diversity our products, and not
depend too much on any one.
effect this has had upon peaches
to reduce the supply and incre;
the chances for better prices.
often in the past has our peach C
glutted all markets and driven pri
down to a point which gave the P
ducer no margin at all, if not
actual loss. Another point must
borne in mind when considering pi
ent peach conditions and compar
them with the past. Before
refrigerator car came into gene
use, and before the southern peac
were produced to take advantage
this splendid method of shippi
there we're many of our orchards N
up largely of the early varieties,
only 'earlirs' to recommend tn
and when fine Georgia Elbertas n
their advent into northern mark
most of our people found the e
varieties Improbable, and the t
wer pulled out, or in some insta