Evening journal., 1913-07-14
CANTALOUPE
GROWERS ARE
PROFTTINC
Sussex Crop This Year Prom
lSeS to Yield Splendid
Return
GROWERS SET OUT
MANY PEACH TREES

GEoRGETOWN, Del, July IA
Lower Delaware farmers are finding
that the cantaloupe is money
maker. The sandy loan of Sussex
County is just right for a quick
growth and fine flavor for the cam
taloupe, and Delaware is fast rival
ling Colorado in the raising Of this
profitable crop. Last year good re-
turns were made on the crop and this
year the vines are looking fine, with
every indication OF the largest crop
the county has ever seen.
So great an acreage has been plant
ed this year that all of the mills
around Georgetown are now working
day and night to get out the carriers
used for the cantaloupes made some
thing like berry crate, but with slat
bottoms, which will hold about a
couple of dozen of the cantaloupes
packed in tiers. The cantaloupes last
year brought $3.50 a carrier on the
average. The profit can be plainly
seen when it is understood that
grower can make money at $3.50 a
carrier.
Important Suit Won by Farmer.
suit which is of particular inter-
est TO farmers has just been settled
here by decision OF the court giving
verdict of S112 against a Milford
Gamer and in favor of Ira Roberts,
tomato grower Roberts claimed
that he had made a contract for de-
livery of tomatoes with the canning
company and showed that he had
been kept waiting in line all night
before he could unload, causing his
load IN dnnrprtqfa fn IL
extent He unloaded and weighed on
a private scale, put his tomatoes
along the roadside and demanded his
money.
The verdict is important 10 hun
dreds Of farmers who every year af-
ter making contracts for their toma-
toes are compelled to waste hours
each day after they arrive at the can
ming factories waiting for the can
nories TO unload their wagons Many
Of the farmers have kept two or three
wagons on the road, unhitching their
horses after arriving at the factories
and going back home for another
load, while they left their wagonload
Standing in the line. sometimes "A
hours elapsing before the tomatoes
could be unloaded
New Fruit Trees Planted.
The growth Of young peach trees
has been wonderfully rapid this year.
Although many Of the trees we're cut
back last fall, they have put out new
branches and new wood attaining
lengths Of from four to five feet, so
that II is probable that the trees will
show blossoms next spring, with prob
ably a little fruit, and become bearers
enough 10 support themselves the fol-
lowing season. Expert horticultur-
lists have been visiting the orchards
through Sussex county the past week
and pronounce the orchard clean Of
Insects and making such fine growth
that spraying this year has been con-
sidered unnecessary.
With large apple orchards growing
at Seaford, Millsboro, Georgetown,
Lewes and Selhyville Sussex county
will be as famous for its apple crop
In ten years as il is now famous for
lts peaches. The light sandy loan
soil of Sussex Is particularly adapted
TOR apple culture, and the big orchard
companies have been quick to take
advantage of the fact. besides hun
ITeds of smaller farmers. Between
Georgetown and Bridgeville the larg-
est orchard is laid out, with over 1000
acres set in $4,000 trees. Sixty per
cent were planted in 1910 and 40 per
sent in 1911. Between 60 and 20 per
sent Of the trees will bear fall apples
and the remainder summer apples.
The former will bear in from six to
seven years, while in six years more
The later variety will produce in suf-
fcient quantity for marketing.
VIII Use Grapes ai Home.
Prospects are bright for an abund-
ait grape crop through Sussex
County this year The vines are
heavy with green fruit, and so far
hut little damage has been seen from
insects ana bugs.
A large amount of the grapes will
be used IN the county this year, ow-
ing to the passage of the recent anti
licuor shipping hill The grapes will
be used TO make homemade wine. a
greater profit being made by the
farmers in this way than by shipping
them 10 outside markets. Several of
the farmers have installed large wine
presses and sweet wine will be manu-
featured and then allowed TO ferment
on the farm The fruit juice factories
located at Georgetown and Green
wood will also take q large amount
of the crop.
Fea vines are being claimed as fine
fertilizer for worn-out farms, and
hundreds Of tons have been removed
by the farmers from the canning fac
tories and spread on the land Some
OF the farmers are even claiming that
the vines make good food for their
stock, and in several instances have
cured and stacked the vines for wint-
er feeding. So valuable have the
vines become in both ways to tho
farmers that most of the growers this
year contracted tor the peas only on
condition that they would be allowed
10 take home again the vines after
tile peas had been hulled out.
MISS DAME TO WED