Evening journal., 1914-03-28
short CROP OF
Peaches This YEAR
Late Snow and Cold Almost
Destroy the Yellow
Fruit
APPLE TREES STAND
VIGORS OF WINTER


MILFORD, Del, March 2S-The
general opinion of fruit growers in
the vicinity of Milford, is that the
peach crop has been badly injured,
the growers ranging In their esti-
mates Of a crop from on-eighth 20
not over half. They almost all agree
that the yellow fruit has been hurt
worse than the white. and the snow
of two weeks ago, followed by the
rapidly falling temperature WAS the
direct cause of the injury to the
crop.
Some of the growers feel that
pears are not injured much, but some
OF the well-known growers are very
pessimistic over the prospects of that
crop. Apples. they all agree, have
not been injured. There seems 10 be
a difference Of opinion as to cherries,
some growers claiming that they are
injured, while others feel that they
have escaped injury. Plums show
the same difference of opinion, while
blackberries and strawberries, most
agree, are practically uniniured.
Possibly the greatest acreage of
cantaloupes ever planted in lower
Delaware will be put out this year,
This Is especially true around Lin
coin and Houston, where the farmers
have contracted to grow for dealers
so that carload shipments may ee
made daily. This particular crop has
been coming TO the front rapidly fof
the past few years. after having been
dormant for several years, and many
of those interviewed state that the
fact that the farmers generally are
discontented with the prices being Of
fered for tomatoes. will cause the
farmers to seek other crops TO sub
stitute for that crop. Il seems that
they have hit upon cantaloupes as the
substitute. Sweet potatoes. It seems,
will not be grown in such great
numbers in the districts where canta-
lopes are being grown but the dis
trict between Frederica and FELTON,
will plant heavily with sweets.
Charles II. Sackett, the "Plum
King" OF Delaware, whose plum,
peach, pear and cherry farms are
located at Lincoln. fears that the
fruit has been badly injured. and that
the crops are ruined. His predic-
tions almost invariably turn out to
be correct. Mr. Sackett said Il find
that the best varieties, such as the
Elbertas, REEVES, Belle Of Georgia
and Crawfords are fully 90 per cent.
killed in my orchards. The old tough
kind like Beers Smock and Carman
are about 75 per cent killed, Kiefer
pears are 75 per cent killed. Wild
Goose plums the 75 per cent. killed
Lucretia blackberries are probably in
! iured some, but the Love,t. hardly
plant, is not injured Cherries are
one-half killed. Apples are safe.
will certainly be surprised If / get
one-elghth of a crop of peaches"
Thomas e. Salevam, of the Bowers
Beach district, said: "Those who
have peach orchards in this section
are not alarmed much over the
prospects of fair crop. Some of the
| growers are loud in their claims that
no damage has been done; others,
however, say their orchards are hard
hit. Dr. Marvin, who lives just north
of this district, have been told,
claims that so per cent of his yellow
peaches are killed It is safe TO say
that our district will produce half. a
crop IL not more. Apples, cherries
and pears are safe. Our farmers Will
not plant cantaloupes other than
enough for home use. but the largest
acreage of peas and tomatoes planted
in years will be set out"
John J. Rosa, possibly the most widely
known farmer in this section, whose
farms are located at the northwestern
lentrancc of Milford, who early investi.
gates hfs crop indications, said; II have
three varieties of peaches, Elbertas
belle of Georgia and the Fancy. My
lElbertas are IS per cent. killed, but The
lother varieties are practically all safe
MY large pear orchards are not injured
nor arc my apples. l have few black
berries and strawberries, and cannot give
an opinion ON that crop.'
A. B. Peet, master of Milford Grange
said: II have examined three varieties
Of peaches, the Elbertas, Belle Of GeOr
.cia and Carman. Fully 20 per cent. o
the yellow peaches are killed, but thl
white fruit is not hurt worth mention
] ling. Apples are in excellent condition
3 lpiving every indication of a good crop
Pears are not so full of buds as last sea
) son, with the exception of Keifers, whicl
! are very full. Ny blackberries are in
iured some; worse than last year
Strawberries are injured somewha
where they were net mulched, but thi
should not affect that crop. Plums am
= cherries give indications OF good crops.