Smyrna times., 1917-09-12

If the peach orchards Of Kent county
are to be taken as a fair example,
then Delaware is again coming into
its own as a peach growing state.
For the acreage planted in peach trees
in this county within the past three
or four years has almost doubled the
total acreage, and many of the fine
Young orchards are ust coming into
hearing. And, despite the fact that
there was large crop Of the luscious
fruit this year the growers have re-
ceived excellent prices and few of
them have failed to make a large
profit. Some years ago Delaware was
known as the "Peach State" but fol-
lowing a glut in the peach market
many growers pulled up their trees
and planted other crops. Before the
glut. this state was practically one
vast peacE orchard, but a few years
later large orchards were the excep-
tion rather than the rule. At the
DTESGuL lll4Cs LA4CAC al ~ lIlduX
facilities for handling the fruit, and
the market has been so greatly broad
ened by the peach canneries and pre-
serving plants, the peach growers
realize that they cannot produce too
much of the fruit. AS a result, num-
erOus fields to-day have been set out
in prime young peach trees. and to
Judge from all indications Delaware,
in the near future, will again be Justly
entitled to the sobriquet "Peach
State. Many fruit growers are now
dividing their land between apples
and peaches, while the acreage in
grape vinyards is also on the increase.
Orchards Between Dover and Camden
Among the largest and best known
peach growers Of Kent county is the
firm of Cooper & Terry, of Camden,
whose monster orchard is located
along the State Road, between Dover
and Camden. This firm grows some
of the finest peaches produced in the
state. There are more than 10, 900
trees in the Cooper & Terry orchard,
nearly all of which were last week in
bearing. Two-thirds of this number
consist of trees in their full prime
while the remainder are young trees
just coming into bearing. The firm
ships thousands of carriers of peaches
every year, and reaps a handsome
profit on each carload. The peaches
have been exceptionally good this sea-
son, and the crop brought the top
notch prices. The season for Elberta
and Bell of Georgia was finished last
week. There are many other growers
IN Kent coutny, in addition to Cooper
& Terry, who are growing prime
peaches, and who receive excellent
prices for their produce. While the
Elbertss and Belle of Georgia seem
to be the tavorite varieties grown il
this section, yet a number of thC
growers are experimenting with othel
trees, and at least one of them, +. M
Soper, will reap a handsome prof
from new crop this year.
F'M'soper, Apple King" Experiment.
Mr.. Soper. who is better known a
the Delaware Apple King due II
the fact that he has hundreds of acre
OF the finest apple trees in Delaware
mas fine orchard of 81. H. Hale
peaches. This variety of peaches ha
also been planted by several othe
growers, but Mr.. Soper's is one O.
tne hrst orchards of this variety il
hent county to come into bearing
Mr. Soper has hundreds of trees OF
these fine peaches, which resembl,
tne Elberts, but the crop is not pickle,
until the EIbertas are gone, and tn
market is therefore very good. Ever
while the Elbertas were in the marke
Mr Soper sold the 81. H. Hale
variety for nearly double the price
ne having received ST. a basket fo
). II. Hales" when EIbertas wer
bringing but 65 cents. The ~ H
males bid fair to become a leader il
delaware. They are large, beauti
lully colored and have little or no fuz
on the smooth skin, while the taste
uehclous. Mr.. Soper, who has wo
an enviable reputation for prime ap
pies'is delighted with the new peache
ano expects them to be better money
makers than any of the old varieties
Vne important point in favor of tn
new peach, which is particularly lack
ing IN the Belle of Georgia, is thei
excellent shipping quality. They ar
urn and hard and will keep a numbe
Ol days after being picked before ROT
'ing' This makes them ideal for shiI
p'ng to distant points.
Sro"ers in Kent Grow Fine Crops
Harry Mcdaniel, the well-know
druggist of Dover. alao has 6r