Evening journal., 1918-08-26
Delaware PEACHES
Bring HIGH PRICES
Growers of Yellow Variety
Have Reaped Unusual
Profit
TOMATO GROWERS GET
GOOD RETURNS, TOO

DOVER, Del, Aug. 26-Delawarei
peach crop this year Is both a failure
and a success. inconsistent as tha
statement may seem. Professor Wesley
Webb. Of Dover, secretary Of the Della.
. ware State Board Of Agriculture, de.
olared today that reports from variou:
sections Of the State show there will
probably only be oue-t..rd OF a crop
and not over one-hslf a crop at best,
or peaches this year, yet the prices re-
ceived for tile delicious fruit which
has made Delaware famous. have been
so exceptionally good that all growers
who have had any crop at all have
realized a fair profit and those whose
orchards have been highly productive
have practically cpled money. Peaches
that in former years could be bought
for 90 cents to 20 cents a basket, have
brought from si25 to si.T5 a basket
at the orchards, clear Of all shipping
expenses.
The crop of white peaches, especially
Belle OF Georgia and Champion varie-
ties, was fairly good, and they sold
IL
basket. and brought $3.50 a carrier Of
twenty-four quarts l. the market. The
yellow peach crop, which consists
mostly Of the famous Elbertas, usually
Delaware's most productive peach crop,
was unusually light this year. and as
a result the prices were very high. FL
bertas, which were placed on the mar
ket this week, brought from $50 10
$3.50. the latter price for the high
grade fruit, at the orchards, and the
market price has been higher than for
many years past. Growers who were
fortunate enough 10 have a good crop
Of yellow peaches, and there are only
a few Of them in Kent county, VIII
realize greater profits than has been |
made on a Delaware peach crop in |
many years.
The peaches. while scarce. are in /
prime condition, the white peaches |
especially being Of a splendid flavor /
and color Some Of the yellow peaches
are a little knotty, but owing 10 their
keeping quality, which Is far superior
10 the white peaches, there is a greater
demand for them than for the latter
variety. Despite the high prices many
Delaware housewives have preserved
hundreds OF quarts Of peaches for win
Ter use. The retail price for preserved
peaches will doubtless be almost pro-
1ibiiive this winter.
Pears are now beginning 10 come
into the market, and there Is a good
demand for them. The Bartletts arc
bringing good prices, and they are par
icularly popular with the housewife,
)wing to their excellent preserving
qualities.
Tomato growers are reaping a har-
rest. The majority Of those who con-
racted with the canning establish
nents did so at 80 cents basket.
which price Is very remuneratlve and
viii show a good margin Of profit for (,
N growers. While the droughts in | !
his section several weeks ago threat :
ned TO harm the tomato crop. Il Is
urning out 10 he better than for some
ears past, and the tomatoes are in !
rhine condition. Practically all the
aiming establishments in this part
I the state started in this
reek or last week to pack to-
latoes. and It is expected that the
ack will be record-breaking. Even at
contract price Of 80 cents a basket, 9
nd with a large percentage Of their
ack going 10 the Government and d.
light profit the packers will make .
Dlendd profits and the market price
n canned tomatoes is better than 1t
YER has been. The tomato growers r
no did not contract for their crop u
e also making big profits, some Of
lem receiving as high as - cents 10
for prime tomatoes on the market.
Delaware watermelons have been in
e market for the past week or two,
ID they are delicious. CantalOupes are
so running good. and the prces real \,
ed BY the growers, averaging from
10 80 cents apiece for the water
elons. and from 20 to - cents a
sket for cantaloupes, means that the
op Will be above the average from a
standpoint. The crop Of
ma beans has been unusually light,
d as a result the price Of this ap-
tizlng vegetable has been almost
ohibitive. Beans have been scarce lin
the vicinity Of Dover owing TO the
4 that the terrific hail storm early
July came at a time when the beans
re about half grown. and many
les were cut of and destroyed The =
gar corn crop has also been below =
) average for the same reason. but
lwers have realized a fair profit ow-
, 10 the good market prices secured
their produce. iii
While the crops Of all kinds In this
Unity have been far below the aver
). due partly 10 the draught and
'tly 10 the hail storm. yet the high
ces realized due TO the scarcity OF
,duce has enabled all growers to
ke a fair profit. Grapes are now
ming into the market and are bring
good prices, averaging from $40 to
per ton. III