Milford chronicle., 1921-04-01
DELAWARE FRUIT GROWERS
SUFFER MILLIONS OF DOLLARS LOSS BY
WINTER BAREBACK.
Continued from first page)

(cOntlnued from first page)
Severe losses were suffered by tn
fruit growers around Seaford. Onl,
the slightest hope is held out for an.
kind of crop of fruit. Peach, apple
; pear, cherry, ounce, plum, in fact ev
erything in the fruit line suffered Ic,
formed during the night and the hal
cut the trees badly in many places
Very early vegetables, such as lettuce
kale, beets, ETC., suffered badly, bu
the main part Of the vegetables raised
in this section are not up yet.
Fruit growers in the vicinity of Mil.
ford report the peach prospects badly
damaged by the cold snap and freeze
if not entirely ruined. Plums, cherries
and apples were also badly damaged
but part of the apple crop may have
escaped. In Milford and surrounding
country there was a hard rain, follow
ed by SOME sleet, and the wind Was
strong.
Jacob Rosa, of Milford, is of the
opinion that apples are not much dam
aged by the cold snap, as they were
not far enough advanced. Other tree
fruits, he believes, have been cut con-
SluefaDly Dy Iue freeze.
The damage to flowers is also re-
ported to be very severe. Many were
in bloom, and are showing the effects
of the cold spell.
]. A. Frear, near Magnolia, large
apple, peach and grape grower, also
feels that most serious damage has
been done. While grapes are not so
far advanced as other fruit, yet he
feels that where the blossom was
out damage has been done. He does
not hold out much encouragement for
a crop, however.
J. Leonard Soper, west of Magnolia,
large peach and apple grower, at first
was inclined to the belief that not
so great damage had been done as
at first anticipated. After an inves-
tigatiOn through his orchards after
sun-up, he claims that the damage
does not look so bad as first supposed.
The thermometer at the SOper farm
registered 2S degrees.
At the Henry Ridgely farm, just
across the railroad from Dover, with
large peach and apple orchards, the
tenant, Thomas Cook, is inclinded to
the belief that much damage has been |
done. One branch from a peach tree,
with IA blossoms, shows but three live |
buds. Apples are not thought to be af- |
fected so much. The thermometer reg
istered q degrees.
Later investigation of fruit buds by /
Mr.. Soper, shows peaches practically |
gone. Apples that were open shows
blossoms all destroyed. The later va
rieties of apples, including Winesap,
Stayman, Paragon, Ben Davis and
Yellow Transparent are all right, I'M
ess something develops later. Pears
ire practically gone, as well as the
variety of apples: Red As
Duchess, Early Ripe.
The proprietors of the Chandler
at Milton where there are
iome 1000 or 5000 peach trees, are
If the opinion that so per cent of the
ruit is killed.
The Swan Creek Orchard Company
lear Millsboro, where there are H.
100 trees, also say that 80 per cent
# the fruit is killed. The same re-
Iort comes to Georgetown from the
Nassau orchards, at Nassau.
Senator Oliver Newton at Bridge
lille, reports the fruit buds frozen,
nd that the loss will be nearly to-
al.
Former Governor Townsend of Sell
yville, and Senator C. W. Mitchell
eport that the loss in their section
ill probably be not less than three
)urths.
There has been no thorough exam
lation made in that section, accord
lg to word coming from Georgetown,
ut fruit growers are very pessiTs'i".
nd believe that the crop will be al
lost a total loss. The County Farm
ureau agent is now engaged in MAX
lg a survey of conditions following
le freeze and is expected to make
sport right away. !