Milford chronicle., 1924-05-02
BEAUTIFUL SIGHT AT
MILLSBORO APPLE FARM

Apple Farm east from MllSDorO anC
located along the slow waters of the
Indian River, revealed one Of the mos
attractive pictures of rural Delaware
which abound in old Sussex county
The weather was beautiful; cool, but
not cold. Clear and a spring sunshine
that made any healthy human being
happy to be able to be out and wander
through thebeautiful orchard, as il
then appeared to the writer.
Leaving Milford for Georgetown, will
The Delaware Colony near Stockley
as a destination, thecountry from the
Almshouse on to MillsborO wOOed the
auto to roll on into and through the
latter town, where there have beer
many marked improvements In the
past few years. The stores and busi'
ness places which have arose since a
fire swept several away two years OF
more ago, show that the people are
alive to the fact, that better stores
bring better stocks and better Dusl-
ness. The homes are handsome and
costly, which have been erected IN
recent years, so that it was well worth
while to look upon Millsboro alone as
an excuse for the trip.
Following the concrete road through
the town out towards Oak Orchard,
and thence down the splendid new
y highway for two or more miles, where
the farmers seem to be hustling and
encouraged to bring forth crops Of all
kinds Of fruits and produce Of a pro-
ductive sandy soil, the Apple Farm,
owned by Ex-Governor John G.
send, Jr., and two others strikes the
eye and fixes the attention of the
tourist.
When the orchard was started seven
or eight years ago, it was intended to
be a model of its kind; but the COM
pany who owned it at first, failed to
apply the proper attention and care,
necessary to bring the orchard into
successful bearing, so it was sold and
the present owners tOk possession.
We all have dreams Of what our
ideals should develop into under in
terested and practical management,
and Governor Townsend, has al
ways had dreams as to Great
ing beautiful, as well as practi-
cal things, which bring happiness
to others as well as to prove the
practicability Of his theories; such is
shown in the management OF the
Millsboro Apple Farm under the pres
ent ownership.
The tract has four hundred acres Of
land on which are now growing 4O,-
900 apple and peach trees, which ap-
pear to be healthy and vigorous. The
peach trees are loaded with buds
which are now passing from the
blooming stage to that Of the small
peach, and if one in ten Of the peach
es now on the trees and alive, should |
remain to maturity, the trees would |
be ruined; but nature takes care Of |
that part of the fruit business and |
they will thin themselves from various
causes.
Last year the amount of fruit har-
vested, both peaches and apples, net
ted gross sales apprOXimating $4,000,
and when it is taken into account the
nature of the soil, thegrade was of the
finest as to color, flavor and size. The
cost Of fertilizers, trimming, cultiva-
tion, spraying and many other expen-
iitures to produce and maintaing the
crops absorb the greater part of the
receipts. This is especially true, be-
cause that the trees are not yet in full
bearing maturity.
This spring twenty tons of nitrate
was used early before the plowing of
The orchards was completed; another
twenty tons will be applied after the
fruit ha sset and starts to grow. -Four
hundred bushels Of cow peas will be
soWn as a manure crop and for cover
IN these trees; so it has two sides to
The problem to consider, and the man
who manages business problem Of
his character, must be trained for the
work. No novice can accomplish sue
cess without business ability and
raining for the work.
From the farm home occupied by
Mr.. Mitchell and his family, about
which cluster a dozen or more barns,N
tables, chicken houses, spraying
lipments and storage sheds, for the
he tractors, sprayers and other
.Quipment necessary, our auto passed /
or nearly half a mile t through the /
.pple orchard and wended its way
Jack to the Indian River to a bluff, 4
which rises abrupt to a highth of fifty
eet, opening a view of the slow l
Vaters, where soft crabs in sesason, +
ish and wild game abound for the :
aking. At two places are ideal spots T
or summer bungalow homes, which !
7Ould be surrounded by the beautiful Y
richards, that spread out before the f
ye as a panoramam scene. Standing
4 the automobile and looking out
rom these hills over the trees, it GER i
ainly is a dTean-sight to cause T
reamers to take action to bring r
reams to come true. When the trees y
re loaded with red apples in the fall,
is a picture that it is impossible to c
rase from the memory of any person r
tho loves rural scenes, but, when in
ne month of May, while the apple ~
'ees are in full blossom, words fail =
} paint a picture to do justice to its -
eauty.
You who own or have access to use c
f an automobile, keep this trip in n
lind at blossom time in May and a
lsit this orchard. The view alone is ~
orth many times the effort to make =,
le trip. ~
It may not be always a great re- y
i'm in money for the effort to bring -
lch scenes to perfection by the -
rowth Of orchards of this character, a. a.
ut all human beings have hobbies, u
nd this hobby Of Governor John G. eo e.
ownsend's seems to be well worth II
l the effort put forth, in the happi- y u
sss and pleasure resulting from -
eating the beautiful, as well as use =
/ and practical results in agricul- II, u
raj accomplishment. y