Milford chronicle., 1929-07-26
AGRICULTURISTS VISIT
CAROLINA ORCHARDS

1A ms AOPO1 10 AO5cA 0AAS bAAS
conditions of peaches in North Caro-
lima have been received and in order
that the peach producers in Della
ware might have accurate informa-
ton regarding conditions in that
State, o. A. Newton, president of
the Delaware State Board of Agri-
culture, and w. T. Derickson of the
Bureau of Markets, have just made
survey of peach conditions in the
Sand Hill district of that State.
This is the most important peach
producing section in North Carolina
and the peach growers are in very
serious condition.
Thousands of acres have been
abandoned. One farm of three thous-
and acres was visited. 1t had not
received any attention for three
years and no effort was being made
to pick or pack the fruit this year.
Many growers are still making ev-
cry effort to continue in the peach
business; however, the abandoned
orchards which do not receive any
attention are, of course, a breeding
place for all kinds of diseases and
insects and these pests spread to
the orchards adjoining. Bacteriosis
and curculio have entirely ruined
the crop in some orchards. In one
orchard conditions were so bad that
it was impossible to find perfect
peach on the trees. The bacteriosis
seems much more prevalent on yell
low than on the white fruit. The
Hiley Bellies that they have shipped
have ranged, generally, good and in
the orchards that were properly ta-
ken care of, they have been able to
ship a considerable percentage of
U. S. No. 1 quality, and while the
Georgia Bellies are seriously dam
aged by bacteriosis and worms, yet
it is not believed that the damage
on Georgia Bellies is so great as in
the Elbertas, although the damage
was very great in some orchards.
Conditions in the Aberdeen dis
yrict are very bad and there seems
to He more abandoned orchards
around Aberdeen than there is
around Candor. The growers report
that they have not been able to
make any money for the past three
or four years and in view of this
fact, it has been impossible for
them to continue to take care of
the orchards as they should have
been cared for. In another orchard
that was visited, the manager ex-
pected to grade as much of the Geor-
gia Bellies as possible; however, he
said that he intended to strip the
yellow fruit from the trees entirely
and dump it in pit to be de-
stroyed.
Conditions in the Candor district
were much better; however, bacter-
iosis and curcuIio are serious
problem and very few, if any, new
orchards are being planted 1t is
reported that conditions in some of
the producing sections of Georgia
are as bad as in North Carolina, and
this year particularly it is thought
that there will be little, if any, put
in storage owing to quality and in
view of these conditions it seems
that the Delaware peach growers
should receive fair prices.
Conditions in the North Carolina
district prove that it is impossible to
stay in the peach business unless
the trees are we'll cared for. There
are many good peach growers in
that state and they are producing
good fruit. The good growers are,
of course, picking up their early
drop peaches and also exercising
every precaution to take care of the
insects and diseases while those
who do not follow this policy are
rapidly being forced out of busi-
ness.
At the present time, conditions in
Delaware, in so far as peaches are
concerned, are vastly superior to the
section visited; however, this ad-
vantage can only be maintained by
exercising the greatest care in the
cultivation, spraying, and fertiliZa-
tion of the trees, and the peach
growers should keep in close touch
with DR.. ]. F. Adams, who is plant
pathologist for the State Board of
Agriculture and for the University
of Delaware, and also with DR.. H.
L. Dozier, who is entomologist for
the University of Delaware, in order
that they may take advantage of all
the improved methods for control
ling the many diseases and insects,
for it will be remembered that two
years ago very large percentage
of the peaches produced in this
State were destroyed by worms, and
they can very easily become SER
ious menace again to Delaware
growers.
STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE
w. T. Derickson,
Director Bureau of Markets.