Smyrna times., 1930-03-05
CHECK-UP ON PEACH CROP
SHOWS BUDS ARE DAMAGED
NOT so BAD IN KENT COUNTY
AS IN SUSSEX, REPORT SAYS
Elberta and Other Yellow Varieties
Show the Most Damage-Around
BridgevilIe Loss is Very Heavy

Last week published report in
the Times revealed fears that the
peach crop had been badly hurt
and that there would be few
peaches, especially in Sussex Coun-
ty, this year. DR.. ]. F. Adams,
plant pathologist for the State
Board of Agriculture and the Uni
versity Of Delaware, has recently
inspected many peach orchards
throughout the State and reports
that there is considerable damage
III some sections, due to freezing.
1t is apparent that many peach
buds were injured during the cold
weather in the last week of No
vember and that additional dam
age was caused by the low temper
atures on February Is and 10.
During the latter cold spell, temp
eratures ranged from zero to six
degrees above zero in this State.
According to reports, the ther-
mometer reached zero in the
iAoSCfAAC oCSIAOn dllQ lIOIll III
spections made, it appears that
the damage to peach buds is heav-
ier in that part of the State. Many
orchards show that from 90 per
cent to 90 per cent of the buds are
killed, particularly in the low
areas. In lower Sussex County, 1T
appears that approximately so per
cent of buds have been killed.
Injury in Kent Not 50 Severe
The injury in Kent County is
not as severe as in Sussex County
and from inspections made, it ap-
pears that from 25 per cent to 40
per cent of the buds of white va
rieties and from 40 per cent to so
per cent of the buds of yellow va
rieties have been killed and appar-
emily the damage is greater to
yellow fruit than to white fruit
throughout the State. On account
of the heavy crop of peaches last
year, it was expected that the crop
would be lighter this year; however
due to injury from freezing, it is
apparent now that the crop will be
considerably short of normal. It
is, of course, too early to make an
estimate as to what the crop this
year will be because there may be
further injury caused by low temp
eratures during this month or the
early part of April, and such low
temperatures would effect the re-
naming living buds.
Damage Reported in Other Places
Out in the west where temper
atures have ranged II to 81 de-
grees below zero, reports come to
Delaware State Boaro of Agricul-
ture that the peach crop will be a
failure, but down in the Carolinas
and Georgia, there does not come
such direful statements. While
some damage of course has been
done, the prevailing opinion there
are plenty of peaches left and the
present cold wave is rather ben
eft in that it is holding buds back
and protecting them against any
possible freezing weather to come.
Director Derickson Predicts Crops
Asked if the cold weather now
prevailing had done additional
damage to peaches, w. 7. Derrick
son, director of Delaware Bureau
of Markets, said that it was too
early to tell. DR.. Adams will visit
the section again on Thursday and
make a further inspection of or
chards. Mr.. Derickson added that
while the peach crop had been
damaged, those growers who have
orchards which viii bear peaches,
expect a paying crop. Prices are
expected to be much better than
last year owing to the smaller