Year: 1870


1t has come to he almost @ matter of course
that with the close approach OF every fruit sea-
son, unfavorable reports are circulated as to the
extent and quality of particular crops, This is
done chiefly in the interests Of spectators. The |
process is, however a very absurd one, and is
cure ultimately to defeat the originators. So
many predictions Of scarcity have been followed |
by overwhelming supplies, that the public ceases
to believe statements put forth without good |
proof. Still it may not he ainiss to contradict
false reports by citing good authority, and thus |
20 prevent the circulation of other ictions. For |
example, report is finding its way through the |
Press that the Delaware peach crop will not be |
more than half the usual average and that grow
ers are refusing to contract to deliver the rail-
roid for less than a dollar basket. Of course
this report may be true so far as the intention to
force artificial prices is concerned, but the facts
as TO the crop the reverse of those stated, if
the Department of Agriculture is to be believed
Its report asserts that full crop of peaches may
he expected in Maryland, Delaware, and that the
peach regions mostly depended on for market
: supplies, will market fully average crop. This
being the prospect, any attempt to produce alarm
must fail The people, after having suffered
from the sweltering heat of summer, look for
ward with some interest to the enjoyment of cool
and luscious fruits, and any combination which
should deprive the poorest among us Of this boon
ought to ec prevented as far as possible.


Abundant supplies of other fruits conf
dently expected. 1t is says the Report g a great
apple year in New England" The amount of
bloom was extraordinary in New York, and the
prunisc of n fine crop is excellent as in all the
Middle States-with some trifing local draw
hacks, which will not affect the general result
There can, therefore, be scarcity such as has
occurred on previous occasions. II will be of no
avail for spectators to repeat their alarm-note
of short supplies and high prices. The season is
one of abundance and prices must be governed
accordingly.


The foregoing article is from the New
York Times, of the 18th inst. New York
city is the great market for the peach
crop of Delaware, and it is natural that q
lively concern should be felt by the inhab
itants of that city as to their supply o.
fruit. But we assure the Times that
there is as little use in the consumers
magnifying the crop, as there is in specu
lators or producers crying it down. Th,
Times will find that there is more trutl
and candor in the report of short crop
this season, than it seems willing to con
cede. The most experienced growers, ant
the most experienced New York dealers
after careful view of the orchards, con
cur in the opinion, that the present GRO,
will not be greater than e-half to two
thirds of that of last year. Let the Time
take a note of this, and compare this esti
mate with the actual quantity sold afte
the season is over, and it will not find
far from the truth AS to the report fror
the Agricultural Department, at Wash
ington, let no one put faith in it; for afte
watching its reports and predictions close
ly, for years, we have found them alto
gether unreliable, both as to fruit an
grain. For instance, on the last of Apri
1867, it put forth report of an abundal
wheat crop. Every farmer knows th
but little can be definitely known at th
time While the prospect was good IL
crop was ruinously blighted, only fc
days before harvest. We cite this il
stance to show that the reports of that
partmeat should cot be received with Il
much confidence, for they often mislea
Its report in reference to the peach cr,
ofDelaware and Maryland, above referr


to, is certainly an error, as the sequ


will prove.