WEST MICHIGAN FRUITGROWERS' SOCIETY. 365 



This was followed by a talk on the fruits of South America by E. C. 

 White. The speaker had spent several years in that country, which enabled 

 him to t;ive the fruit throwers of Michigan a good idea of the fruits of that 

 country, mode of cultivation, and the climate. These points were explained 

 in a manner that interested and instructed his hearers. 



At the afternoon session the following paper, by the editor of the 

 Delaware Farm and Home, was read. 



PKUITGKOWING IN' DELAWARE. 



The discussion of this subject naturally includes the eastern shore of Maryland, as 

 the Delaware and Chesapeake peninsula has certain characteristics which prevail in all 

 its parts, and peculiarities which are hardly to be found elsewhere. 



This region is especially adapted to the production, in large abundance, of most of 

 the fruits that grow in the temperate zone. Since the middle of the last century it has 

 produced peaches, there having been at that early date large orchards of native fruits 

 in some sections of it, and " peach brandy *' was one of its famous products. There were 

 also large apple orchards of noted vigor, and productive of great quantities of fine fruit. 



In about the year 1831 or '.32, the tirst orchards of budded peach trees were set, and 

 from this date to 185.5 all the region around Delaware City, in Newcastle county, 

 Wcis noted far and wide for its large and luscious peaches, it being one vast peach 

 orchard during the decade between 1840 and 1850. About the latter date yellows, not 

 unknown before, became exceedingly disastrous, and peach-culture was not general in 

 that locality after that time: but so abundant were the crops some years that the 

 Philadelphia market was completely glutted, so that boat loads of the best yellow fruit 

 were dumped into the Delaware river. 



In 1848 or '50 the railroad was extended down through Delaware, and the peach 

 business, which hitherto had been confined to the margin of the bogs and water 

 ■courses, began to be more general, and from 1860 or 1865 to the present time peach- 

 growing for market has been the leading industry in a belt running across the 

 peninsula, extending from the Delaware and Chesapeake canal to the southern boundarr 

 ■of Kent county in Delaware, and includmg along its southern line. Queen Anne and 

 Caroline counties in Maryland. Counties still further south have had more or lees 

 orchards, and at this time farmers are setting new ones largely, so that now there are 

 growing on the peninsula over five millions of peach trees, nearly all of which are in a 

 healthy condition. 



But the " center "' of production has been moving southward. In 1875, when five 

 million baskets of fruit were shipped from here, and perhaps two million more rotted 

 in the orchards, the center was at Middletown, from which station alone one and a 

 quarter million baskets were shipped in that year. In 1880 the center was about 

 Clayton and Smyrna, near the southern boundary of Newcastle county (but located in 

 upper Kent). Since 1885 it has been at Wyoming, Kent county, and so across the 

 peninsula to Chestertown or Still Pond, Md. the crop is somewhat uncertain, owing 

 to frosts or cold rains at blooming time, or severe freezing in the early spring; or to 

 excessive rains in June and July, causing the fruit to rot on the trees. The yield the 

 past season was perhaps a million and a half baskets, though the late spring promised 

 eight millions. The trees were full of bloom but a severe storm destroyed much of the 

 pollen at blooming time, and an unprecedently jvet season caused large quantities to 

 rot and fall off every day until the shipping season was well on. 



Aside from the vicissitudes of the seasons, the great enemy to peach-culture here has 

 been peach yellows. It destroyed the fine orchards about Delaware City, the average 

 life of the trees first planted being not over twelve years, and later only two or three 

 ■crops could be obtained; until finally, in 1850 or 1855, orchards hardly came to bearing 

 before they blighted and died in a single season without producing a single healthj 

 peach. The disease has never been so destructive about Middletown, and yet for the 

 last ten years there liave been comparatively few orchards and these not very 

 productive. 



So far south as Clayton large orchards are being rooted out at this present time, and 

 in Kent county. Md., the practice has become general to dig out all trees as soon as 

 affected. Last winter the Delaware legislature enacted a law, based on that of Mich- 

 igan on the subject, making it illegal for anyone to keep trees diseased with yellows; 

 but made the law applicable to only about half of the state — the lower or southern 

 half. But it has had a good effect, and most of the diseased trees in all of Kent county 

 and st)me of Newcastle are being destroyed. Most growers are hopeful that this will 

 .■stop the malady, as it seems to be disappearing from Kent county, Md. 



