PEACH 



PEACH 



2493 



The Census reports also indicate the general trend 

 of the industry in no uncertain way. In 1890, five 

 states led prominently in the total number of bearing 

 trees, as follows: Maryland, 6,113,287; Kansas, 4,876,- 

 3il; Delaware, 4,521,623; Texas, 4,486,901; and New 

 Jersey. 4.413,568. The greatest peach district in the 



2784. Peen-to peach. Prunus platycarpa. ( X W) 





country at that time was comprised by the states of 

 Maryland, Delaware, and Xew Jersey, with a total 

 of more than 15,000,000 trees. 



The three leading states in 1900 were, Michigan with 

 8,104,415 trees, Georgia with 7,668,639 trees, and 

 California with 7,472,393 trees. The states of Mary- 

 land, Delaware, and New Jersey, which geographically 

 comprise one district, reported a total of a little more 

 than 9,000,000 trees, the San Jose scale and other factors 

 having reduced the total about 6,000,000 trees. Yet as 

 a peach district, this still held its place as having the 

 greatest total number of trees. 



The Census of 1910, however, shows that this num- 

 ber was greatly reduced during the period from 1899 

 to 1909, having less than 

 4,000.000 bearing trees. 

 This great reduction and 

 loss was due largely to the 

 introduction of the scale. 

 Michigan reports a loss dur- 

 ing this period of more than 

 5,000.000 trees, and Ohio 

 more than 3,000,000. The 

 following states made gains 

 during this period: Xew 

 Hampshire, Vermont, Illi- 

 nois, Idaho, Missouri, Nebraska, South Carolina, 

 Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, 

 Texas. Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Washington, and 

 California. Summarized to a few words, the Census 

 indicates that while the Middle Atlantic and Great 

 Lakes districts were suffering severe destruction of 

 trees, the southern and western districts were develop- 

 ing. These facts lead one to wonder as to how much of a 

 part the San Jose scale played in the development of 

 these latter districts, and whether such development 

 could have maintained itself in some cases without the 

 good markets and high prices occasioned by the wide- 

 spread destruction of trees in the East. 



The Census of 1910 is of particular value in showing 

 the recent trend of the industry, because the number 

 of trees in bearing and those not in bearing were tabu- 

 lated separately. 



The western states, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and 

 Washington are increasing their plantings. The young 

 trees not in bearing in Massachusetts, Michigan, and 

 New Jersey were greatly in excess of those producing 

 fruit in 1909. West Virginia has also been planting 

 peaches extensively in recent years. 



The extensive planting of peaches in the eastern 

 and Middle Atlantic states, following the earlier de- 

 struction by yellows, was only just beginning in 1909, 

 when the last Census was taken. Since that time, mil- 

 lions of trees have been planted and have come into 

 bearing. As a result, the marketing factor became 

 the most important peach problem in 1915. Southern 

 districts can no longer expect the prices of former 

 years in the great eastern markets, the Middle West 

 is growing quantities of peaches and so also are the 

 states along the Great Lakes. The problem at the 



beginning of 1916 is where and how can the crops from 

 these trees be marketed profitably. 



In any broad discussion of the peach regions of 

 North America, the Ontario district of Canada should 

 not be overlooked. Situated south of the western end 

 of Lake Ontario, climatic conditions are so modified 

 that such yellow-fleshed varieties of peaches as St. 

 John, Fitzgerald, Elberta, and Niagara can be grown 

 successfully in large quantities. 



The northern limits of peach-production extend 

 from the southeastern shore of Lake Ontario along the 

 southern shore of Lake Erie and the eastern shore of 

 Lake Michigan as far north as the Grand Traverse on 

 the 44th parallel. This area is often termed the "Great 

 Lakes Belt." Beginning in southwestern and central 

 Massachusetts, another commercial peach area extends 

 across Connecticut, Long Island, the Hudson River 

 Valley, New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, 

 and Maryland. The Coastal Plain areas in New Jersey, 

 Delaware, and along the eastern shore of Maryland are 

 favorable to peach-production, and the fruit 'is grown 

 to within a few miles of the seaboard. Farther south, 

 the Coastal Plains area is unfavorable to successful 

 commercial production and the industry is transferred 

 to the Piedmont area across Virginia, North Carolina, 

 and southward to the Gulf districts in Alabama and 

 Texas. Florida has too warm a climate to suit the 

 common standard varieties of peach and has developed 

 a special type from the South China race. 



The central or Mississippi Valley district extends 

 from Texas across Okla- 

 homa and Arkansas, Mis- 

 souri and Kansas to Iowa, 

 Illinois and Indiana, practi- 

 cally connecting with the 

 Great Lakes area. The 

 Pacific Coast Belt includes 



fr California, and areas in 



Nevada, Utah, Colorado, 

 Oregon, and Washington. 



2785. Honey peach. ( x }t) There are many areas in 



these so - called " peach- 

 belts" that are not favorable to peach-production, but 

 they indicate the general grouping of the industry. 



Varieties and types. 



AU of the common forms of the peach belong to the 

 species Prunus Persica, but are sometimes grouped 

 under the name Amygdalus Persica. The flat or Peen- 

 to peach is P. platycarpa. The United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, through its Bureau of Foreign 

 Plant and Seed Introduction, has secured a form of 

 peach from China known as A . Davidiana which is used 

 there as a stock for certain cherries. It is said to be very 

 hardy and may prove of value in breeding work, or as a 

 stock for the peach. Its fruit is not attractive enough 

 for use as it is now developed. Several other forms 





' ..* 



2786. Cabler peach. (XH) 



