16 THE PEACH 



her next neighbors, Delaware and Maryland, for 

 products which she has the ability to raise in her 

 soil and under almost the same climate, with the 

 advantage of closer proximity to the great marts 

 of consumption. In three or four short years with 

 a proper application of common industry to this 

 branch of fruit growing, the counties of Delaware 

 Chester, Lancaster, Montgomery, Bucks and Berks 7 

 alone would be able to relieve us of our dependence 

 on our neighbors in the supply of these luxuries at 

 least, for which we now pay so dearly. In looking 

 to a renewed energy and a more improved and en- 

 lightened home industry in this direction, the time 

 is not distant when these counties will emerge from 

 their present condition in peach growing, and in- 

 stead of mourning yearly over a few straggling, 

 yellow dying trees about the dwelling, we shall see 

 the thrifty, blooming productive orchard, adding its 

 golden fruit to swell the profits of the farm, and 

 contributing to the luxuries and comforts of home. 

 The Peach now so shamefully neglected is not a new 

 fruit to Pennsylvania, and the tree is no stranger 

 to our productive soil and genial climate. It has 

 been a servant and a good one, responding faithfully 

 to our domestic culture for the last two hundred 

 years wherever cared for, cultivated and protected; 

 and often under our disgraceful neglect its ener- 

 gies and fruitfulness have only yielded to the visi- 

 tation of a fell disease which it was our duty as well 

 as our interest to endeavor to counteract, as we 



