28 THE PEACH 



ing, and was not put on till the following spring. 

 All these orchards came into bearing condition the 

 fourth season, bearing fine crops, except those com- 

 ing in on unfavorable seasons, from late frosts. 

 Sometimes the third season, if favorable, the young 

 trees would make a light show of fine fruit. These 

 orchards continued to produce well from twelve to 

 fifteen years, glutting the West Chester market 

 with the finest quality of fruit, and driving out all 

 foreign supply for years ; returning to rny aston- 

 ished friends, for their advice so kindly given, and 

 as kindly rejected, the most substantial evidence 

 of my entire success, establishing the fact, beyond 

 a doubt, that peaches can be raised in Chester and 

 Delaware counties at least, and on a large scale, 

 and at an immense profit to the producer. These 

 orchards more than paid the original cost of the 

 land, on each bearing year, on a full or even half 

 a crop. One season, of a very heavy crop, I rented 

 out twenty acres I had some two miles from my 

 general orchards, for $850. I had, at that time, 

 some seventy acres in bearing, and the balance 

 marketed, more than paid the original cost of the 

 land upon which they stood. 



