peaches: production estimates, etc. 



19 



there was a decided decrease in the number of bearing trees in Dela- 

 ware during the decades included in the tabulation, though from 

 1890 to 1900 the decrease in Sussex County was comparatively small. 

 This decline in the extent of the industry is probably traceable prin- 

 cipally to three causes — ^the destruction of the trees by yellows and 

 by the San Jose scale and the competition of the fruit with that pro- 

 duced in other regions. During the years when peach growing in 

 Delaware was at its height there was comparatively little competition 

 in the industry, since extensive planting of peaches had not yet oc- 

 curred in many sections. 



The areas about Camden and Wyoming in Kent County, about 

 B ridge ville in Sussex County, and about Milford in both these coun- 

 ties are among the more important centers of production at present, 

 but in a general way peaches are grown more or less throughout 

 these two counties in localities within easy hauling distance to ship- 

 ping stations. 



Varieties. — Comparatively few varieties make up the bulk of the 

 crop. These are principally the Carman, Belle, Eeeves, Elberta, 

 and Frances, with the Elberta largely predominating. 



MABYLAND. 



Distribution. — For a century and more, peach growing in Mary- 

 land has been a prominent, agricultural enterprise. This applies 

 particularly to certain Eastern Shore counties and to Anne Arundel 

 County, on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay. During the late 

 eighties and the nineties large interests were developing in Washing- 

 ton County in the western part of the State. Probably the zenith 

 of peach growing on the Eastern Shore was reached about 1875 to 

 1885, coincident with its largest extension in Delaware. Subse- 

 quent changes have been not unlike those that have occurred in Dela- 

 ware. These changes are suggested by the census figures presented in 

 Table III. 



Table III. — Peach trees of hearing age in certain counties in Maryland. 



Census of — 



Counties. 



Caroline. 



Queen 

 Anne. 



Washing- 

 ton. 



1890 

 1900 

 1910 



670,828 

 628, 284 

 175,339 



1,758,005 

 484,249 

 190, 594 



1,287,496 

 565, 640 

 119, 304 



124,105 



828, 352 

 260, 595 



The figures in Table III are self-explanatory. The decline of 

 peach growing shown was due to a combination of factors. The 

 most potent influences were probably the prevalence of yellows and 



