20 BULLETIN 806, U. S. DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE. 



the competition in the markets with fruit produced in other regions 

 where large interests were developed. 



The wide distribution and destructiveness of the San Jose scale 

 during the late nineties and the first part of the following decade 

 also caused a marked decrease in the number of trees. Even at pres- 

 ent the industry is undergoing change, as indicated by the fact that 

 since the census of 1910 commercial peach growing in Caroline 

 County has practically ceased. Meanwhile, the industry has become 

 of increasing importance in some of the more southern counties on 

 the Eastern Shore. Of the counties which were early prominent, 

 Kent and Queen Anne, both of which border Chesapeake Bay, con- 

 tinue to produce considerable quantities of fruit. In addition Talbot, 

 Dorchester, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties, all on the Eastern 

 Shore, contain peach interests of considerable importance. Wash- 

 ington County, in the western part of the State, continues as an im- 

 portant factor, and extensive peach interests have been established 

 also in Allegany County. 



Varieties. — In western Maryland many of the orchards contain a 

 rather long list of varieties planted with a view to supplying the 

 markets continuously throughout the entire peach season. Such 

 orchards commonly are made up of about the following sorts : Greens- 

 boro, Carman, Hiley, Mountain Rose, Champion, Belle, Reeves, 

 Elberta, Fox, Late Crawford, Stevens, Smock, Salwey, and Bilyeu. 

 In the Eastern Shore orchards relatively few peaches that ripen later 

 than the Elberta are grown, though some Late Crawford and Chairs 

 are still produced. The Ray and Hale (J. H.), ripening in the same 

 general season as the Elberta, are found in some orchards. The 

 Carman, Hiley, Champion, and Belle varieties make up the bulk of 

 the fruit that ripens before the Elberta. 



VIRGINIA. 



Distribution. — Peaches are widely grown for home use throughout 

 nearly all parts of Virginia. Commercial orchards also are found 

 at many different places in certain parts of the Piedmont and Val- 

 ley regions. The extent of the commercial interests has varied con- 

 siderably in the past. In recent years the attention of fruit growers 

 in this State has been so largely given to the apple crop that peach 

 growing has become a relatively small factor in the fruit industry. 

 The principal Piedmont counties, from the standpoint of commercial 

 peach enterprises, are Albemarle, Nelson, and Amherst. In the 

 Shenandoah Valley, Frederick and Shenandoah Counties doubtless 

 lead in importance at present, but Rockingham, Augusta,' Alleghany, 

 Botetourt, and Roanoke Counties call for mention in this connection. 



