
          108

the trees are exempt from disease, and from such insects as render
peach growing so precarious in other sections equally favored
by climate.

"The orchardist is generally satisfifed with a yield of
three or four baskets of marketable fruit from each tree; but
here the average is from saved to eight baskets from mature trees
and many orchards give even more.

* * *

"The orchards increase in size as we proceed southward,
Here [between Middletown and Townsend apparently] they are composed
of from ten thousand to one hundred thousand trees each.

"By a slight detour [north] we strike the Delaware and Chesapeake
Canal, the northern outlet for the products of the Eastern shore
counties of Maryland, as well as for the farms along its course
through Delaware.  The plantations along the canal, and those extending
several tiers back, are devoted to peaches.  There is a 
landing on every farm, besides the public landings, where the roads 
cross the canal.  The boats that carry the fruit are drawn
by four horses or mules, and have capacities for form five to seven
thousand baskets.

***
"About 25,000 baskets are daily carried by the canal boats in
the flush of the season. ["]

"All along the tow-path, in our drive of half a dozen miles,
we noticed that the landings are covered with peaches and the attendant
teams, with the parties waiting to put the fruit on board. ["]

        