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[Middletown, Delaware]
Cochran Grange, March 29, 1888.

E. F. Smith, Esq.

Dear Sir:- Your favor of the 24th instant
is at hand - contents noted.  I am entirely at a loss
to give you any information in regard to the subject
matter contained therein.  This county contained a
great many [peach] trees in 1870, but to approximate
the number would be very difficult to do.  In 1887
the acreage was very small.  I can only speak for
myself in both years,- in the former I had over
eighty thousand trees, the latter none. Mine
were not all destroyed by yellows, but partly
from old age.  I thought I saw the trouble coming,
and quit planting, and all my orchards
ran out. Last year the disease appeared
among the young trees, from two to four
years, with terrible effect, and I fear this
year will prove fatal to many young orchards.
We have suggested many cures for the
soil, but, with all the fancy ideas held out
I would not permit any one to plant on
my land and raise free of cost and give
me the trees at three years old. Such in my
confidence in peach growing in New
Castle County.

Yours truly
John P. Cochran.
[Ex Gov. of Delaware]
        