Scharf, Thomas J., History of Delaware, 1609-1888. Volume One- pp. 433-444. CHAPTER XXI. AGRICULTURE IN DELAWARE. AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES OF NEW CASTLE COUNTY.— The first Agricultural Society in New Castle county of which there is any record was organized in 1304, with Henry Latimer, president, and William Young, secretary. The other directors were Dr. James Tilton, William Hemphill, Peter Bauduy, Jacob Broom, Joseph Tatnall and Dr. George Monro. Great improvements in farming were made about this time; gypsum or plaster of paris was coming into use as a fertilizer, and was shipped to Wilmington from the coast of Maine. Clover and timothy took the place of the native grasses, and wheat was cultivated in place of rye and barley. The land about the town which had been unproductive was converted into fields of grain, and the hillsides were covered with sheep and cattle. The raising of sheep in particular, under the stimulus given by the proprietors of the woolen mills, was an important industry as early as 1810. It is not known what part this society took in the general reform movement, the records not being now obtainable. The second New Castle County Agricultural Society, was incorporated January 31, 1818, by an act of the Legislature. John Way, Victor Du Pont, Thomas Lea, Andrew Gray, Frederick H. Holtzbecker, Levi Boulden, John Crow, John Merritt, George Clarke, David Stewart and Abraham Staats were authorized to obtain subscriptions; the members to hold an election on the first Monday in May following for president, three vice-presidents, three secretaries, one recording secretary, a treasurer and twelve directors. They were authorized to hold land and erect buildings. This is the first society that was chartered, but in the course of a few years it died out. It had, however, accomplished some benefit for scientific and systematic agriculture while it existed, and accordingly when the project of establishing another association of the same nature was mooted, it found ready acceptance with the principal farmers and land owners. Consequently the third and present Agricultural Society of New Castle county was organized, at a meeting held in Wilmington, May 7, 1836. Philip Reybold, of Red Lion Hundred, was made president; Edward Tatnall, of Brandywine; James O. Bird, of Christiana, and Jacob Faris, of Pencader, vice-presidents, and John Andrew, secretary. Dr. J.W. Thomson explained the object of the contemplated association, the agricultural improvement of which New Castle county was capable by scientific development and the growing importance of silk culture. Dr. J.W. Thomson, Philip Reybold, Alex. S. Read, Jacob Caulk, Samuel Wollaston, John C. Clark, John Andrews, Samuel Canby, David W. Gemmill and Philip Reybold, Jr., were appointed a committee of organization and immediately reported a constitution and by-laws, which were adopted. The following were the first officers chosen: President, Philip Reybold; Vice-Presidents, Edward Tatnall, of Brandywine; Samuel Wollaston, of Wilmington; Jas. J. Brindley, of Christiana; Justa Justis and Andrew Gray, of Mill-Creek; Thomas Stockton, of New Castle; Jacob Faris, of Pencader; W.J. Hurlock, of Red Lion; Richard C. Mansfield, of St. George’s; Wm. Rothwell, of Appoquinimink; Directors, Wm. Gibbons, M.D., Merrit Cauby, John Richardson, Wm. Chandler, George Platt, John Higgins, John Clark, Thomas Robinson, Wm. Herdman, Henry Du Pont, Henry S. Cazier, Daniel Corbit, Samuel Hilles, Alex. S. Read, James McCulloch, Samuel Canby, John C. Clark; S. Naudain, Corresponding Secretary, Jas. W. Thomson, M.D., Treasurer, Jas. Canby, Recording Secretary, Henry Gibbons, Counselor; Jas. A. Bayard, W.P. Brobson, J.A. Bayard, Wm. R. Sellars, R.H. Bayard, Wm. Chandler and James Webb were appointed a committee to obtain a charter, and on June 13th, 1836, the act incorporating the society was passed by the Legislature. This society was organized by active and aggressive men who took measures to gain information and disseminate it throughout the county. From the minutes of May 21st, 1836, something of the spirit which actuated the promoters of it may be gathered. On motion of Anthony Higgins, a committee was appointed to petition the Legislature to order a geological survey of the State. On motion of Dr. Thomson, the chairmen of the Agricultural, Horticultural and Silk Committees were authorized to appoint an agent, if they deemed it expedient, to visit different parts of the county to procure members of the society. They offered premiums and held a fair October 19, 1836, in the city of Wilmington, and at the same time the society held a meeting at the City Hall. The subject of silk culture received considerable attention, and Dr. Wm. Gibbons made an address on the subject. A committee was appointed to memorialize the Legislature to grant a premium on cocoons. According to a published report, preserved by Manlove Hayes, Wm. Darlington, M.D., delivered an address before the eighth annual meeting of the society and institute, held at Wilmington, September 13 and 14, 1843; and on October 9, 1843, the following officers were, elected: President, Dr. James W. Thomson; Vice Presidents, Capt. Geo. Maxwell, Wm. Rothwell, Edward T. Bellak, Charles I. Du Pont, Eli Wilson, John R. Latimer, James Canby, C.P. Holcomb, Jesse Gregg, Courtland J. Fell; Corresponding Secretary, C.P. Holcomb; Recording Secretary, James Webb; Treasurer, Edward Tatnall; Counselor, Wm. G. Whitely; Directors, John C. Clark, Henry Du Pont, Samuel Canby, William Robinson, Joseph Lloyd, John S. Caldwell, M.B. Ocheltree, James S. Brindley, John W. Andrews, Philip Reybold, Bryan Jackson. William Tatnall, Joseph Carr, William S. Boulden, Richard Mansfield, John Richardson, Henry Latimer, John Higgins; Directors of the Horticultural Department, John R. Latimer, William Canby, Ziba Ferris. The society divided the exhibits into three departments— Agricultural, Horticultural and the Mechanics’ Institute. One of the features of the fair of 1843 was seventy-five yokes of oxen formed in line on French Street. The horticultural exhibit was good and the floral department especially fine, the ladies having taken a great interest. The fair was concluded by a dinner, presided over by C.P. Holcomb. The society at that time was in a prosperous condition, as is evident from the printed report of a speech by Dr. Thomson, who said in substance: "This, gentlemen, is the anniversary of our society, and I am pleased to see instead of there being anything like an abatment of interest, there is really this day a much larger number in its support, than on any former occasion. It is fair to suppose that this is the result of a conviction that the fair is doing good. My own opinion is, that it has been the means of adding directly and in its consequences, more than half a million dollars to the wealth of the county." He stated further that the husbandry, the stock, the buildings and appearance of farms had improved and that the price of land had advanced. When Dr. Thomson retired from the presidency of the society in 1845, after having served for eight years, he was tendered a vote of thanks for his devoted exertions in its behalf. That same year Jas. Canby was elected president and was succeeded in 1846 by John C. Clark, who held the office until 1856 excepting one year, when John Jones was president. Bryan Jackson held the office in 1856 and 1857; Geo. G. Lobdell in 1858; Samuel Canby from 1859 to 1864. The recording secretaries were Bryan Jackson, from 1846 to 1856; George Jackson, 1857–60; Robert McCabe, 1862–64; treasures, James Canby, 1847–48, Samuel Canby, 1849–56, succeeded by Dr. J.A. Brown, J.H. Adams, Geo. D. Armstrong and Edwin Bringhurst in the order named. In 1863 the offices of secretary and treasurer were combined under Robert McCabe. The corresponding secretaries were C.P. Holcomb until 1853, when Geo. Pepper Norris held the office until he resigned in 1858, and was succeeded by E. Bringhurst, A.H. Grimshaw and Dr. Henry F. Askew. In 1855 a committee was appointed to correspond with the farmers of Kent and Sussex Counties with a view to forming a State society. The committee consisted of J.W. Thomson, Edward Tatnall, Jas. Canby, P. Reybold, C.P. Holcomb, N. Wolfe and John Jones. The society rented some seven acres of the Cleland estate, situated on the corner of Vestry Lane and the old Kings Road, for seven years, from March 25, 1855, for $125 per year. The board of directors sub-let these grounds to Charles Murphy for $150 per year, reserving their use for ten days each year. G.P. Norris reported a new constitution which after some alterations was adopted, and a committee was appointed to apply to the Legislature to recharter the society, as the original charter of 1836 was only for twenty years. In 1856 Bryan Jackson was elected president and J.C. Clark, T.J. Adams, Giles Lambson, Jr., B. Reybold, M. Ocheltree, John Jones, D.W. Gemmel, John Wales, C.J. Du Pont, A.M. Higgins, Samuel Canby, vice presidents; G.P. Norris, recording secretary; Geo. R. Townsend, treasurer; Chas. W. Howland, counselor; directors, J.A. Brown, J.S. Elliott, J.H. Adams, Richard Jackson, Henry L. Tatnall, Zadock Townsend, J.W. Andrews, W.T. Clark, E.T. Bellak, W.C. Barton, G.B. Tybout. On motion of G.R. Townsend, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted: "WHEREAS, grain is the great staple of our farmers, and in selling the principle article of his production the farmer is interested to have accuracy, certainty and regular commercial usages, observed; and as the practice of averaging the quantity by weighing a bag or two in a load is uncommercial, irregular and without the consent of both parties illegal. . . "Resolved, that the society recommend selling by weight as ascertained by the scales or the patent beam." The Brandywine Mills it was said weighed all the grain, and they knew of no other State in the Union where a bag or two was weighed and the rest estimated. At a meeting held April 14, 1833, Dr. Thomson announced the death of C.P. Holcomb, who was for a number of years corresponding secretary. The society passed resolutions in honor of his memory and a copy was forwarded to the United States Agricultural Society, of which he was vice-president. At a special meeting in 1859, the minutes state that the hearts of the few who always attend the society’s meetings were made glad by seeing a large number of members present. They then decided to hold the fair three instead of two days as heretofore. The president reported that a quarter mile race track could be built for three hundred dollars, and Messrs. Griffin, Springer, Allmond and Lobdell were appointed to raise the amount. It was also decided to offer fifty dollars for the fastest horse, mare or gelding; twenty-five dollars for the second and ten dollars for the third providing they could raise money to build the race course. This inauguration of horse trotting met with considerable opposition and the premiums offered were considered very liberal. April 14, 1860, the committee on procuring grounds reported in favor of the Brobson property on Kennet Pike, which could be had for seventeen thousand dollars, and at the next meeting it was decided to make the purchase. About this time the by-laws were changed, and a silver pitcher was presented to Bryan Jackson for the interest which he had always manifested in the society. In 1865, Samuel Canby resigned the presidency and several directors also retired. Zadock R. Townsend was appointed president, and the vacancies in the board of directors were filed. It was resolved to purchase that portion of the original agricultural farm included between Woodland Avenue and Green Hill Avenue, on the line of Seventh Street, and the northern boundary of the exhibition ground. About 1869 the financial affairs of the company became embarrassed, and in 1870, at a meeting at which Messrs. Townsend, Rogers, Hurst, Thacher and Stidham were present, it was ordered that the secretary address a circular to each stockholder stating that the directors were not able to obtain the minimum price of thirty thousand dollars that had been fixed on the property and asking for their direct vote authorizing its sale at the discretion of those having the matter in charge. In 1871 George R. Lobdell was elected president, and Dr. A.H. Grimshaw secretary and treasurer. The committee finally sold the grounds to the Wilmington Rifle Club for twenty-five thousand dollars. The last meeting of the society that is reported in the minutes took place January 11, 1872, after which it expired. In 1848, the horticultural division of the New Castle County Society became a separate society with Samuel Hilles president and William Canby secretary. This organization held meetings in the City Hall, Odd Fellows Hall and finally in the Wilmington Institute Building until about 1865. Great interest was taken in this society for a time. Its last officers were William Canby president, Edward Tatnall, secretary and S.D. Smith treasurer. The proceeds of the last five or six exhibitions amounting to some two hundred dollars annually were given to the Home for friendless and destitute children. Anthony M. Higgins has kindly supplied his recollections of agricultural reform in new Castle County, beginning after the completion of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal in 1828. "The canal," he says, "ran through the middle of a district embracing the Hundreds of New Castle, Red Lion and St. George’s, unexcelled for its natural good qualities for all kinds of grain and grapes. Up to the period above mentioned it may truly be said that seven-tenths of the arable land, with the exception of the meadow farms bordering the Delaware River, was so reduced by improvident cultivation as to scarcely average twenty bushels of corn or ten bushels of wheat per acre. The canal was contracted for up to what was called the Deep Cut, and constructed by five energetic farmers, owning their own farms along its borders, viz., Philip Reybold, John C. Clark, William J. Hurlock, James T. Bird, Henry Cazier. After its completion these gentlemen directed their energies not only to the improvement of their home farms, but had the sagacity to buy up any farms that came into the market, thus laying the foundation of large fortunes. Until this time the valuable qualities of lime for the improvement of the soil were little known. An enterprising and scientific gentleman, Doctor James N. Sutton, of St. George’s, in a series of articles in a Wilmington newspaper, called the attention of farmers to its great value for this purpose. In the meantime he located a lime-kiln on the south side of the canal at St. George’s, the limestone being transported by vessels from the Schuylkill, and for several years sold the lime at twenty-five cents per bushel. About this time there was an interesting illustration of the efficacy of lime as an instrument in the successful growth of crops. There was, however, much skepticism among the farmers as to its value. The lock at St. George’s was being dug out, and ran through what was then called black dirt, which was in reality a bed of shell marl, containing from eighteen to twenty-five per cent. of the carbonate of lime. William J. Hurlock, one of the contractors whose land bordered on the canal, ordered his teams to return home at night loaded with black dirt, which he dumped in a thirty-acre field along the canal. With this dressing, together with a dressing of stable manure, the field was ploughed up and put in corn,— carefully tilled by one of the best practical farmers of those times. During the summer a passenger line of barges drawn by horses, called the "People’s Line" in opposition to the New Castle and Frenchtown Railroad, ran through the canal. As a people’s man, President Jackson chose this route on his northern tour. His attention was directed to the size of the corn, as he passed by the field, of Hon. Louis McLane, of Delaware, then his Secretary of the Treasury, who was standing by his side. After looking at it for some time, the President exclaimed: "By the eternal, it is equal to anything I have seen in Tennessee." The product was carefully measured and showed a yield of ninety-two bushels per acre. "From this date agricultural reformation spread rapidly, aided greatly by one of the first successful agricultural societies ever organized in the United States, the New Castle County Society, already spoken of. This association grew to large proportions and attracted vistors from adjacent counties and surrounding States to listen to addresses from distinguished men, such as ex-Senator Jonathan Roberts, of Pennsylvania; John S. Skinner, founder and the able editor of the Baltimore American Farmer, which is continued into these later times by Samuel Sands and his son. There was then no necessity to attract the people by horse trotting, for compensation ploughing matches were quite as entertaining and much more useful. The general display of stock at that period has never been equaled since. "Prominent among the exhibitors of stock may be named the Du Pont herd of Durhams, the celebrated Cotswold sheep, imported by Major Reybold, and subsequently the Devon herd of pure Devons introduced by the late lamented Chauncy P. Holcomb. The agricultural interest sustained a great loss at his death, in view of the intelligent energy he displayed in everything calculated to promote its interest. "In 1833 I commenced farming and immediately subscribed for a live agricultural paper— for a few years it was the Albany Cultivator but subsequently found the American Farmer, of Baltimore, best suited of all leading journals to our soil and climate and for more than forty years this was a most welcome and instructive monthly visitor. In 1852 I requested some of my neighbors to furnish the figures in detail of the last year’s produce of their farms for publication in the Farmer. The request was promptly complied with and the statements as given were published in the Farmer. Bryan Jackson’s Property; Two Hundred and Twenty Acres; Assessed Value, $18,810. 28 acres wheat, yielding 32 bush. per acre, at $1.45 per bush $1299 20 41 acres corn, yielding 50 bush. per acre, at 65c. per bush 1332 50 20 acres barley, yielding 35 bush. per acre, at 75c. per bush 525 00 20 acres oats, yielding 50 bush. per acre, at 42c. per bush 420 00 40 acres timothy and clover hay, yielding 2 tons per acre, one-half sold at $18 per ton 750 00 Butter 300 00 Cotswold sheep 571 00 Fat cattle 500 00 Potatoes on 3 acres 330 00 $6027 70 Labor of four men, board included $800 00 George Z. Tybout’s Property; Two Hundred Acres Arable, Eighty-eight Meadow. 30 acres (corn-ground) wheat, yielding 15 bush. per acre, and 27 acres, yielding 31 bush. per acre, at $1.45 per bush $1866 00 33 acres oats, yielding 40 bush. per acre, at 40c. per bush 528 00 31 acres corn, yielding 55 bush. per acre, at 65c. per bush 1108 00 Potatoes 10 00 Calves 18 00 15 tons timothy hay, sold at $15 per ton 225 00 Net profit on fat cattle for the season 1650 00 Labor of five men, board included 1000 00 John C. Clark’s Property,— "Prospect Fair," — embracing Eight Hundred Acres, of which Two Hundred Acres are Meadow. Assessed Value, $53,040. 100 acres peaches, yielding 71 bask. per acre, at 50c. per bask. $3,500 00 60 acres wheat, yielding 32 bush. per acre, and 40 acres (corn-ground), yielding 16 bush. per acre, at $1.45 per bush 3,722 00 100 acres corn, yielding 40 bush. per acre, at 65c. per bush 2,600 00 30 acres oats, yielding 50 bush. per acre, at 40c. per bush 600 00 100 tons timothy and clover hay, at $15 per ton 1,500 00 100 bush. clover seed, at $5 per bush 500 00 25 bush. timothy seed, at $4 per bush 100 00 Butter from 70 cows 1,600 00 Calves 250 00 Net profit on 50 head of fat cattle 1,250 00 " " " dry cows 400 00 500 wethers and ewes 1,000 00 1500 pounds of wool, at 40c. per pound 600 00 Net on dairy hogs 250 00 Pumpkins 100 00 4 acres pears 350 00 Gooseberries 25 00 5 acres potatoes 400 00 $18,747 00 Labor of ten men, including board 2,000 00 $16,747 00 The Mansion Farm, "Marsh Mont," Philip Reybold; Three Hundred and Three Acres Arable Land and One Hundred and Thirty-nine Acres of Embanked Meadow. Assessed Value, $31,655. 67 Cotswold sheep, bucks and ewes, for breeders, sold for $2,950 00 5 fat muttons, sold for $35 each 175 00 Wool 500 00 Calves 110 00 Butter from 55 cows 1,650 00 Net on dairy hogs 140 00 8328 baskets peaches, at 54c., clear of freight 4,497 00 500 bushels white wheat, at $1.60, and 1054 bushels red wheat, at $1.45 2,328 30 1400 bushels corn, at 65c 910 00 1000 bushels oats, at 40c 400 00 50 tons timothy hay, at $15 per ton 750 00 $14,410 30 Seven hands, including board 1,400 00 $13,010 00 KENT COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY was first organized in 1835. At the third annual meeting held at Dover, in 1838, a committee of two members from each hundred was appointed to receive the names of those desirous of becoming members. The following committees were then appointed: Duck Creek, Robert W. Reynolds, Robert Palmatary; Little Creek, Elias Naudain and Chas. Harper; Dover, John M. Clayton, William T. Milburne; Murderkill, Samuel Hawley, Joel Clement; Milford, Peter F. Causey, Justus Lowery; Mispillion, David Taylor, Robert Sordon. A committee to arrange for the next exhibition was appointed, consisting of M.W. Bates, G.W. Cummins, Jacob Raymond, Justus Lowery and T.L Temple. S.M. Harrington, T.L. Temple and H. Todd were appointed to provide accommodations for stock. The third annual exhibition was held at Dover October 4, 1838, Cornelius P. Comegys, president. The following were among the premiums awarded. To John and Ebenezer Cloak for best stallion over three years old; Thos. Wallace, best colt; Thos. L. Temple, best brood mare; Jonathan Jenkins, best heifer; Thos. L. Temple, best calf; Henry Cowgill, best ram; David Onins and Jacob Kerbin exhibited two large yoke of oxen. Geo. W. Cummins grew 39 acres of wheat, averaging 25 bushels to the acre. Mrs. Ann Hayes was given a premium for best specimen of sewing silk of her own manufacture. Mrs. Chas. Kimmey, Sr., exhibited a beautiful specimen of white silk in large hanks, her own raising from the silkworm. There were a few other small premiums awarded, but the whole proceedings show that the society was in an imperfect condition, though supported by the most influential men in the county. The officers for 1839 were: President, C.P. Comegys; Vice-Presidents, Benjamin Coombe, John Cowgill, David Onins, Samuel Thawley, William Masten and Peter F. Causey; Corresponding Secretary, Henry M. Ridgely; Recording Secretary, Jos.P. Comegys; Treasurer, Caleb H. Sipple. This society continued for a number of years, and was eventually discontinued, only to be revived through the medium of the State Agricultural Society. STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.— The first State Society was organized pursuant to a call published in the newspapers, which induced a large number of farmers to assemble at Dover on January 17, 1849. The convention was organized by appointing John Clark president; Giles Lambson, Jacob M. Hill and Chas. Wright, vice-presidents; and Manlove Hayes, Jr., secretary. A State Agricultural Society was organized, a constitution and by-laws were adopted, and the following officers elected. President, Peter F. Causey; Vice-Presidents, John D. Dilworth, Dr. H. Ridgely, T.P. McColley; Treasurer, Dr. William Burton; Corresponding Secretaries, A.M. Higgins, W. Du Hamel, P.N. Rust; Recording Secretary, Manlove Hayes, Jr.; Managers, Daniel Corbit, David W. Gemmill, J.P. Bellville, Jacob M. Hill, John Frazer, James G. Waples, Jonathan R. Torbert, Lemuel Draper, Chas. Wright. The following roll of members contains the names of many of the most prominent agriculturists then resident in the State: William Tharp, John C. Clark, Giles Lamson, J.M. Hill, Charles Wright, T.P. McColley, D.W. Gemmill, M. Du Hamel, Thomas Bird, Chauncey P. Holcomb, Peter F. Causey, William Cowgill, William Burton, M.D., Samuel R. Paynter, John Jones, J.K. Mitchell, M.D., H.B. Fiddeman, Samuel Draper, Anthony Higgins, William J. Hurlock, Issac Jump, M.D., Henry Ridgely, M.D., James G. Waples, William H. Ross, N.D. Wilds, W.V. Coulter, William R. Cahoon, James V. Moore, George W. Karsner, John Whitby, Charles Marim, Samuel Higgins, John Appleton, Bryan Jackson, Eugene Ridgely, Edward W. Wilson, George Z. Tybout, Thomas Wilson, John Frazier, Charles Wharton, William D. Clark, Walker Mifflin, Francis B. Harper, Alexander Johnson, Benjamin Gibbs, George Davis, William Thompson, Saxe Gotha Laws, Michael Lowber, Daniel Corbit, Isaac Dolby, John D. Dilworth, Caleb H. Sipple, George W. Cummings, T.L. Davis, James Postles, Henry Cowgill, Daniel Cummings, Caleb S. Layton, James S. Buckmaster, George R. Fisher, John Martin, M.D., S.M. Harrington, G.W. Green, J.P. Bellville, Levi G. Clark, Peter R. Rust, George Maxwell, Abraham Postles, Jonathan R. Torbert, M. Hayes, Jr., Henry Todd, John R. Sudler, M.D., Jacob Raymond. This first State organization did not hold any fairs, but it promoted discussion on agricultural subjects, and out of it grew the revived Kent County Agricultural Society, in 1854, which, in 1856, had these officers: President, Thomas B. Coursey; Vice-Presidents, Alexander Johnson, Jonathan Brown; Recording Secretary, George W.S. Nicholson; Corresponding Secretary, Manlove Hayes; Board of Managers, T.B. Lockwood, Jacob Williams, William Du Hamel, James Woodall, Jacob H. Hill, James G. Waples, Henry Cowgill, McElroy McIlvain, Charles Warren, Alexander Johnson, William S. Haman, Clement L. Sharp; Treasurer, Dr. Henry Ridgely. In 1857, Dr. G. Emerson delivered before the society an instructive address, descriptive of the soil of Delaware, and the fertilizers needed. In 1859, Dr. Henry Ridgely delivered the annual address, and in 1860 Manlove Hayes was the orator. In 1872, Dr. G. Emerson delivered an address on drainage before the Farmers’ Club of Kent County. These addresses have been bound and preserved by Manlove Hayes. The present State organization grew out of the latest organized Kent County Agricultural Society, which was formed in January, 1878. The charter members were Thomas H. Denney, John Moore, J. Frank Denney, Edmond Bailey, Daniel P. Barnard, Jr., Joseph McDaniel, John D. Burton, William P. Seward, Richard Harrington and John B. Wharton. Thomas H. Denney was the first president, and William H. Wallace was the first secretary. In 1879 the charter was changed, and it became "The State Agricultural Society of Delaware," into which all the county associations were virtually, though not formally, merged. When the society was reorganized, Thomas H. Denney was re-elected president, a position which he held until just before he died, in 1884. Then J. Frank Denney was chosen president, and still holds the office. Richard Harrington was elected secretary in 1879; Daniel P. Barnard, Jr., was elected in 1880 and has been continued ever since. The State Board is selected by the stockholders and consists of twenty-seven members, the president and secretary being ex-officio members. This board meets and selects from its number nine members, who are called the board of managers, who, with the president and secretary, have full control of the fair. The company consists of one hundred and eighty-seven stockholders at present, having $8450 worth of stock. They own thirty-five acres of land adjoining the town of Dover, which, together with the improvements thereon, is estimated to be worth $19,498.78. The improvements consist of two grand stands and exhibition buildings, capable of holding two thousand two hundred, and five hundred and seventy-five persons respectively. These structures are well built and permanent. The premium list is steadily growing and the interest taken by the people is commendable, the ladies being especially distinguished in this respect. The premiums are widely distributed, requiring three hundred and nineteen checks to pay those of 1857, which aggregated $2000 in the agricultural department alone, and nearly $3000 in the speed department. The society belongs to the National Trotting Association and charges ten per cent. entrance fee for trotting horses, which helps make up premiums. The trains stop at the grounds. The officers and directors, who are also members of the State Board, were as follows for 1887: President, J. Frank Denney; Secretary, D.P. Barnard, Jr.; Treasurer, J.D. Burton; Corresponding Secretary, Manlove Hayes; Directors, Albert Curry, Geo. G. Lobdell, Ebe Tunnell, John B. Wharton, Alex. Johnson, Robert Denney, Geo. M. Fisher, Manlove Hayes, Wm. R. Allaband, Wm. G. Postles, Wm. P. Seward, Harbeson Hickman, A.S. Small, Wilson L. Cannon, Jabez Jenkins, Wilbur H. Burnite, S.D. Roe, Geo. W. Collins, H.A. Richardson, Thos. W. Wilson, Edmond Bailey, E.L. Martin, Joseph McDaniel, John Heitshu, J.D. Burton, J. Colby Smith, E.H. Bancroft. THE PENINSULA AGRICULTURAL AND POMOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION was organized in Middletown, in 1874. Chas. Beaston was the first president; William R. Cochran, vice-president; J. Thomas Budd, secretary; Edward Reynolds, treasurer; and L.P. McDowell, Edward Lockwood and R.A. Cochran, Jr., were directors. The association rented grounds, erected buildings and fences and made a half-mile track, at an expense of some six thousand dollars. The first fair was held in September, 1874, under favorable auspices. The people were addressed by Hon. Thomas F. Bayard and Charles Beaston, the president of the society; the attendance was large and so continued for a number of years. In 1877 William R. Cochran became president and continued to hold that office until 1883. James B. Clarkson succeeded Mr. Budd as secretary and was successively followed by James B. Nandain and W. Scott Way. In 1883 the buildings were sold and the proceeds were distributed among the share-holders of the association. The following statistics gathered from the census reports will show the extent and value of the agricultural products of the State of Delaware since 1850: 1850. 1860. Number of acres of improved land 637,065 Number of acres of unimproved land 367,236 Value $31,426,357 Value of farming implements $817,833 Number of bushels of wheat 482,511 912,941 Number of bushels of corn 3,892,337 Number of bushels of rye 8,066 27,209 Number of bushels of oats 604,518 1,046,910 Number of bushels of barley 56 3,646 Number of bushels of buckwheat 8,615 16,355 Number of bushels of peas and beans 4,120 7,438 Number of bushels of potatoes 240,542 377,931 Number of bushels of sweet potatoes 142,213 Number of pounds of butter 1,655,308 1,430,502 Number of pounds of cheese 3,187 6,578 Number of pounds of wool 57,768 50,201 Number of pounds of flax 11,174 8,112 Number of pounds of flax-seed 2,126 Number of pounds of hops 414 Number of pounds of tobacco 9,699 Number of gallons of sorghum 1,163 In 1860 the number of horses was 16,562; asses, 2294; working oxen, 9530; milch cows, 22,595; other cattle, 25,596; sheep, 18,857; swine, 47,848. Total value of live stock $3,144,706. In 1870 the number of acres of land in farms was 698,115; woodland, 295,162; other unimproved land, 59,045; having a cash value as follows: Farms, $46,-712,870; farming implements, $1,201,644; amount of wages paid during the year, including board, $1,696,-571; estimated value of all farm productions, including betterments and additions to stock, $8,171,667; value of orchard products, $1,226,893; value of market garden products, $198,075. The amount of improved land has been increasing slowly every decade. The amount of improved land in 1860 was 637,065 acres; in 1870, 698,115; in 1880, 746,958. The amount of unimproved land reported in 1860 was 367,230 acres; in 1870, 354,207 acres; in 1880, 343,287. The census of 1880 showed that the value of the farms at that time was $36,789,672; of farming implements, $1,504,567; live stock, $3,420,080. The estimated value of farm products sold, consumed and on hand for 1879 was $6,320,345. The number of horses in 1880 was 21,933; mules and asses, 3931; working oxen, 5818; milch cows, 27,284; other cattle, 20,450; sheep, 21,967; swine, 48,186. Number of pounds of wool, 97,946. Number of gallons of milk sold and sent to butter and cheese factories, 1,132,434; number of pounds of butter, 1,876,275; cheese, 71,812. The amount in bushels in 1879 of barley was 528; buckwheat, 5857; Indian corn, 3,894,264; oats, 378,-508; rye, 5953; wheat, 1,175,272; flax-seed, 29,757 pounds, sorghum, 17,012 gallons; hay, 49,632 tons; clover-seed, 396 bushels. Number of barn-yard fowls, 268,692; other kinds of poultry, 96,207; number of dozens of eggs, 1,427,-087; honey, 76,234 pounds; beeswax, 2151 pounds; tobacco, 1278 pounds; potatoes, 283,864 bushels; sweet potatoes, 195,937 bushels. Value of the orchard products of all kinds, sold and consumed, $846,692. Value of market garden produets, $166,-575. Amount of wood cut, 103,890 cords; value, $274,885. IMPROVEMENT OF MARSHES.— As the peninsula of which Delaware forms a part consists of flat land lying low between the two great bays which embrace it on either side, the land in the vicinity of the coast and near the outlet of the principal streams is in many places low marsh, and what is here called "cripple." These marsh lands are unfit for cultivation until they are drained, or in some cases not until embankments are built along the river-sides to prevent the overflowing freshets and tides. The early Swedish and Dutch settlers, the latter in particular, came from a country that had been wrested from the ocean in part. Taking their departure from the dykes of Amsterdam, it was in keeping with the habits of generations of their ancestors that they should begin the same kind of work here, even if a continent of uncultivated lands lay within view and could be had for the occupancy. Hence it appears that the people began to build dykes and drain the marshes by sluices soon after settlement. The first narrative obtained is of the dyke at New Castle, an account of which will be found in the history of that town, and in 1712 an act was passed for keeping it in repair. The lands along the banks were in possession of John Donaldson, Robert French and Richard Halliwell. An act was passed in 1727 which permitted the draining of the marsh on the southwest side of the town, known as Cow Marsh, and a little later one for keeping in repair the dyke and sluices belonging to the marshes at Swanwyck, which lay to the north of and adjoining New Castle. Dams, sluices and banks were built along the streams and the bay for many years as private property, and no legal action was taken that is of record until from 1779, when private acts were granted. A list is here given with dates and localities: February 1, 1779.— Supplement to act, entitled an act to enable owners of meadow, marsh and cripple on the south side of Christiana Creek, called Fearn Brook Marsh, and of the marsh above on the same side, called Bozman’s Marsh in New Castle County, to keep banks, dams and sluices in repair. April 15, 1780.— An act to drain the marsh, cripple and low land on Morris’s branch in Appoquinimink Hundred, New Castle County. June 18, 1781.— Supplement to act of March 24, 1770, to keep banks, dams and sluices in repair on a marsh on both sides of Mill Creek below the town of New Castle. June 8, 1787.— Act to enable owners of marsh situated on Little St. George’s Creek in St. George’s Hundred, to build dams, etc., and keep them in repair. February 5, 1785.— Act to permit owners of marsh on Cedar Creek, Red Lion Hundred, to erect a new bank in part and keep the old bank, dams, etc., in repair. February 2, 1788.— Act for sloping St. George’s Creek and embanking and draining about three thousand acres of land lying in Red Lion and St. George’s Hundred, and keeping banks, etc., in repair. January 27, 1790.— Act to drain the meadows on both sides of Silver Run, fronting the Delaware, St. George’s Hundred. February 2, 1793.— Act for improvement of marsh, commonly called Mill Creek Marshes, situated on St. Jones River in Kent County. June 17, 1793.— Act to enable the owners of Cow Marsh, in the forest of Murderkill Hundred, to cut a ditch through the same. January, 1794.— To enable owners to cut a ditch through Marshy Hope Marsh, in Mispillion Hundred. January 18, 1800.— Act to enable owners of Culbreth’s Marsh, in the forest of Murderkill Hundred, Kent County, to cut a ditch through the same. January 18, 1800.— To cut a ditch through Tappahannah on Tappahannah Creek, in now West Dover Hundred, Kent County. January ( )3, 1800.— Supplement to an act to enable owners of Nonsuch and Mill Creek Marshes, adjoining Lewden’s Island, in New Castle Hundred, to embank and drain the same and keep outside banks in good repair. 1801.— To cut ditch in the swamps and low lands in the head-waters of Chester River, in the forest of Duck Creek Hundred (now Kenton). January 27, 1801.— To cut a ditch through Fishing Creek Marsh, now Milford Hundred. January 27, 1802.— To cut a ditch through "Wild Cat Swamp," in Murderkill Hundred. January 18, 1803.— Act authorizing John Bowers to cut a ditch across the public road running across Mulberry Point or Bower’s Beach, in Murderkill Hundred, and to build bridge over it. January 20, 1804.— To cut a ditch through a marsh on Meredith’s Branch, in the forest of Murderkill Hundred. January 26 1804.— To drain and bank Swan Creek Marsh and cripple in Mispillion Hundred (now Milford). January 11, 1805.— To incorporate owners of Brandywine Marsh into a company, for the purpose of draining the same. January 24, 1805.— To incorporate into a company the owners of Pothooke Marsh, Sussex County. January 25, 1805.— To enable owners of marsh on Hudson’s Branch, in the forest of Murderkill Hundred, to cut a ditch through the marsh. January 31, 1806.— To drain marshes on Ingram’s Branch in the Forest of Mispillion Hundred. January 23, 1808.— To incorporate the "Dragon Canal Company" for the purpose of draining the marshes on Dragon Run, in Red Lion Hundred. January, 1808.— To enable the owners of the marsh known at "Dick’s Savanna," at the head of Indian Run in Dagsborough Hundred, Sussex County, to drain the same. January 25, 1810.— To enable the owner of the branch and low ground extending from the bridge in North Street, in Dover, near the Methodist Church, through the westerly and southerly parts of the town land of Dover to St. Jones Creek to cut and support a ditch through branch and low grounds. 1810.— To enable owners of Meadow Marsh and cripple on both sides of the northwest branch of Duck Creek, below Eagle’s Nest Landing, to embark and drain the same. January 21, 1811.— To drain the marshes at the head-waters of Black-water Mill Pond, in Baltimore Hundred, Sussex County. January 21, 1811.— Act to drain the swamps in the upper part of Cedar Creek Hundred, Sussex County. January 29, 1811.— To drain the low ground adjoining Yellow Branch, in Dagsborough Hundred, Sussex County. February 3, 1811.— To drain the marshes on Heron Gut, in Little Creek Hundred, Kent County. Same date.— To enable the embanking or wharfing the waters of a certain ditch leading from Little Bay, in Baltimore Hundred, to the headwaters of Synnepuxent Bay. February 12, 1812.— To enable the owners of the second cove of marsh to the northward of the wild marsh on the north side of Appoquinimink Creek, St. George’s Hundred to erect, maintain, and keep in repair all banks, dams, sluices, etc. PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.— Mr. Hamilton, then a resident of California, organized the first grange of the Patrons of Husbandry in Delaware, in West Brandywine Hundred in 1874. A number of granges were established that year and a State Grange also formed with John J. Rosa, a farmer in Milford, the first Master. He held the office eight years, when he was succeeded by Henry Thompson, who held the position four years, and was succeeded by A.N. Brown, of Wyoming, the present incumbent. The full list of officers for 1886–88 is A.N. Brown, Master; John Heyd, Overseer; John C. Higgins, Lecturer; A.K. Cole, Steward; William Peach, Assistant Steward; J.W. Day, Chaplain; T.H. Riggin, Treasurer; Geo. A. Jones, Secretary; H.D. Learned, Gate-Keeper; Alice R. Brown, Ceres; Anna Heyd, Pomona; Phebe J. Riggin, Flora; Hannah Day, Stewardess. The following subordinate granges were in active operation in the State at last report, Union, No. 1, 27 members; Hockessin, No. 4, 30 members; Newark, No. 5, 71 members; Milford, No. 6, 16 members; Sunnyside, No. 7, 27 members; Excelsior, No. 8, 13 members; Port Penn, No. 9, 51 members; Centre, No. 11, 27 members; Harmony, No. 12, 33 members; West Brandywine, No. 13, 90 members; Fruitland, No. 16, 119 members; Capital, No. 18, 33 members; Harrington, No. 19, 35 members; Smyrna, No. 21, 32 members; Trophy, No. 22, 86 members; Little Creek, No. 23, 13 members; Laurel, No. 24, 13 members; Midland, No. 27, 21 members; Rehoboth, No. 28, 22 members; Evergreen, No. 29, 26 members; Fairmount, No. 31, 13 members; Oak Grove, No. 32, 13 members; Friendship, No. 33, 30 members; Washington, No. 34, 18 members; Champion, No. 35, 26 members; Cereal, No. 36, 20 members, making a total membership of 911 persons. The Patrons of Husbandry are an order composed of tillers of the soil, whose object is to promote the moral, intellectual and material interests of its members. To this end considerable attention is given to the public-school system of the Commonwealth and means of increasing popular education are discussed. The order appoints committees on legislation and does not hesitate to advocate Constitutional reform, a change in the tax laws, and temperance principles. On this point, in his report, Henry Thompson says: "No organization takes more interest in the education and care of young; no organization takes more pride in our rural homes, in which we were reared, and from which come our greatest and most honored men. Then why not place our order in line with our other work, and with other organizations, with which we have a deep sympathy, and stand boldly for God, Home and Native Land?" The grange by concerted action seeks to have freight rates on perishable fruits lessened and made uniform. They advocate the establishing of Farmers’ Institutes in every county wherein matters pertaining to farming shall be intelligently discussed. They advocate the improvement of the drainage system of the State; also a system of reading and study similar to the Chautauqua system for farmers. Co-operation is an essential principle of the order, and by dispensing with middle-men, members of the order have obtained farming and household supplies at reduced rates. In a word, the spirit of the order is progressive, tending to promote good-fellowship, thrift and industry among the farmers of the State. 1. New Castle County District Grange: D.J. Murphy, master, and Sister S.D. Hill, secretary. 2. Kent County District Grange: W.H. Burnite, master, and Wesley Webb, secretary. 3. Sussex County District Grange: Thos. J. Perry, master, and S. Harrington Messick, secretary. Delaware State Grange, organized in Wilmington, Del., March 2, 1875, by W. Master J.M. Hamilton, of California, and the following officers elected: 1. John J. Rosa, W.M.; 2. George Jackson, O.; 3. Thos. F. Dilworth, L.; 4. Henry Thompson, S.; 5. James M. Shakespeare, A.S.; 6. John W. Day, chaplain; 7. James M. Bracken, treasurer; 8. Wm. C. Weir, secretary; 9. Wm. Dean, G.K.; 10. Sister E.M. Dilworth, Ceres; 11. Sister ----- Jackson, Pomona; 12. Sister ----- Day, Flora; and 13. Sister ----- McCullough, L.A. Steward. PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY OR STATE GRANGE. No. of Granges. Names of the Subordinate Granges in Delaware. Time of Organization. No. of Charter Membezrs. Where Located. 1 Union Grange Feb. 16, 1874 30 Mill Creek, New Castle Co. 2 Diamond State Feb 27, 1874 23 Newport, New Castle Co. 3 Peach Blossom March 7, 1874 27 Middletown, N. Castle Co. 4 Hockessin March 18, 1874 29 Brackenville, N. Castle Co. 5 Newark March 30, 1874 26 Newark, New Castle Co. 6 Milford April 6, 1874 30 Milford, Kent Co. 7 Sunnyside April 7, 1874 19 Bridgeville, Sussex Co. 8 Excelsior April 20, 1874 27 Frederica, Kent Co. 9 Port Penn April 21, 1874 28 Port Penn, New Castle Co. 10 Rural June 4, 1874 30 Leipsic, Kent Co. 11 Centre June 13, 1874 27 Christiana, N. Castle Co. 12 Harmony June 22, 1874 29 Mill Creek, New Castle Co. 13 W. Brandywine Aug. 5, 1874 30 E. Brandywine, N.C. Co. 14 Cent. Brandywine Aug. 31, 1874 19 E. Brandywine, N.C. Co. 15 Bellevue Oct. 10, 1874 15 E. Brandywine, N.C. Co. 16 Fruitland Nov. 6, 1874 25 Wyoming, Kent Co. 17 Wilmington Jan. 23, 1875 30 Wilmington, N. Castle Co. 18 Capital Feb. 17, 1875 15 Dover, Kent Co. 19 Harrington March 27, 1875 25 Harrington, Kent Co. 20 Farmington May 29, 1875 36 Farmington, Kent Co. 21 Smyrna June 19, 1875 24 Smyrna, Kent Co. 22 Felton July 31, 1875 29 Felton, Kent Co. 23 Little Creek Oct. 22, 1875 34 Lit. Cr. Hd., Sussex Co. 24 Laurel Dec. 13, 1875 32 Laurel, Sussex Co. 25 Seaford Feb. 26, 1876 26 Seaford, Sussex Co. 26 Bayside Feb. 16, 1878 19 Milford Hd., Kent Co. 27 Midland Jan. 26, 1882 13 Dagsboro’ Hd., Sussex Co. 28 Rehoboth 1882 15 Rehoboth, Sussex Co. 29 Evergreen 1882 17 Broadkiln Hd., Sussex Co. 30 Riverside 1882 16 Broadkiln Hd., Sussex Co. 31 Fairmount February, 1883 15 Ind. Riv. Hd., Sussex Co. 32 Oak Grove Feb. 2, 1883 14 Frankford, Sussex Co. 33 Friendship Feb. 9, 1883 13 Selbyville, Sussex Co. 34 Washington Feb. 22, 1883 13 Ocean View, Sussex Co. 35 Champion March 9, 1883 16 Magnolia, Kent Co. 36 Cereal March 12, 1886 14 Down’s Chapel, Kent Co. PEACHES IN DELAWARE.*— It is probable that the earliest settlers in Delaware planted both apple and peach trees. William Penn found such trees here on his first visit. On July 18, 1676, John Richardson had surveyed to him 2000 acres of land in what is now Little Creek Hundred, Kent County, and on the 18th of August following, he made an agreement with Thomas Crampton to live on the place, care for it and the stock upon it, and to set out and care for three hundred apple trees for three years, which Richardson was to bring to the plantation. Just when orchards were first set out in Lower Delaware does not appear, but it was probably early in the last century. Peaches were planted in New England about 1629, and Beverly says that peaches, nectarines and apricots were growing abundantly in Virginia in 1720, there being trees at that time twelve to thirteen inches in circumference. Peaches were taken to Louisiana by the Spaniards previous to its settlement by the French, and we are told that the peach orchards were killed by frost in New York in 1737. In 1735 George Roberts obtained peach-stones from Peter Collinson, of England, and planted the seeds on "Peach Blossom" plantation, at Easton, Talbot County, Md. During the last century both apple and peach orchards became numerous in the lower part of Kent County and in portions of Sussex County. In 1795 orchards designated as "large peach orchards" were assessed to the following persons in Nanticoke Hundred: Arthur Fowler, Clement Laws, Matthew Merine, John Sharp, Joseph Tindall, John Laws, Elisha Evans and Richard Hotson. Hotson’s place was eight miles from Milford. In the same year it is recorded that John Sharp had an apple orchard of three hundred trees, Peter Jackson one of one hundred trees, and William Jones, Elisha Evans and Gove Fisher are mentioned as apple growers. These apples were largely used for making brandy, many of the growers having distilleries. Early in this century there were orchards of 1000 to 1500 trees in the neighborhood of Bridgeville. At this time, William Shockley planted an orchard of 500 trees near where the Episcopal Church now stands in Cedar Creek, and which was later owned by his son-in-law, John C. Davis. Levi Johnson had an orchard of similar size near Griffith’s Mills, in Kent County, near Mispillion Creek. These orchards were in bearing about 1830, and were widely known because of their extent. In 1820, Thomas C. Atkins set out an orchard of several hundred trees near where Rodney Station now is, four miles from Georgetown, and in a few years increased them to 1200 trees. This orchard bore abundant crops every other year for many years, and was in good condition in 1840. The fruit was used for making peach brandy. The farm is now owned by Daniel J. Layton. Captain John S. Atkins, who now has an orchard of 4000 trees near Georgetown, is a son of this Thomas C. Atkins. It was early in the present century that boatmen found their way up the creeks to carry peaches from Murderkill and Mispillion Hundreds, and St. Jones’ Neck, and probably from other points to New York and Philadelphia, where they sold at remunerative prices. John Potter, of Milford, turned two boats which he owned to this trade during the peach season, for several years, between 1830 and 1835. He lived near the mouth of the creek, where his good wife would watch for the appearance up the bay of these boats returning from their city trips, when she, with horse and gig, would quickly visit the farmers of the hundred, and tell them to bring on their peaches, for the boats were coming. Lewis Chamberlain was also quite a noted buyer of those times. Mr. H.W. McColley, then a young man, tells how he, on one occasion, with a vessel of his own loaded with cordwood for New York City, "dropped down" to the mouth of the creek, and having stowed the deck-load of wood so as to make a large bin in the centre of the deck, he filled this bin with natural peaches at forty cents per bushel. They were covered during the day with canvas and uncovered at night, throughout the trip. They arrived in New York in good condition, and sold for one dollar per bushel. Up to this time the orchards were all seedlings or "native," and the fruit was used for home supply, for making brandy, for occasional shipment as described, and much was dried in the sun and used in the family or sent to market. So far as can be learned, the first orchards of budded fruit set out in Delaware were planted near Delaware City in 1832 by Isaac Reeves. Mr. Reeves had been for some time engaged in peach-raising in Gloucester Country, New Jersey, where he had in 1828 thirty acres in trees, and his father and brothers were among the early boatmen who carried this fruit from Lower Delaware to Philadelphia. In 1828 Mr. Reeves removed to Philadelphia, and soon after planted seventy or eighty acres in peach trees at Red Bank, New Jersey, and owned in 1830 or ‘31 altogether about one hundred and fifty acres set in orchards. He had in the mean time formed a partnership with Mr. Ridgeway, of Philadelphia, who in 1831 came into possession of some land at Delaware City. He told Mr. Reeves that as it was sandy land, he had better go down and look at it to see if it would produce peaches. Mr. Reeves visited the place and found large native trees of the Morris White, Oldmixon, Cling, and other varieties; so in 1832 he planted, where the Delaware Battery now stands, the first orchard of budded fruit, setting out thirty acres this year, as many more the year, following, and had, in the neighborhood, one hundred acres in 1837. The first peaches were sent to market in 1835. In the latter year Major Reybold planted a small orchard, and in 1836 planted largely, as did also his sons William, Phillip, John, Anthony, and his son-in-law, John C. Clark, so that as early as 1840 they together had about six hundred acres in peach trees. In 1838 Mr. Reeves planted an orchard of one hundred acres on the farm of Ayres & Thompson, between Wilmington and New Castle, and another of one hundred acres on the farm of Dr. Thompson, at Naaman’s Creek (now Claymont), Delaware. From this time orchards spread along the Delaware and Chesapeake Canal, and the whole county began to be filled with peach trees. The prices then ranged about as they do now, in ordinary years, from 30 cents to $1.00 per basket, for about this time the fruit began first to be shipped in baskets of five-eighths of a bushel each. One year, when peaches were very high and scarce, Reeves netted $16,000 from 7000 baskets, and in 1837 or ‘38 netted a like amount from 16,000 baskets. The following year he expected a crop of 25,000 baskets and a profit of at least $20,000, but on the 14th of May a frost killed the entire crop, so that not ten baskets were gathered. The Reybolds shipped as many as 200,000 baskets of fruit in one year, and in 1846 an excessive crop made the price so low that Major Reybold dumped his shipments for one day into the river at Philadelphia. The next day he had a fair market. Soon after the Reybolds went into the business, Jefferson Clark and Wm. D. Clark also planted large orchards near Delaware City, and about 1840 Wm. Polk at Liston’s Tree, Simon Spearman on Duck Creek near Smyrna, Henry M. Todd at Dover, Jonathan Stites at the "Seven Hickories" west of Dover, Jehu M. Reed, two miles north of Frederica, and Dr. Emerson at Willing Brook, near Leipsic, all planted out large orchards. Jehu M. Reed was probably in the business before this date, and as early as 1843 sold budded trees to most of the farmers of Kent and Sussex Counties who put out orchards at that time. Mr. Reed shipped his fruit generally in boats from the creek near which he lived, but in years of scarcity of fruit, and consequent high prices, he sometimes hauled his crop to Short’s Landing, on Duck Creek, a distance of nearly twenty-five miles, loaded in bulk into wagons without springs. Dr. Emerson shipped his in boats of his own; Henry M. Todd and Simon Spearman shipped theirs from Short’s Landing on the steamer "Kent," which began to run in 1840 between that place and Philadelphia. Soon after 1840 Wm. Atherly, Daniel Corbit, Jonathan Fennemore and others set out large orchards along Appoquinnimink Creek from Odessa down to near the river, and so large were their crops that they kept three lines of barges running daily to Philadelphia during the peach season; and as their fruit was of the finest quality and prices very good, they made fortunes in the business. In 1840 George Hickman, father of Harbeson Hickman, now an extensive land-owner, set out a large orchard near Lewes, but it was probably not of budded fruit, as it was not intended for shipment. About the same year Giddiah Beauchamp planted a large orchard near Canterbury, but this was mostly of native trees and the fruit was dried or made into peach brandy. Two or three years later Rev. T.P. McColey and Thomas Davis set out orchards of budded trees near Milford, as did many others along the water-ways; and it was about this time, probably, that Daniel C. Curry set the orchard on "Shawnee" that in war-times became the famous orchard of that section. The orchards planted about Delaware City were comparatively short-lived, and in 1844, Mr. Reeves began to take out those planted first and to replant, and in 1850 the first one hundred acres had all been removed, and the second plantings were all gone in 1858. In 1856, the railroad having been completed well down the State, peach-raising became common all along the line. In this year ex-Governor John P. Cochran set out about ten thousand trees one mile west of Middletown, and Serick P. Shallcross set out fifteen thousand trees three miles northeast of that town. From that time but few trees were set in that vicinity for a year or two, but in 1860 almost every farmer began to plant orchards. William Polk set out six thousand trees in this year, west of Middletown and added to them afterwards. In 1861 E.R. Cochran set out three thousand five hundred trees. Governor Biggs, Mr. Willits and others set out large orchards, and later Henry Clayton, president of the Middletown Bank, became an extensive peach-grower, at one time having nineteen thousand trees. The business grew in that locality till in 1875, the year of the big crop, there were shipped from Middletown during the season an average of thirty-five car-loads daily, five hundred and thirty baskets to the car, making a total of one million five hundred thousand baskets in that year, and from the peninsula the shipments amounted to five million baskets. It was in 1856 that Joseph Griffith, Joseph Ferris and Thomas B. Lockwood planted large orchards west of Smyrna, and two years later Robert H. Cummins began planting, and the business there increased till nearly three-fourths of the land was devoted to peachgrowing, and as many as three hundred thousand baskets of fruit have been shipped from the station at Clayton in one year. Dr. Henry Ridgely, Manlove Hayes, W.L. Cannon and others early planted orchards near Dover. The William Ashcraft orchard, some six miles east of Wyoming, was for years a noted one. Between 1854 and 1860, Jonathan Catlin, planted more than twelve thousand trees, near Canterbury, which he purchased in Rochester, N.Y. They proved very profitable, and some of them planted in 1860 are still in bearing condition. In December, 1856, the railroad was extended to Seaford, and the next year peach orchards were planted there and at Bridgeville. In 1848, Daniel Curry, of Milford, had planted on his farm at Bridgeville an orchard of one thousand trees, and the same year William Polk planted three hundred trees, all of budded fruit, but as it then had to be hauled to the "Brick Granary," in Cedar Creek Hundred, and shipped thence by water to Philadelphia, the enterprise was not profitable and was abandoned. In 1857, William Cannon, afterwards Governor of Delaware, planted at Bridgeville five thousand trees, G.S. Layton three hundred trees, and John Kinder fifty trees; Mr. Kinder saying he had enough, as Mr. Cannon’s large orchard would glut the market; but so far was this from being true that good prices were generally received and the business has steadily advanced. William Cannon planted a nursery of one hundred and fifty thousand trees in 1858, and sold them all in the neighborhood. He afterwards had another large nursery, and several others smaller ones, and most of the trees have been set in that vicinity. In 1873, twenty-four cars were loaded at this station in one day, and the orchards in the vicinity now are capable of yielding four or five times as many, nearly every farm having an orchard— some of them of fifteen thousand to twenty-five thousand trees. At Seaford the large growers were Wm. H. Ross and Elijah, Levin and Samuel Hitch, in the earlier days,— in 1857 and the few years following. In the eastern part of the county, ex-Governor Charles C. Stockley, Judge Wooten and James Anderson began raising peaches just previous to 1860, and drew them to Bridgeville till 1868, when the railroad was put through to Georgetown; and from that time on the orchards have steadily increased in the eastern part of Sussex County. At the present time there is marketed from the Middletown depot the product of about one hundred thousand trees, a part of which are in Cecil County, Md. Among the large growers are Governor Biggs, who has extensive orchards farther down the peninsula in Maryland; S.T. Shallcross, 5000 trees; R.T. Cochran, 7000 trees; Wm. Polk, 9000 trees; E.R. Cochran, 18,000 trees, who also has nurseries, from which he sells annually about 400,000 trees. Near Smyrna, which is the next centre, are Geo. W., D.J. and Alexander G. Cummins, A.L. Hudson, Samuel Roberts, James W. Anthony, Henry S. Anthony and others. Wyoming, which has for some years past been the finest peach-growing district in the State, numbers among her peach men Geo. H. Gildersleve, J.G. Brown, E.H. Bancroft, John Dager, T.P. Hansen, Capt. J.C. Durborough, C. Frear and many others; and in a year of full crops could send to her station about half a million baskets of fruit. Felton has John Heyd, W.H. Burnite, G.W. Killen and others, and from here should naturally be shipped the fruit grown about Frederica, which would take in that of S.W. Darby, J.M. Reed, Thomas James and Rev. Jonathan S. Willis, all of whom have large and fine orchards. Milford is now attracting especial attention as a "peach centre,’" where, by a wagon haul of not over ten miles, can be concentrated the fruit of half a million bearing trees, and at the rate orchards are now being set, this number promises to be doubled within five years. Among the large growers here are John W. and Wm. F. Causey, Robert H. and Mark Davis, Col. Abel Small, John J. Rosa, Henry W. Hynson, W.R. Phillips, Gen. Van Vorst and many others. Milford is also remarkable for the large nurseries in the vicinity, prominent among which is the long established one of A. Cullen and that of W.R. Phillips, as well as many of smaller magnitude. Near it are also located most of the evaporators on the peninsula, over one hundred of them being in use in the vicinity; and more patentees of these machines live in and near the town than in any other place in the United States. The most extensive growers in Sussex County are Albert Curry and Simeon Pennewill, who have large orchards at Greenwood; Miles Messick, H.P. and P.L. Cannon, Geo. T. Traut, D.S. Myer, E.W. Layton and G.S. Layton, at Bridgeville; Jas. J. Ross, Dr. Hugh Martin and Hon. E.L. Martin, at Seaford; and ex-Governor Stockley and Harbeson Hickman, at Georgetown. It is interesting to note in this connection that the "peach centre" has been gradually moving down the peninsula. In 1875 it was at Middletown, in 1880 at Smyrna, in 1885 at Wyoming; in 1890 it will probably move across from Milford to Bridgeville and Seaford. It is generally agreed that the predominant cause of the utter abandonment of the business at Delaware City, and the partial abandonment of it from Middletown to Dover, is the disease known as peach yellows, a fatal malady about which nothing is positively known, and for which no remedy has been discovered. As has been noticed, the opening of the railroad down through the State gave a great impetus to peach-raising; yet there have always been unsatisfactory features connected with the marketing of the crops, and numerous efforts were made and plans adopted to effect improvements. Shippers complained that freight rates were excessive, that fruit trains were often delayed, to the damage and loss of the fruit, and that commission merchants to whom it was consigned were sometimes irresponsible or dishonest. Early in the history of the business Wm. H. Wanzer, the "peach king" of New York City, and ex-Mayor Van Vorst, of Jersey City, bought fruit at Milford, and paid for it on the spot, and shipped it to Jersey City, where it was, after inspection, sold to the dealers who were gathered there from New England and other Northern markets. This enterprise, however, did not prove profitable to its originators, and was soon abandoned. But the idea contained in it took root, and, in the brain of Wm. P. Corsa, of Milford, was perfected a plan which was materialized into the Delaware Fruit Exchange. A charter was granted to this organization in 1883, and it began operations at Wyoming in 1884. In brief, the plan consists in concentrating buyers at one point, where the peaches, previously inspected and graded, are shipped, and sold at auction to the highest bidder by the car-load. So far, however, the bulk of the fruit sold on this plan has been taken mostly in wagons to the station, where the buyers were gathered. This point was Wyoming in 1884, 1885 and 1887, and Still Pond, Md., in 1886. In 1886 several branch exchanges were formed, but were not operated on account of a scarcity of fruit. In 1887 these branches, and several others formed in that season, went into practical operation on the same plan as practiced at Wyoming, which was considered the headquarters, whither reports were sent daily. The results have been very gratifying, the freights lowered, better train service secured, the expenses of handling reduced, the commissions saved, the markets broadened and a better quality of fruit secured to the buyer. It is confidently believed by the leading fruit-growers that this system will become entirely successful, and through it all the fruit grown on the Delaware and Maryland Peninsula will be profitably marketed. The following statement of the amount of fruit carried over the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad is interesting, though it includes a portion of that produced in Maryland as well as that of Delaware: SEASON. CAR LOADS PEACHES. CAR LOADS BERRIES. 1867 2,056 ... 1868 23 20 1869 4,019 182 1870 2,707 282 1871 5,004 313 1872 4,091 565 1873 2,853 688 1874 1,266 714 1875 9,072 905 1876 2,117 882 1877 4,003 638 1878 869 771 1879 4,331 636 1880 3,417 509 1881 78 839 1882 5,182 1,034 1883 3,344 999 1884 3,631 1,144 1885 3,486 1,055 1886 1,833 1,254 63,382 13,430 * By Wesley Webb.