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| The Peach Growing Industry of Catawba Island (with 2 pictures) 1913 text from reference (15) in the Bibliography A
seeming misnomer lurks in the appellation “Catawba,” as applied to the
island when its surface was covered with vineyards - the Catawba grape figuring
most prominently and suggesting the name, once appropriate; but having passed
through an evolutionary period, the island is now transformed into a paradise of
peach orchards, such as can be found in no other portion of Ohio. Few, indeed,
are the vineyards found at the present date on Catawba. The few that still
remain show many peach trees planted between the rows. When these come into
bearing, the vines will be dug out. J.
W. Gamble and A. S. Reynolds each planted about 1000 peach trees on Catawba
about thirty-five years ago, this being the first attempt there to raise peaches
for market, and their neighbors called them “crazy.” The experiment worked
so well, however, that hundreds of vineyards were subsequently uprooted to make
room for peach trees. J. W. Gamble had been engaged in orcharding for quite a number of years in Highland County, Ohio, previous to 1861 and left a fine peach orchard just coming into bearing to enlist in the 2nd O. V. I., which was later engaged at the battle of “Bull's Run.” The two men above mentioned were the pioneers of peach culture on Catawba Island. The
greater part of the arable land on Catawba Island is now planted in peach
orchards. Until
the introduction of the Elberta the varieties mostly planted were Smock, and
Salway; though a dozen or more varieties - early and late - were planted in
limited area. Today, the Elberta has the lead, and comprises probably
three-fourths of the trees now in bearing. Probably
the largest orchards on Catawba are owned by Mrs. W. H. Owens, Cal Brown, Geo.
Rofkar, and Frank Lathem. Others - most of the growers in fact - have what may
be termed large orchards. Methods
of cultivation are practically the same as with a crop of corn, the land being
plowed and harrowed in the same manner, spring tooth harrows and cultivators
being used. An
important part of cultivation consists in digging out the “borer,” spring
and fall, or using some means to kill them in the root. Spraying as a preventative of "San Jose" scale, and other parasitic diseases is regarded of great value. As
to marketing, about one-third of the crop is shipped over the Fruit Company's
docks, via Str. "Kirby," and other smaller boats, The other two-thirds
are shipped from the railway stations - Port Clinton and Gypsum. To
the uninitiated, a ramble through the peach orchards of Catawba, in picking
time, is a revelation. By
means of' “graders,” the peaches, when taken from the trees, are speedily
separated into lots according to size. Bushel baskets are used for shipping the
fruit, and most of the peach wagons are three deckers, drawn by double teams.
The lineup of peach wagons at or near the fruit company's docks, is a sight to
behold. Still
more formidable is the procession of Catawba peach wagons as noted on the
streets of Gypsum, or Port Clinton - market centers - on an average busy day.
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