Timberville’s peach yield will double any previous crop

George H. Crist places yield for this year at 170,800 bushels

“Mayflower,” an early variety, goes to market

Failure of southern crop indicates a profitable price this season

The largest peach crop in Timberville’s fruit history — 170,800 bushels of approximately 450 carloads — will be harvested this year, according to estimates compiled by George H. Crist, veteran fruit grower of that section of Rockingham.

The first shipment of Timberville peaches are now on their way to market. They are the “Mayflower” variety and are grown by W. E. Propst. They were sold for $2.25 per bushel. Mr. Propst has 200 bushels of this early variety, and the failure of the Southern crop enables him to get a good price for them this year.

Big crop this year

“The peach crop this season will be Timberville’s largest, in fact twice the size of any crop the Timberville area has ever put on the market,” said Mr. Crist. “Not only will there be lots of peaches, but the quality will be splendid and the size will be huge. The peach growers are expecting good prices this year on account of the failure of the Southern peach crop.

The rush of picking, packing and shippng peaches from Timberville will start about July 20 this year. The Carmens, the early variety, will then be ready to harvest. There are about ten carloads of this variety. On about August 5th the Hila Belles and the Georgia Belles will be ready for picking and shipping, and when this crop is exhausted the Elbertas, the best of all, will be ready for the harvester. Timberville is looking forward to the biggest peach season of its history, and it is not improbable that it will lead the state in production this year.

Shipping a problem

Shipping the big peach crop to market is now developing into a problem. The Southern Railway has been handling the bulk of the crop, and this year it is expected that the Southern will be compelled to augment its express shipments with a truck service. At the height of the season this year it is expected that at least shipments will go forward at the rate of from 20 to 25 carloads a day.

Mr. Crist’s Estimates

Mr. Crist’s estimates for this year’s peach yield are as follows:

• H. F. and T. B. Byrd, 27,000 bushels.
• H. S. Zigler, 20,000 bushels.
• H. J. Garber, 20,000 bushels.
• F. H. Driver, 16,000 bushels.
• Bowers & Garber, 13,000 bushels.
• George H. C. Crist & Son, 11,000 bushels.
• R. L. Miller, 8,000 bushels.
• S. F. Hoover, 7,000 bushels.
• J. H. Andes, 5,000 bushels.
• O. B. Kelley, 5,000 bushels.
• W. E. Propst, 4,000 bushels.
• J. A. and E. E. Jones, 3,500 bushels.
• Wm. Jones & Son, 3,000 bushels.
• C. A. Sourwine, 2,000 bushels.
• J. W. Calhoun, 3,500 bushels.
• J. T. Will & Son,Joseph Thomas Will (1867-1944), and Clarence Raymond "Jack" Will (1902-1970). 2,000 bushels.
• T. J. Hefner, 2,000 bushels.
• J. D. Moore, 2,000 bushels.
• Geo. D. Sager, 1,300 bushels.
• O. B. Wine, 1,200 bushels.
• Elmer Kipps, 2,000 bushels.
• G. M. Getz, 800 bushels.
• W. H. Will,William H. Hill (1861-1943). 800 bushels.
• S. P. Jones & Son, 800 bushels.
• William C. Wean, 1,000 bushels.
• P. A. Miller, 250 bushels.
• George W. Campbell, 400 bushels.
• R. G. Biller, 350 bushels.
• O. W. Summers, 1,500 bushels.
• J. W. Rinker, 500 bushels.
• Mrs. B. F. Coffman, 1,300 bushels.
• W. T. Fahrney, 1,200 bushels.
• Nair & Bowman, 1,200 bushels.
• J. C. Will & Bros.,James Carson Will (1875-1955), Garnett Lee Will (1865-1942), and Evan Jones Will (1869-1961). 500 bushels.
• H. Z. Holler, 600 bushels.
• W. S. Ritchie, 1,200 bushels.
• J. M. Vetter, 200 bushels.
• B. F. Golladay, 600 bushels.

Total, 170,800 bushels.