There was a time when it was
pretty well understood that as the
older populations of small
agricultural communities passed
away, the towns would decrease in
population and eventually die. But
new life is returning to many of
those villages.
Back in the horse and buggy
days, prosperous small towns were
everywhere. Limited by the speed
of his horse, a farmer was forced to
do his shopping no more than a
day’s round trip from home. And
so, thriving agricultural centers
developed throughout the
agricultural areas.
The agricultural centers usually
provided banking, equipment and
sales and repair, a blacksmith, a
general store, a doctor, some
Small Rear Farm
Farm
Talk
Jerry Webb
governmental service along with
other merchandisers. Merchants
prospered and small towns grew.
Then came modern tran
sportation. The farm truck of the
early 1900’s permitted farmers to
reach farther for needed supplies,
services and markets. The nearby
general store became one of many
where a farmer could shop. He no
longer had to sell his produce for
the best price offered by one buyer.
As agriculture grew and the
farmers’ demands became more
sophisticated, many small town
services were no longer adequate.
Local implement dealers, grain
elevators, and other businesses
were phased out or bought by
larger companies. Those that
survived grew larger to meet the
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demands of modern farming.
The effect on hometowns has
often been devastating. On the
main streets of jnany rural
villages, stores stand empty and
old vacant buildings lie in
disrepair.
Super highways added to the
problems of the small town. In
terstates and limited access roads
are a blessing to motorists, but
they bypass many communities.
Small towns that used to count on
passing highway motorists for
business are now no more than
interchange signs to the hurrying
traffic.
Some towns have died and will
never come back. But some have
managed to hold on and now a new
general move back to the country
is revitalizing them. Fed up with
the problems of urban living, some
people are moving back to small
towns - even at the expense of long
commutes to city jobs.
Communities that were once
trade centers for strong
agricultural areas are becoming
bedroom communities for a
commuting population. The in
terstate that first bypassed small
towns now places them within
urban commuting distance for
thousands of country dwellers.
Not every rural town is within an
hour’s drive of a city. But many
are and they’re feeling the
pressure of the back-to-the-country
movement. In small towns of the
Delmarva peninsula, new con-
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Lancaster Farming, Saturday, September IS, 1984—02 S
struction is going on - old homes
being remodeled and repaired.
There is the busyness of progress.
Some of the stores are still empty
oi occupied by a different kind of ' Farm people may find this back
tenant. A once thriving farm to-the-country movement an
supply store now offers lawn and noying as new neighbors seek to
garden supplies. A country bank buy land and build on the edges of
now houses a boutique and the existing villages or along rural
general store is now a mini- highway. It’s my guess this
market. movement is not a passing fancy.
Tourism is bringing prosperity Farm folks might as well get used
to it.
Peach tree borer requires
annual treatment
FLEMINGTON, N.J. - In spite
of its name, the peach tree borer is
not just a pest of peach trees. It
also attacks cherry, plum, nec
tarine, apricot and some or
namental trees and shrubs in the
same genus. Unfortunately many
people do not learn about the peach
tree borer until it’s too late - for
their tree! The pest is so prevalent
that the Extension Service
recommends annual treatment of
susceptible plants whether or not
signs of borers are present; mid to
late September is the best time.
The borers, larvae of a moth,
hatch in the late summer from
eggs laid at the base of host trees.
They bore into the bark and feed,
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to some otherwise dying com
munities, but most small towns
that are growing are doing so
slowly and in a different way.
on the inner bark of trees 2-3 inches
above the soil line. The presence of
borers is indicated by masses of
gum containing sawdust and red
brown larval droppings.
There are two very effective
ways of dealing with and
preventing peach tree borer in
festations. One involves
fumigation with
paradichlorobenzene crystals
(yes, the same chemical used
against clothing pests.) An
alternate method uses an in
secticide drench of the tree trunk
and surrounding soil. Hand wor
ming, an old and still suggested
control, may be helpful but is
unlikely to be completely effective.
The details of these methods are
available from the Extension
Service; call or stop by for a
leaflet.
Peach tree borers probably
account for the decline and death
of many peach and apricot trees.
This year, however, the sudden
deaths of apparently healthy
specimens may have been due to
winter injury. The problem was
severe in southern New Jersey and
more common than usual in other
areas.
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