AREA HISTORY:  Fruit Cultivation, Monaghan Township, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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FRUIT CULTURE – Page 649

Monaghan has an enviable reputation for the cultivation of fine fruit in great 
abundance.  Small orchards were planted early in the history of the township, 
but it is within the recollection of the older inhabitants of this section that 
fruit culture became so prominent an industry.  Jacob Cocklin originated the 
business here.  He planted his first orchard in the township, in the year 1827, 
and became a citizen of it the following year (1828), no other nursery being 
nearer than Carlisle.  Since that time he has introduced and grown over 180 
varieties of apple, 120 varieties of peach, 80 varieties of pear, 40 varieties 
of cherry and 10 varieties of apricot trees, besides many other kinds of fruit, 
timber and ornamental trees.  He planted the first vineyard here, importing a 
great number of his vines from Germany, but was unsuccessful in cultivating the 
foreign fruit.  The greatest amount realized in one year from his peach orchard 
was in 1846; commenced gathering August 4, and finished October 10, and sold 
over 1,500 bushels for $980, and thirty-five barrels brandy at 75 cents per 
gallon.  Nearly all the farms in the township have apple orchards, and some have 
been engaged in cultivating the peach.

The growing of small fruits, such as the raspberry, strawberry, blackberry and 
grape, has engaged the attention of quite a number of the inhabitants, and a 
profitable business has been developed.  Thousands of dollars come into the 
township annually by this industry alone.  The following is the yield for 1884, 
as nearly as can be ascertained by actual canvass:  strawberries, 73,000 quarts, 
or over 2,280 bushels; raspberries, 39,900 quarts, or over 1,246 bushels; 
blackberries, 3,000 quarts, and about seven tons of grapes were marketed.