Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-06-17

EFFECTS or THE LATE FROsr.- Sunclent
time has now elapsed to enable observers to
form tolerably correct opinion as to the eX-
tent Of damage occasioned by the severe frost
Of Saturday and Sunday week and from
careful examination of the numerous accounts
furnished by the newspapers covering the
whole ground from Western New York to
st. Louis, we come to the conclusion that the
representations first received by the telegraph
were generally much exaggerated These
dispatches having been forwarded before it
was possible to make particular inquiries, a
tendency to cxaggerate was natural, and al
most unavoidable
The entire belt of country extending from
the Northeastern States to the extreme
Northwest, seems to have been more or less
affected, though very unequally, even at pla-
ces but little distant from each other. In IS
olated spots most kinds of vegetation were
killed outright; but as a general rule the
crops have not suffered beyond recovery
Corn and potatoes, when but little above the
ground will bear a severe frost without re-
ceying any permanent injury; and even in
those occasional instances where they may
have been cut off, the crop can be restored
by fresh planting. 1t is, therefore, reason
able TO conclude that corn, at least, vii! sui-
fer no essential decrease.
Wheat does not appear 90 have been much
affected. And why should it, if it is hardy
enough to bear the severe cold Of winter
without essential damage; Everybody knows
that much of it is sown and springs up in
autumn. The accounts first received from
portions Of New York respecting the wheat
crop are now cantradicted. Wheat promises
as fair as ever. According to one authority,
the weevil and grasshoppers have suffered
most. An old farmer in the Genessee valley
speaks Of late spring frost in 1916, by
which the stalks Of wheat were actually froz-
en- yet the yield was unfinished. Fruit, in
New York, as well as elsewhere, has probably
suffered more than anything else and much
of it will be lost
On the whole, we think the alarm express
sed by some Of our contemporaries, as to the
extent and severity of the visitation, is greatly
in excess Of the reality, and that there will
be nothing like a general destruction even of
any single article of agriculture. In spite of
the frost, there is every indication of larger
general crop than this country ever before
produced.
In Ohio, so far as can be judged, the cold
was felt with the greatest severity corn,
lIult ana Negetaule having Otch cut OH 10 q
considerable extent Yet we are pleased to
observe that the latest accounts from that di-
rection put the actual damage at a rather low
figure The Cleveland Plaindealer Of We'd
nesday speaks of an extensive dealer in agri
cultural implements in that city, who has a
large correspondence with the leading farmers
and whose letters make the loss much smaller
than was originally reported many letters
make no mention of frost at ALL The Piain-
dealer says fruits have suffered considerably,
but more than an average crop is expected
Grapes have suffered most.
In Michigan the accounts are similar bat
the Detroit Adpatiser thinks that State has
suffered as little as any at the Northwest.
Of Illinois the Louisville journal says:
There were heavy frosts in the vicinity of
Springfield, ILL.,, Friday and Saturday nights
but the damage to crops is considered slight -
No damage was done in Missouri
In Wisconsin fruit was much injured. The
Madison Journal thinks corn and wheat were
not sufficiently advanced to be seriously dam
aged.
The intelligence from Lower Canada is
quite unfavorable.