Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-01-10

We hear many fears expressed that the
long-continued cold and wet weather will
result in considerable injury to the crops. So
far as wheat is concerned we think the dam
age will be generally very light, though much
will depend on circumstances surrounding the
sowings and the soil. Wheat that had a
pretty good start before the cold wave came
on, we apprehend, will not be injured to men
ton, whatever the nature of the soil. Wheat
that had just been sown, and was in the pro-
cess of terminating, OF that had just come
up above the surface, will be liable to greater
injury, but, except in very damp ground, we
have but little fears that even this will he
much damaged. These who have observed
the grasses and grains closely have learned
that they will go through freezing weather
with much less injury than people generally
suppose. The fact that the cold weather has
been accompanied with great deal of
moisture, both in the atmosphere and
the soil, has been q very favor
able circumstance. Had the air been
dry and the surface of the soil been less
damp during the coolest spell. we should
suit. Another fayQrable circumstance has
been the entire absence of sunshine. After a
cold frost, if the sun comes out warm in
the morning and touches vegetation while
still frozen, severe injury is sure to follow,
but before the sun makes its appearance, let
cold water be thrown over the frozen plants
and the injury will be light. IT nature sup
plies this moisture in the shape of fogs, and
while the plants are wet with the fog are at
the same time protected from the rays of the
sun, as has been the case during our entire cold
weather of late, we do not look for any in
furious results at least to any extent.
Barley and oats have not yet been sown, and
therefore have not been harmed. The freez-
ing, we think, will be an actual benefit to the
soil in lettering its mechanical condition.
This will be the case especially in heavy
adobe soils. When the cold and damp
weather ceases, and warm sunshiny weather
shall succeed, the surface of such soil will be
found to have parted with much of that
ing winds succeed will not bake and crust so
much as it would have done. This improved
condition of the filth of the surface will go
through the season and have its effects upon
every stage of the crop, helping to retain the
moisture and prevent the pinching process
that results, sometimes from the breaking of
the surface by drying north winds. We no.
tice that the cold has been injurious to some
of the semi-tropical nursery trees in some
parts of the State and, what seems singular
planned of as much or more in the south
ern counties than in the interior of
the State. Those who are interested
in these nurseries should learn that
it is not safe to keep such trees growing TOP
late in the season. 1t will not do to con-
tinue irrigation later than the warmer days
of the year to keep up tender growth. Well
matured wood will stand many more degrees
of cold than that which contains unworked
up sap or water. 1t is probable that in this
fact lays the reason that the small orange
and lemon trees in the southern portion of
the State seem to be injured more than they
are further north. The southern people de-
pend more upon irrigation than we do, ald
consequently they continue the growth OF
their trees later in the season, and when cold
weather comes it finds them less able to re-
sist it and its effects. We do not think the
injury to well-matured orange or lemon trees
in this section will be noticed after month
of good weather To the more hardy fruits
we think no damage has been done.