Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-04-14
RaUrr PxosPECrs.
The Result OF che Frost-What On In
sured and what EscsDed.

iuret aud what Escaped.
The state of the fruit crop, as the result
of the recent cold snap. has become ons OF
great interest to many people. The season
started out most favoTably and the fruit
blossoms struggled out early and sprkled
with beauty as they shed their rich per-
fume about. March, in spite OF the de-
fupct adage went out the meek lamb it
came in, and April WAS born in weather as
fair as an infants dream. The warm sun
had early coaxed and cajoled the sap of the
fruit trees until it had gained wider circu-
Iation than could be claimed by the most
cheeky newspaper prospectus. The thous-
ands of orchards on the green bills and in the
deep valleys of West Virginia and Ohio had
shown blossom after blossom until they
resembled huge boquets. The pink bios
SONS of the peach had come blushingly
into the air and the cherry blossoms, pale
with anxiety, had peeped out in Quantity,
while plum and pear trees had 50 hustled
their fruit that the buds were prepared to
omen. The shy apple had appeared and
even lust on the point OF yielding to the
ardent kisses and caresses OF sun and breeze:
Every thing gave promise OF an early and
abundant yield.
But things were too previous. Then
came frost, killing frost The balmy
spring was chased away again by icy winter,
blossoms, dropped an icy tear chill
inc ont the life of the tender
bud. First came the cold winds of Sunday,
with clouds and rawness, preSaging the
calamity that followed. On Sunday night
the soft sharp rattle of snow flakes was
heard on the window panes, the wind
whistled as in midwinter, and when morn
ing came the earth was dotted with snow.
Monday continued cold, dark and dreary
and that night brought little frost. But
Tuesdays cold night followed and the
damage was done.
AS result, it is believed the entire peach
crop in this section is killed. Yesterday
REGISTER reporter viewed peach bud
through a microscope and found that
though the miniature fruit in the centre was
still green, the corolla of the blossom was
dead. A branch bearing blossoms was brought
into the house and soon turned the frozen
black, indicating death. The cherries In
this immediate neighborhood, Leather
wood, for instance, are completely ruined:
Pears and plums are about destroyed, and
it is thought the currantS and gooseberrles
have shared like fate.
. Raspberries were damaged somewhat, but
the crop VIII be saved, and strawberries we
will have in abundance, if the frost is not
repeated. The loss in apples will be slight.
The main crop was not in condition TO be
injured and only few very early species
were hurt
The wheat was far advanced, in some
cases having iointed, some farmers placing
stock in the fields to eat it down. The
wheat when far advanced has of course
been temporarily injured, but it will prob
ably grow up again without any serious
disadvantage. Other vegetation has been
considerably injured, the leaves OF all kind
of plants and flowers being blackened and
killed Many, of course will grow again
and repair the damage. Vegetables were
not far advanced and are not seriously in
jured.
However. there is always the annual
scare about damage by frost and many
farmers there are who think even the
peach crop will not be seriously damaged.