Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-04-27
FRUIT PROSPECTS.
The Effects OF the Recsnt Heavy
Fr0sts.
The Cry Of Wof-A Visit Among the
orchards-Apparent Effect on Cher
ries, Apples, Peaches. Pears
and the Crops.

Persons interested, by business or by
palate, in the success OF the fruit crop,
would be much move concerned about the
recent succession Of freezing nights and
frosty mornings, IL the premature death Of
the fruit in embryo were not an annual
occurrence. 1t has become regular cry OF
wolf. With each recurring spring comes
the regular vail over frost bitten bidS, an
blossoms that caught their death OF cold
som. bitter morning. Hardly ever, III the
recollection Of the writer, has spring
failed 10 bring inevitable death to fruit,
and yet the fruit always lives. The cry has
about as much truth in il as an average
J,,ieIligc7lcer article. In one valley. the frost
bitten buds blscken, die and drop OIL,
while in the adjoining vale, the blossoms
mature and the fruit comes duly TO hand in
season. .
The middle OF April brought with il the
bslmy weather of June. The sun shone
with a summer iervor and the thermomet.
rio mercury dounel duster and ex-
curted away up into the eighties. M
coursgei by the genial warmth, the fruit
trees began 70 put out their blossoms. The
delicate pink OF the cherry came in profu-
sion and the pure white petals of the early
apple peeped shyly ont. In few places
the deeper dye OF the peach blossom began
10 show itself. Orchards resembled huge
bouquets and everything pointed to an
early summer aud large fruit harvest.
Sunday brought rain ,drenching and chill.
ly, but not harming. But Monday bron sht
the cold wave and freze the falling rain,
changing it into damaging s!eel, which
Tuesday did not improve. The sun cana
on Wednesday, but the night brought
heavy frost snd the brilliancy OF yeStsr.
day was followed by another light frost.
The delicate blossoms wilted and dropped.
The rain OF Monday had deposited tear in
each, which Tuesdays frost converted into
all icy pearl, and in that crystal was frozen
the heart III the bud-.the germ Of the coming
fruit. Expanded buds dropped of in haste
and the growing blossoms checked their
growth and Cluug to their twigs, stuntet
and deadened. 1t seemed as though the
early fruit crop had surely persisted.
Yesterday, a RFGISTEE reporter took al
vantage Of the bright weather to hold
picnic in the country, the secret object OF
which was to investigate the fruit and
learn the damage done. 1t is useless to
cite the different localities visited during
this ubiquitous picnic, as the result
is about the same in all. The
cherries were the furthest advanced AMI
con seauently suffered the most. The bios.
SONS looked shriveled aud withered and
the germ. upon examination under glass,
failed to sho v the green evidences of.yitality.
OF some fifty examined from different
localities, only four had apparently
weathcred the frost. 1t is generally believed
the cherry crop i'll this vicinity will be an
entire failure.
Apples show more hopeful state. Only
the extremely early varieties had begun 10
blossom, and of them, majority had not
sufficiently advanced 10 be- exposed to dan
ger. The open blossoms were invariably
killed, but the general crop is unharmnd
and large yield is expected.
Peaches and pears are comparatively I'M
injured. OF the former not more than onc
variety had begun TO blossom. These were
instantly blighted, but their loss will
scarcely be noticed The pears are still less
advanced aud will not be materially
damaged.
The crops will not suffer and are doins
well, though general farm work is back
ward.
TO review the situation, the prospect is
not as blue rs might have been expected.
We will get no cherries and few early
apples but the bulk OF the fruit crop
barring future sCCItentS, will turn out very
fair. Accounts Of frost damages are al.
ways exaggerated and should be received
with due allowance.