Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-05-14
FRUIT BADLY FROSTED.
The Peninsula Farmers Suffer Big Losses
Through the Cold Weather--Peaches,
Apples, Pears and Berries Nipped.

The Peninsula Farmers Suffer Big Losses
Through the Cold Weatier--Peaches,
Apples, Pears and Berries Nipped.
FROM Every Evening of April 7th.
Letters from the Maryland counties of
the peninsula indicate great damage from
frost and cold to orchard fruit, berries and
early garden plants. They follow;
BLASTED HOPES IN wIcoMIco.
The hopes of Wicomico orchardists and
| truckers were blasted by killing frost.
Until Tuesday night the strawberry crop
of the county never was more promising
at this season. Watermelon and canta-
loupe seeds had sprouted and were up,
while potato tops were six inches high in
some fields, and many varieties of the
peach had escaped the frosts of two weeks
ago. The outlook for prosperous season
for tillers of the soil was never more en-
couraging. Tuesday night was cold, clear
and calm. The thermometer stood at $50
On Wednesday morning vegetation bad
the appearance of having been fired. A
hoar frost did the work Ice quarter of
an inch thick was found in small ponds.
The caprices of the weather Wednesday
were striking reminder of March. Shift
ing clouds accompanied by brisk, chilling
winds, rain, and occasionally some snow,
alternated with sunshine and made a
veritablc March scene. The strawberry
yield is reduced to probably onc-half,
though it is difficult to estimate the exact
result at present. All the peaches were
killed. The pears, apples, cherries and
other fruits have also suffered more or less.
DAMAGE IN CAROLINE.
Until Tuesday night, when the frost
and chilling weather came the strawberry
crop of Caroline county promised to be
unusually large. The night was calm and
clear and exceptionally cold. On Wednes-
do MN linn 3 .
berries had been greatly damaged, as we'll
as other fruits and early vegetables. There
is still lingering hope that the peaches
have not been seriously injured. as they
were considered to be beyond frosts The
leaves Of the trees afford great protection,
and as the young peaches were getting to
have some size, it was thought nothing
less than big freeze would seriously in
jure them
DoRcHEsTER's DAMAGE.
Ice formed in Dorchester county and
there was light covering of frost on the
ground, but the impression, or rather the
hope, is that the peaches are far enough
advanced to withstand the shock. The pre-
valence of fresh breeze Tuesday night
was no doubt advantageous. Although the
temperature was rs low, if not lower, We'd
nesday night than the night before the
breeze continued, and it was hoped that
the blighting effect of the frost would be
counteracted By it. The fall of peaches
prior to the present cold snap has been
large, and the opinion is expressed that
there will in no event be more than half a
crop in Dorchester county. Early toma-
toes are thought 10 be damaged by the pre-
vailing cold weather,
SOMERSET CROPS INJURED.
The cold snap struck Somerset county |
Monday afternoon, followed on Tuesday |
night by heavy frost and ice on Wednes-
day. The weather has been very cold, in |
terspersed with slight snow all Wednes- |
day 1t is generally believed that all the |
early truck nnd fruits are very much in
Jured. Strawberries that were in bloom
have all been killed. Peaches, it is feared,
will suffer very much also, as they are not
far enough advanced to stand such cold
weather. Several truckers in the vicinity
Of Princess Anne had Just planted out
their tomatoes for the northern markets,
and they have all been killed. Peas also
were hurt very much. The weather was
the month of May.
THE BLIGHT IN TALBOT.
There was snow and ice in Talbot county,
and the mercury was below iOo early We'd
nesday morning. Great fears are expressed
of serious damage done to fruits and ber-
ries all over the peninsula. The weather
was still cold and clustering in Talbot last
night, and further damage was expected
from the cold snap, The farmers are in
great distress of mind over the blight
which has fallen on their crops through
out the whole fruit and market-gardening
region.
SNOW AND HAIL IN CECIL.
1t showed quite hard in Elkton about 10
O'Clock in the morning. There was also q
heavy hail storm a few miles south of this
town. The heavy frost of Sunday and Mon
day nights injured the fruit and much
anxiety is expressed on all sides, as the