The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-27
FEARFUL OF A FREEZE.
Truck Farmers Protect Their Crops
as Far as They Can.

South Georgia Total Loss and
Fruit Badly Injured-Reports From
Along the Savannah, Florida and
Western Railway.
The cold wave, which has been fore
casted by the weather bureau for several
days, swoopcd down upon this section in
full force yesterday morning.
Spring suits were at a discount yester-
day, and heavy winter clothing and over
coats which had been laid away last
week for the season, were brought into
acquisitions again yesterday.
The GOODNESS in the atmosphere which
marked Easter increased in intensity
during the night, aided by high north
west winds. Yesterday opened with
mercury about As, and it continued to
fall slowly during the day until at s
O'Clock last night it was down to AZ
The high winds increased the chilling
effects, and the cold was very sensibly felt.
The mean temperature for the day was
"A which was IL below the normal.
COLD ALL OVER THE SOUTH.
The reports received by the weather
bureau showed the cold wave to have
been generally all over this section. TEN
peratures were reported as follows yes
| terday morning: Nashville lS7, Atlanta
20, Mobile 30', Montgomery 26', Norfolk
! 32', Jacksonville "A Charleston A.
The cold wave is still moving southeast
ward with increasing intensity. At II
o'clock last night the mercury marked
39' at the weather Office and was still fall
ing. Colder weather is predicted for this
morning with temperature at about freez-
ing. II will probably be warmer during
the day, but will turn colder towards
night. While frost is expected tonight,
warmer weather is predicted for to-mor-
row. The result of the cold wave is
probably total loss of the melon and
fruit crops of the state with considerable
damage to the truck crops.
PREPARED FOR FREEZE.
When the weather failed to moderate
| yesterday the truck growers here feared
a freeze, and many OF them began to pre-
pare for it,
The crops of potatoes, beans, peas, Gu
cumbers and tomatoes are the only ones
which would be damaged to any very great
extent in case of a heavy frost, but most
Of these are so far advanced that frost
would hurt them severely. Little is
feared for the more hardy vegetables,
many of which are also we'll advanced
The principal crops which have advanced
to any extent and which are liable to be
attacked are the potatoes, beans and Gu
cumbers.
Mai. Ryals has several of these crops
which were well advanced, and Mr.. M
l.. EXley has large crop of potatoes,
which are fast ripening They took inn
mediate steps to protect them by
having them covered. Dirt was plowed
over them so as 10 completely cover them.
| MIR. EXleY covered twelve acres of pota-
! toes yesterday afternoon. The potatoes
viii not have to be uncovered, and the
dirt has to be taken off the beans after
they are safe from the ravages of the
weather.
WILL TAKE THE CHANCES.
Mr.. Exley said that while many Of the
! truck growers have taken steps to pro-
tect their crops others have determined
/ to take the chances. He thought last
night there was no doubt about killing
! frost, and he believed those who had not
| taken proper precauti would suffer
/ considerable damage. The peas he
said are semi-hardy and while they will
| be damaged by frost they will not be
! killed. The truck growers, as q rule, look
/ to the weather bureau TO keep them
/ posted on the movements of the coldwaves,
/ and this time some of them began to cover
/ their crops as early as last week. To
/ what extent the damage will reach how
ever, cannot be told until this morning.
An effort was made by the truckers
/ yesterday to gather in all the peas and
other vegetables ready for marketing, in
order to get it under cover before night
Large shipments of cabbages and a con-
siderable amount Of peas were made.
Unless the freeze is very severe, it is
believed that the peas will pull through
with only the loss of the fruit now on the
vines, and will be able to develop a second
crop.
MAY BE A BLESSING.
If the damages of the cold snap ara
light it may prove a blessing in disguise
TO the truck farmers who all realized that
their crops were being developed rapidly,
with the prospect of overstocking the
market and causing general low prices.
The retarding of the marketing of the
crops by the cold weather may prove an
advantage in this respect
MELONS TOTAL LOSS.
A number of kilograms were received
yesterday afternoon from points along the
line of the Savannah. Florida and Western
railway in Georgia and Florida by Supt.
Fleming, giving statement of the
weather and the results to the fruit and
truck crops at those points. According
to these kilograms the melon crop is a
total loss, aud the pear crop badly
damaged. To-night's cold is expected to
finish mp the work. Clear and cold
weather was expected at the majority of
the points, with rain at some. The re-
| ports from the meion-growing section
were as follows:
Albany-Weather freezing at a. m
Farmers say they don't think the fruit
crop IS hurt though.
Ochlocknee--Eroze this morning Melons
all killed. Can't say yet as to fruit.
Hardly think it is hurt. Thermometer
stands at 80 at $40 a. m.
HardawaY-Fro last night. Melons
probably all killed. Pears seriously
damaged. Can't say positively yet as to
their condition.
Monticello - Can't say yet whether
fruit is killed or not. Melon men say that
melons are killed. Ice here this morn
ing
Pclham-Very high wind here this
morning and freezing until o'clock.
Melons all killed in this section. Fruit
slightly damaged.
Thomasville- Cold; some ice Melon
crop reported killed at Metcalfe Cold
northwest wind. Clear.
ville-Thermometer to-day So
High Winds growing colder Heavy
rain and high winds last night.
TAKEN TO COLUMBUS.
George w. Robertson to Begin the
Serving Of His Sentence.
George w Robertson was taken to