The record-union., 1897-12-29
GROWING CROPS NEED RAIN.
EFFECTS OF THE RECENT COLD
SPELL.
The Damage Not as Great as IN
the Winter Of
1895.

Following is the weekly bulletin or
the Climate and crop service Oh ZIG
United States Weather Bureau, Can
fOrnia section, for the week endlng De-
cember 9th:
The following summary Of the climate
and crop conditions is based upon re-
ports received from eight weather bu-
reau stations, fifty-two telegraphlc re-
ports received through the courtesy Oh
the Southern Pacific Company, ana
many reports scattered throughout the
State. Telegraphic summaries are also
received from the observers at Los An
geles and Eureka, based upon reports
received by them from correspondents
in their districts.
Continued cold, dry weather with in
furious frosts, has marked the week.
The absence of rain and protracted cold
are unusual at this time of the year.
owing TO the great interests connected
with the citrus fruits at this time, the
usual form of the bulletin has been
changed somewhat, and this number
will be devoted chiefly to climatic con-
ditions in orange growing sections. The
following table shows the lowest tenn
peratures so far as known at different
points. An average section minimum is
also gwen, showing the general tenn
peratures for a large district:
Riverside, minimum, % degrees; San
Bernardino, minimum, 21; Redlands,
minimum, %; Smiley Hights. mini
mum, 81; Pomona, minimum, 21; San
Jacinto, 20; Yucaipa Valley, IL; Por-
terville, 21; Thermalito, 81; Fresno, "A;
Santa Clara Valley, "a
Regarding the damage done, while it
is difficult to estimate, there seems to
be little doubt that in some localities it
has been only by continued and ener-
getic work with smudges that the or
angeS were saved. There has been con-
siderable damage done, and there is a
general concenSus Of opinion that
smudge fires raised the temperature
several degrees, and were of the great
est value. There are a number of rec
ords where the temperatures were rails
ed from % to 2S degrees.
From a careful study of reports, it
would Seem that while the minimum
tempera lures recorded during the cold
period are not quite SO low in most
sections as those of 1895, yet it's long
continuance would seem to make the
condition equally severe. The fact that
the damage is reported as less than
1893, is probably due to the more eX-
tensive efforts at protecting
1t may not be out of place to refer
to some experiments made by the Riv-
erside Horticultural Club during the
cold spell. Eight plats were laid out
AS a result of the work it is announced
that henceforth there need be no serious
loss of fruit under average conditions,
where there is organized preparation on
lines now demonstrated to be valuable.
In orief, the different types of frost
fighting devices listed Were: Burning
moist straw; steam apparatus; coal
burners and pots of burning oil. The
best of these tests gave a gain of five
degrees in temperature.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY.
The dry, cod weather has been bene-
fetal to farmers on adobe land. Civ
ing them ample opportunity to continue
plowing and seeding, but in other places
plowing has been suspended on account
of the ground drying out. In the citrus
fruit districts little damage has re-
suited from the killing frosts, as the
fruit had been in large measure pick
ed Rain is badly needed for growing
grain. Orchardists are pruning.
SAN JOAIU1N VALLEY.
Cold and dry with heavy frosts
Farmers waiting for rain. Flowing has
been suspended in some places owing
to lack of rain. In the citrus fruit
regions, while severe weather has been
experienced the damage has been
slight, owing to the fact that much
of The fruit had been picked. The cold
Will probably kill parasitic life and re-
tard the blossoming of fruit trees.
Heavy frostS make hard ground and
delay plowing.
COAST AND BAY SECTIONS.
Continued cold weather. with heavy
frosts. Ground is still in a condition
for flowing. but a good rain would be
of great benefit. Farmers plowing,
seeding and pruning Weather hard
on stock and feed. Large acreage of
grain.
SOUTHERN COUNTIES.
Los Angeles County-Bassett; cool
and dry; some grain being put in; about
half Of wheat and barley seeded. Duarte
No damage to oranges or other cit
rus fruits. Palmdale-Olives and figs
entirely ruined for next years crop.
Pomona-Some damage to fruit. Los
Angees-Some damage to oranges; rain
needed; cabbage and celery doing
nicely. San Fernando-No damage to
fruit yet
Ventura County-No damage by frost
to oranges and lemons.
San Bernardino County-Some dam
age to citrus fruit: rain needed.
Orange County-Heavy frost did con-
siderable damage TO celery: oranges and
lemons not affected.
Santa Barbara County-Santa Bar