The herald., 1897-12-22
WEATHER AND CROPS
Frost Is Sharp, But the Damage Not
Yet Known

| Frost Is sharp, But the damage Not
Yet Known
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 21.-The fol-
lowing summary of the crop and climate
conditions throughout the State for the
week ending December Goth, has been
compiled by the officials of the Weather
| Bureau:
Continued cold. dry weather, with
heavy. and. in some localities, injurious
frost has characterized the week. The
| temperature without exception has been
below the normal for this time Of the
year. In the great valleys of the State
the minimum temperature has been
about or below the freezing point for
three mornings. The rainfall has been
deficient everywhere except in the north
western coast counties, where the rain
fall has been generous. In the great
valleys and in all the country south of
the Tehachapi, the rainfall has been far
below the normal.
| On Wednesday morning warnings
! were sent by the Weather Bureau Of the
liability of frost on Thursday night that
would prove injurious to citrus fruit;
and on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and
Sunday warnings Of severe frost and
the necessity of active and continued
measures for protection were issued and
widely distributed. The frosts of De-
cember 3rd, 4th and 5th very nearly
reached the danger point and the effects
were probably to considerable degree
minimized by smudsing. At the time
Of going to press 1t is not known whether
,r not the efforts OF orange growers to
smudSe and protect their fruit have bsen
very generally successful during the
present frosts. The conditions were
probably two or three degrees colder
than on December 4th.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Following Is the United States depart
nlent of agriculture weather bureau eli
mate and crop bulletin for Southern
| California, for the week ending Decem-
ber Goth, 1897:
Cold, dry weather characterized the
past week. except on the 14th and 18th.
when there were general showers of rain
in the valley sections and snow in the
| mountains. The rains We're light IN the
coast districts, and quite heavy in the
elevated sections and in the interior
valleys of San Diego county. A cold
wave of marked continuation prevailed
at the close of this report, during which
| the temperature fell to freezing. and in
the low lands it went from to degrees
below on several mornings. The reports
Of correspondents for this bulletin
| shows that no damage resulted to citrus
fruit in the higher elevations, but in the
low lands it is feared that some injury
may have occurred. The result OF the
cold wave will be ascertained from the
reports for the following bulletin, and
as temperatures ranging from 81 to 2i
| degrees occurred in the citrus districts it
| is probable that some damage resulted,
particularly in low. exposed sections.
| Owing to lack of copious rains. feed is
running short. and besides the cold
weather is telling on stock. The dry
| weather necessitates irrigation of or
| chards. The following are the lowest
/ temperatures for the week. San Luis
| Obispo, 81; Carpinteria, S6: Ell Rio, 80:
| Los Angeles, 50; South Los Angeles, "a +.
| West Palmdale. IS; La Canada, 81; Azu-
sa, 29;'Long Beach, IS; Artesia, 81; Eth
wanda, 2S; Cotton, 1916; Santa Ana, So;
| Capistrano. Sc; San Diego. sS Valley
! Center. SO Santee- Ell Cajon, "a; Pomona.
q to 2s.
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY
Feed short ard cold telling on stock.
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
Traces of rain fell last Tuesday. There
were heavy frosts in low land.
VENTURA COUNTY
| Ell Rio.-There were heavy frosts and
ice. but no damage reported. Seeding
winter wheat and barley begun.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Los Angeles Cty.-Light showers on
18th and 18th. otherwise cold and dry.
Frequent frosts and lee early mornings
in exposed places.
South Los Angsles.-Weather cold and
dry, with e little frost each morning, fol-
lowed by warm sunshine. Rain much
needed; orchardists are irrigating.
| West Pelrdale-Therc was a light
rain on the 18th. There is considerable
snow in the mountains. Frost occurred.
| La Canada-Weather was cool and
partly cloudy, with white froets and thin
lcs in low lands. No damage reported.
Orange picking continues; olive picking
! about over.
| Verdugo-Temperatur has been AZ
low as "a degrees in lower part Of valley.
| Citrus orchards are along the foothills,
and oranges are probably uninjured.
| New growth has been nipped in places;
on whole, probably no serious damage
to citrus fruit, while deciduous fruit will
| be benefited.
| Azusa.-Dxamination shows only oc-
casional lemon twig frosted; many trees
| untouched Only one twig Of orange
has been found touched; this would in
| dictate no oranges are frozen
| Pomona.-There was 33-100 Of an inch
of rain on the 10th, making 4.es for sea
| son. Very severe frosts occurred Satur-
day and Sunday mornings. when the
temperature is reported to have fallen
from 21 to 2S degrees, according to local
ity. The prevailing opinion il that little
| damage has occurred to oranges, but If
the cold continues citrus fruit will be in
jured in low places.
Whittler.-There were sprinllles of
rain the latter part of the week. There
were light frosts in the high lands and
severe in low lands. No injury to fruit,
but tender vegetables damaged in some
localities.
Long Beach.-Thers were traces of
rain on the 18th and 18th. There has been
considerable frost on low grounds, but
citrus fruit is not hurt.
Artesia.-The week was cool, with
wind and some hail, conditions not bene
fetal for farming.
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
| Ttiwanda.--On the 18th 43-1OO Of an
| inch Of rain fell with snow in the noun
!