The record-union., 1898-03-17
FnOSTS DAMAGE
EARLY FRUITS.
In Many Parts Apricots viii be Al
most a Total Failure.
Nectarines, Peaches and Almonds also
Suffered Severely.

pPeciabIe Exsent-Grain Look
ing Well in Nearly All Sections
of the State.
+! SAN FRANCISCO, March 1G.-Dis-
patches to the Associated Press from all
sections of the State indicate that heavy
frosts which have prevailed for the past
few mornings have done great damage
to the more tender varieties of fruits.
In many parts of the State the apricot
crops Will be almost total failure. Nee
tarines and peaches have also suffered
severely. Nearly all the fruit trees are
in blossom or budding, and the cold wea-
! ther came at most inopportune time.
The late varieties of fruit will make a
fair crop, and prunes, one of the staple
products of California, have not been in
jured to any appreciable extent. Early
corn and potatoes have been cut down,
and in general the vegetable crop will
be late. The early almonds will not pro-
duce more than one third the usual
yield. and while cherries have been con-
siderabiy thinned, trees in many places
were overlooked and damage will not
be excessive.
Grain is looking well in nearly all parts
of the State particularly that which was
summer falIowed. More rain is needed,
and if it comes soon, followed by warm
weather, much Of the damage already
done will be compensated for.
There was a light fall of snow in sew
eral parts Of California to-day The storm
passing over a portion of this city. In
no case did the depth exceed two inches
and the falling flakes were soon con-
verted into slush.
EARLY FRUITS INJURED.
STOCKTON, March 16-The indica-
tions are that the heavy frost of last
night has been very Injurious to al
Imonds, apricots, early peaches and veg
etables, not only in Stockton and in the
immediate vicinity, but throughout the
fruit raising sections of San Joaquin
! County, with the exception Of at Oakdale
and the adjacent country, where there
was a rain last night of 90 Of an inch.
An inspection of blossoming frpit there
showed that the frost had done no dam
fage whatever. From Acampo, Lcdi and
Knights Ferry. however come reports
that apricots. almonds and early
peaches there will not be more than
half a crop, and possibly not more than
a third
Rain is falling here tonight, and the
indications are that the downpour will
continue throughout the night The
wind that usually brings rain came in
from the southeast during the day and
many old timers who have watched wea-
ther signs throughout long continued
dry spells predicted that the storm
would commence tonight. 1t was re-
marked by quite number that rain
always falls On St. patrick's Day. And
with that reminder and the signs of a
change in the air people showed encour-
agement. The rain seems TO be general
in this section and is coming at a time
when it is most needed TO make crops.
Grain began to show the need of moist
ure, but no immediate danger was felt.
If the storm now on continues as indi-
Gated and usual showers come later San
Joaquin will have large yield Of grain.
/ FROST IN SANTA CLARA VALLEY.
SAN JOSE March 16.-Santa Clara
Valley has had two white frosts this
week, thin ice forming in parts of the
county each morning. 1t is not be-
| iieved. however, that serious harm has
| been done. In some districts the cold
may cause some apricots to drop, but
orchardists generally do not report
serious injury even from the frost of
this morning.
! r. Hersey of the Santa Clara County
Fruit Exchange is as we'll posted on
fruit conditions as any one in the
county. He says: $50 far no material
! damage has been done by the frost
We are suffering from a lack of moist
ure.. Unless we have a deal more ram
this year before May 1st there will not
be sufficient to mature fruit outside the
irrigated districts. In many instances
/ the trees viii die. / consider the out
| look most serious for the orchar6ists' -
The growth of grain and grass has
been seriously retarded by the cold and
the Cry north wind Much grain VIII
be ruined unless there is rain within
the next fortnight There is practically
no pasture. The rain of the last three
days only reached COS of an inch, and
was dried up by the wind.
/ MUCH DAMAGE ABOUT FRESNO.
FRESNO, March 1G-Last nights
frost was one of the most severe of
the season, and has done much dam
4 age. 1t is reported from all parts of
+ the ttully llldl the dpFlCOJ crop is
ruined. The peach crop is also badly
! damaged. Out of one thousand peach
buds taken at random from various
parts of the county not one was found
to nave escaped the effects of the cold
snap. The outlook for grapes, although
| these have not been frost damaged is
! bad on account of the thrip or vine
hopper. which exists here in untold
millions. and threaten to eat the young
leaves as soon as they start. Grain.
thanks to the rain of yesterday. is
looking well, although many authori-
: ties claim there is not sufficient moist
ure IN the ground to mature the crop.
LOWLANDS SUFFER.
Los ANGELES, March f6-The
heaviest frost of the season occurred
last night, and considerable damage
was done in the low lands. Reports
from Gardena, Varnon and other dis
tricts where vegetables are grown say
that the damage was almost complete,
in fact there was a thick formation of
| ice in places. Higher up buds. which
are out rather early this year, We're
! touched. doubtless. y high wind.
which prevailed Sunday and continued
Monday ard yesterday, blasted feed to
a considerable extent. The wind also
nuliifed the effect OF the late little rain.