The San Francisco call., 1898-03-23
Reports From Orchard and Field Are Yet
 DiscOuraging.
Crops Spared by the Cold Wave Are Destroyed by
 Drought.
Fruit a Total Loss in Some Portions of the San Joaquin
 Valley.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SACRAMENTO. March 22.- The frost was not severe here this morning, owing to the prevalence of strong dry wind from the north. It seems to be an open question as to which has the worse effect on crops-the frost or the dry winds. While the latter pre- vail the frost is held back. There is no doubt that all crops-fruit, grain and vegetables-have suffered severely this past week from trosts and north winds
 SAN JOSE. March 22.-The orchard ists and farmers of this locality still entertain hopes for good crops, al- though the weather has not been of the best. According to late reports from different parts of the county no fruit seems to have been affected by the recent frosts except apricots, and the damage to them has been slight and only in low localities. Moderate show CTS during the next three weeks will insure average crops.
 SANTA CRUZ, March 22.-Santa Cruz experienced the heaviest gale to- day for many years. It exceeded that of ten days ago. A number of chim- neys and trees were blown down. The terra cotta tiling of the Courthouse
 
 blown to the pavement below.
 FRESNO, March 22.-Reports vary regarding the damage done by frost in this locality, but the facts summed up in general way make it a certainty that the bulk of the apricot, nectarine and almond crop have been destroyed, while peaches of some varieties are badly damaged and others are but little hurt Pears, apples and pruneS seemed to be damaged but little.
 STOCKTON, March 22.-The fruit raisers of San Joaquin County lost most of their crops by the earlier frosts and that of last night did no damage. The succeeding frosts in the reclaimed sections have so cut down the grass that farmers fear they will not raise crops unless more rain and warmer weather comes very soon.
 On Roberts Island, which Is the large district on which wheat and bar ley crops were expected, the grain has been cut down by frosts and is flat. On the lower division there is sufficient moisture to produce crops if the grain has not been killed by the cold, but the center sections of the island are very dry and the grain could not recover from the frost without plenty of rain, and there is no present indication of a sprinkle. On the Qplands in the north ern and nGrteastern sections of the country the grain crops are good and will yield well, but the fruit is lost.
 LOS ANGELES, March 22.-The crop bulletin for Southern California for the week ending March 21 prepared by Ob- server Franklin, is as follows:
 Unseasonably cold weather prevailed during the past week, with rain on the 17th and 18th. which was generally light in the northern sections and moderately heavy in the southern portions, where snow fell quite heavily in the mountains Grain and pasture were benefited by the rain, except in localities where the pre- cipitation was light and followed by dry ing winds. The prospects were improved for moderate crops of grain and hay, but rain is still neeued in many sections to assure these crops The cold weather retarded the growth of vegetation. Frosts were frequent during the week. and re- ports show that in some localities dam age resulted; in others none. In some sections fruit buds, vegetables and tender vegetation were injured; in others little if any damage occurred, while some re- ports state that no injurious results oc- cured from frosts. Irrigating orchards continues. Sugar-beet planting has hat