The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-09
TRICK FARMERS HIT HEAVILY.
,,,osr PLAYED HAVOC WITH THE
VEGETABLES.

al aU AInOSN
rncumbers and CantaIOupes Badly
Nipped.
-r., truck farmers around Savannah
u.rz hit heavily by the frost yesterday
ming The temperature at o'clock
ms 81 degrees, the lowest reached. In
dor certain condition, frost would not have
- f5rned at that temperature, but. as
,,s weather bureau had predicted would
he fine case, the conditions were never bet
tsr for frost, and the result was a heavy
fall
II IS impossible to estimate the damage.
Some of the vegetables were completely
DESTROYED while others, for the preservation
If which precautions had been taken were
either slightly damaged or escaped entire
" Beans were injured more than any
thing else as they had attained such
growth as 10 make it difficult to cover
them with much chance of their being
found in good order when uncovered. Some
of the planters had their beans covered.
however, acres of them having the dirt
thrown around the vines. A few were for
from the frost, but 1t will remain for them
10 see to-day whether the vines are in good
condition when uncovered.
Potatoes were badly damaged but not
to the same extent as beans. 1t is said
the yield of potatoes will be cut down %
per cent Some Of the plants were nipped
almost TO the roots but the planters be-
leve they Will put out their shoots and
make almost as good a yield as if they
had not been hurt. They now look wlted,
but in a few days the dead leaves will fall
off and the plants will regain their fresh
and green appearance.
Some of the planters and others who
got about yesterday noting the extent of
the damage by the frost, estimated that
the injury to beans is about so per cent.
That proportion of the vines was covered
by dirt If it is found when they are un-
covered thai they are in good condition
the damage Will be so per cent. If it is
shown that the plants were hurt by the
covering thrown upon them, the injury
will be greater.
Many truckers had their cucumbers,
cantaloupes, okra, egg plants and squashes
covered with paper, tins, strawberry
boxes, butter plats, and, in fact, any
thing that would afford shelter, and they
wholly or partially escaped. The plants
saved will represent great deal to them.
and, in part, will compensate for the dam
ages to the bean and potato crops.
There are several farmers around Sa-
vannah who plant tomatoes extensively.
All of them had their plants killed down
to the ground. tomatoes are sensitive
plants and are easily hurt by frost. It
was found yesterday that no plants for
repanting were obtainable. so the truck
ers were put to it to find some with
which to reset their fields. Some of them
plant as high as fifteen acres in tomatoes
alone and $4,000 or more plants are need
ed. Those growing tomatoes most extern
sively got together and arranged to get
plants from Florida. 1t is sometimes the
case that farmers in that state plant a
great many tomatoes in beds just for such
emergencies as that which has arisen.
They find that 10 supply 100000 plants
once in four or five years makes it profit
able, as the care of the beds is no trouble.
The plants usually bring about $3.50 a
thousand
The tomatoe planters were discussing
last night the question of rates and facili-
ties for getting the plants here with repre-
sentatives of the railroads, and it was
decided to telegraph growers in Florida If
the plants could be furnished. If they
cannot be secured in that way Mr.. c. e.
u Fell will leave in a day or two to see
what can be done.
Some of the farmers had made no prep
aration for the frost and lost all of their
tender Vegetab les. The weather bureau
mad given full warning of the conditions,
however, making a positive prediction or
frost. Those who cared heed its
uoh covered their tender plants
out some thought the weather looked
so encouraging the day of the prediction
lhat they would not do anything to pro-
tect themselves Day before yesterday
something over thirty planters called at
ene once of the bureau to ask Observer
oherier about the probabilities. They
men hurried off to make their prepara-
IONS. Yesterday the observer said it
was ike the day after a funeral. All of
lne truckers had their troubles at home
auu they did not care to look for more.
IHeir perishable truck was all covered,
ana they had nothing to do except to wait
ana see If frost would come again before
uHcoVering. Some called at the weather
bureau and more telephoned to learn If it
t"ouia be safe to uncover the vegetables,
put mere seemed a slight chance for frost,
ana observer Sherier would not advise
Vduhs frost had been received from Wash
.nnsloh but the conditions indicated that
1Ne 'emperature, was likely to fall pretty
Nv The wind had veered
ioH the northwest where
-, ~, nad been the night before, and caused
a.. 'he trouble, however, 10 The east and
s""en 1t is from that direction the chance
-oi Irost is slight. The wind is then laden
an an moisture and frost under such con-
L,l.'ohs does not form readily. Almost as
~" a temperature as that of the night
lore could be had with the wind in the
~ ~ without injury to plants
ne reports received al the Office showed
nsaVy frosts in the Augusta and Atlanta
HE'sitlcls, and these probably extended
i ~. 'ner down the country. Observer Sher-
E reported light frost here, this being
rTpSe1 on that which formed in the city.
ne SAID that he did not doubt that 1t was
"'och heavier in the country.
MT w. ]. Phillips of Phillips & Sons,
W.T." mission merchants of New York, was
SP ABOUT Monteith and Rincon during the
I, and all through the vegetable section.
-e reported that the damage in that di-
Vuon had been great, and that the
IL s.11 ha