Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-06
THOSE CRUEL FR0STS
VEGETATION DLIGHTED IN NEARLY
ALL PARTS OF THE STATE.
IMMENSE DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE.
IL Looks as II the Virginia Fruit
Crop is Completely kiIied-snow,
Ice. and Rain I'm Many Sec
tons.

Ice. and Rain I'm Many Sec
tons.
FINCASTLE, VA, April 6.--(Speciai)-
The mercury went down here last night
! to 70 degrees below freezing. and there
| was plenty Of ice. The ground froZe UP
as tight as in the dead Of winter. The
fruit up 10 this time was not materially
injured, but It seems utterly impossible
for any Of it TO be saved now. Certainly
I all early fruit must be killed. 1t VIII
take little time, however, TO ascertain
the extent Of the damage to later crops
Some fears are expressed in regard TO
the growing wheat, but it is hoped that
it has not been injured. 1t is difficult,
however, to see how any tender plant
could escape in such freeze.
BAD WEATHER IN ALBEMARLE.
SCOTTSVILLE, VA, April 6.-(Special)
Yesterday was a rough. stormy day.
After raining steadily through the pre-
vious night, it showed and sleeted for
about two hours This morning the
ground was hard frozen and ice nearly
an inch thick had formed in vessels
around the yards. The Blue Ridge and
Allegheny mountains. which are in plain
view, for forty or fifty miles are covered
with a heavy coating Of snow. The
writer examined a good many peach
trees and failed to find among them more
than one or two that were not thoroughly
killed. They were frozen i'm the cups.
Ia 10 and ruorillO cherries
are not hurt it appears. Pears are prac-
tically destroyed Strawberries, where
unprotected, were completely killed. The
ground being very wet helped TO check
the frosts ravages 10 some extent; for
for that hardly any green thing that had
begun to grow could have escaped. The
ground is now thoroughly wet to a con-
siderable depth.
DAMAGES IN NORFOLK COUNTY.
NORFOLK. VA, April 6.-(SpeciaL)- /
The tremendous trucking interests Of
Tidewater Virginia have not been great |
ly injured by the cold weather and spring |
frosts, although some damage resulted /
from last nights freeze. Potatoes and |
snaps which are above ground were in |
jured but Strawberries are unhurt. |
Truckers in the fertile Western Branch |
district report general damage A heavy |
frost tonight will well-nigh ruin all the |
crops.
TOBACCO PLANTS SAVED.
DANVILLE, VA, April 6.-(SpeciaI)-
The frost in this section effectually killed
budding fruit, including apples, cherries
peaches, etc. Tobacco plants have been
saved from destruction by the use of the
adopted plan Of protection which
employs cloth coverings for plant beds.
No other crops are sufficiently advanced
10 be affected.
PRINCE EDWARD SUFFERS.
FARMVILLE. VA, April 6.-(Special)
Heavy frosts the past few nights and
he freeze of last night have done great
iamage TO fruit of every kind. 1t IS
hought, indeed, to be all destroyed ex-
,ept in well-protected spots. Many early
gardeners will have TO repant their gar
lens, as the cold weather Of last night
'uined sprouting seed
ICE AND SNOW IN ROCKBRIDGE-
LEXINGTON April 6.-(SpeciaIJ- The |
thermometer went TO twenty last night
md ice, which lasted all to-day. was
o-med. The mountains around are COW
red with snow and cold wind has been
lowing. All the fruit, with the exception
f a few apples. has been killed and
verything else in the vegetable line is
lighted
1t is reported that the wheat is badly
There is no change in the tenn
erature tonight
NEAR FREDERICKSBURG.
FREDERICKSBURG, April 6-(Spe-
ial)-After day Of rain, sleet. and
now, the thermometer dropped To
last night. There was a very
eavy frost and ice. Only meagre reports ,
ave been received from the surrounding \,
lunty as TO the damage 10 the grain and :
'uit crops. 1t will take few days 10 :
etermine the actual result The impress ,
on prevails. however, that the damage /,
very great :
FROSTY IN AUGUSTA. r
April 6.-(Special)- v
as a heavy frost here and the mercury p
ent TO twenty. 1t is believed the small v
uts. cherries, berries, peaches and p
ums, are killed, but that no damage II
as done to apples or cereals. The truck II
itches not yet planted. $
SNOW AT MANASSAS q
April Especial There u
as a heavy fall Of snow yesterday and / y
eezing weather all day. The thermome- ~
r dropped last night 10 twenty-five de- -,
ees, and the ice was one inch thick. -
ne fruit is said 10 be all killed. ~
IN CAMPBELL COUNTY. n.
April 6.-(SpeciaL)-Re- q
rts from the surrounding country indi- W
te that the cold snap and frost has en- OF
ely wiped out the fruit crop OF this Ia
ction s.
TWENTY ABOVE ZERO. In
ABINGDON, April 6.-(Special) -There ~
IS a severe freeze last night. and the VI
was only twenty degrees y
owe zero early this morning. The fruit ,,
$ been killed. and young grass and oats ~
d wheat are very forward and are badly ~,
ured The weather is sill cold, and g..
might promises to be but little warmer. -
NEARLY AN INCH THICK r.
SALEM. VA. April Especial THE ca
.eze last night killed most Of the frui. ev
this section. Ice was three fourths or
inch thick this morning.
IN THE SOUTHWEST n,
'AzEWELL. VA, April 6.-(SpeciaI)-
the fruit is thought 10 have been
led here by the frost last night. There WI
" be few apples left. No damage n''
3 done to the crops. ~
AROUND KEYSVILLE no.