Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-07
THOSE CRUEL FR0STS
VEGETATION BLIGHTED IN NEARLY
ALL PARTS OF THE STATE.
IMMENSE DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE.
Ii Looks as II the Virginia Fruit
Crop is Completely kiIied-snow,
Ice. and Rain In Many Sec
lions.
tons.


Ice. and Rain I'm Many Sec
lions.
FINCAsTLE, VA. April 6--(Speeial)--
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 to this time was not materially
injured, but 1t seems utterly impossible
for any of il TO be saved now. Certainly
all early fruit must be killed. IL will
take a 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 a 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 seeted 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 in the cups. |
The late apples and morillo 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 frost's ravages 20 some extent; for l
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 We're 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 efectually killed
budding fruit including apples, cherries,
peaches, etc. Tobacco plants have been
saved from destruction by the use of the
recently adopted plan of protection which
employs cloth coverings for plant beds
No other crops are sufficiently advanced
to be affected.
PRINCE EDWARD SUFFERS.
FARMVILLE. VA, April 6.-(Special)
Heavy frosts the past few nights and /
the freeze Of last night have done great
damage to fruit of every kind 1t IS
thought, indeed, to be all destroyed ex-
cept in well-protected spots Many early
gardeners will have to replant their gar
dens, as the cold weather Of last night
ruined sprouting seed.
ICE AND SNOW IN ROCKBRIDGE.-
LEXINGTON. April 6.-(SpeciaI.)-The
thermometer went TO twenty last night
and ice which lasted all to-day. was
'o-med. The mountains around are COW
sred with snow and cold wind has been
blowing All the fruit with the exception {
If a few apples. has been killed and
everything else in the vegetable line is I
)lighted. j
1t is reported that the wheat is badly C
damaged. There is no change in the tenn I
,erature tonight {
NEAR FREDERICKSBURG. I
FREDERICKSBURG, April 6.-(Spe- :,
ial)-After a day OF rain sleet. and :
now, the thermometer dropped to "
last night. There was very =
eavy frost and ice. Only meagre reports "
ave been received from the surrounding ,,
ounty as to the damage TO the grain and u
rut crops. 1t will take few days 10 n
etermine the actual result. The impress b.
ion prevails. however, that the damage >,
) very great -
FROSTY IN AUGUSTA. r,
STAUNTON, April 6.-(Special) There VI
las a heavy frost here and the mercury p,
'ent TO twenty. 1t is believed the small "
'uits, cherries berries, peaches. and pl
lums. are killed. but that no damage fr
as done TO apples or cereals. The truck in
atches not yet planted. ST
SNOW AT MANASSAS. III
MANASSAS, April Especial There n,
as a heavy fall of snow yesterday and ~
eezing weather all day. The thermome- AZ
r dropped last night 10 twenty-five de- -
-ees, and the ice was one inch thick. "a
he fruit is said 10 be all killed. ~,
IN CAMPBELL COUNTY na
April 6.-(Special.)-Re- g,
,rts from the surrounding country indi- VI
tie that the cold snap and frost has en- OF
rely wiped out the fruit crop OF this lal
ction. So
TWENTY ABOVE ZERO. in
ABINGDON, April 6.-(Special)-Th ~
as a severe freeze last night. and the VI
ermometer was only twenty degrees -
,ove zero early this morning. The fruit -
IS been killed. and young grass and oats h,IH'
Id wheat are very forward and are badly y
jured. The weather is sill cold, and T..
might promises 10 be but little warmer. 80,
NEARLY AN INCH THICK frl
SALEM, VA. April 6.-(Special) THE ca
aeze last night killed most Of the frui. ev,
this section. Ice was three-fourths OF
inch thick this morning.
IN THE SOUTHWEST. 10
rAZEWELL. VA, April 6.-(Special)- -
/ the fruit Is thought 20 have been !
led here by the frost last night. There WI
ny be few apples left. No damage nls
Is done to the crops. ~
AROUND kEYSVILLE ac|
VA. April 6.-(SpeciaI)- of
thentic reports from this and adioin- an,
, counties are 20 the effect that almost aDc
entire crop Of tobacco plants is lite q {
ly destroyed by last nights freeze ten
my prominent farmers are resolving the