The San Francisco call., 1898-03-15

or not the rain now would save the grain on the lands where alkai or adobe is mixed, as the moisture Is too far gone. We have faced only one such crisis in ten years, and the fact that we were saved at the last minute is the ray of hope in the present gloomy outlook. The uncertainty of the present is a terrible tension on those who have their all staked in the grow ing of grain"
 Great interest centers in the move ment in hay. It closed locally. at Sl8 a ton (retaiD on Saturday, and opened to-day strong at $20. It is predicted that it will go higher, as several dealers seemed to hold contracts covering a larger part of the wheat hay for the year. As high as $16 is being paid at wholesale, and alfalfa can hardly be secured at any price.
 Woods Bros, on Robers Island, among the heaviest grain growers in the West, intend to make the best or the situation this year and try to raise a crop Irrigation of grain crops on the island is comparatively untrled. The Chinese gardeners often s1phon the water over the levees for the lrrl- gation of garden truck, but practical attempts to water large tracts of grow ing grain on the reclaimed lands have not been made. This is what the woods Bros. expect to accomplish. They own the greater part of Roberts Island, ana the outlook for a drought is exceed ingly discouraging.
 To-day the Messrs. Woods were hg- uring on commencing the work. They nropose to irrigate a tract of over 20Oo acres on the lower division of the isl- and. and contemplate the cutting Of the leyee for that purpose. They must first. however, obtain the consent of the reclamation district, as the work Is dangerous unless properly handled and might flood thousands of acres.
 The plan is to put in sluice about twenty feet wide through the big levee at a distance of about four feet below the lowest water This will give a stream all the time and at high tide will pour a big volume of water through the sluice. Then ditcheS and dams for the distribution of the water will be made to cover the area of the 200O acres. This firm raised s100,00O worth of wheat here last year, and the prospect of losing an amount equal this year compels it to resort to heroic measures.
 FRESNO, March 14.-There was an unusually heavy frost In this county last night and early this morning, and reports have been received here of great damage to the fruit crops. w. T. Daw- son, foreman for W. w. Phillips, the large fruit grower, telegraphed that Phillips crop was practically destroyed The Phillips ranch is on the San Joa- uuin River, about twelve miles from here. The trees blossomed early this year because the soil was warm, owing to lack of irrigation; hence, the early frost is more damaging. The fruits that suffered most were peaches and april ha h hpjnO totally 6QCtrnuaI in many sections.
 c. F. Barnett of Fowler reports nearly the entire peach and apricot crop on his place killed by last nights heavy frost.
 From Reedley the report comes that the greater part of the fruit crop was greatly injured.
 The temperature in this city last night was 34 Fahrenheit, while at Reed ley the mercury was down to 26 Ice formed in many places. Tn the imme- diate vicinity of Fresno the damage was not so great as in other parts of i the county.
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