The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-03
PINES DAMAGED BY FREEZE.
NAVAL STORES WEN RECEIVE RE
PORTS FROM OPERATORS.

Many Pines showing yellow Needles
as the Result of the Freeze, which
Caught Them in the snp-RepOrts
Received From Many Points in
Georgia and Florida to This Eff
fect-Young Pines Reported to
Have neen killed in Some In
stances-Damnge Not Believed to
BE Serious.
The recent freeze seems 10 have broken
all records in Georgia and Florida. Here
tofore il has always been he'd that the
pine tree was not subject to damage by
cold except such as might be caused by
the breaking of limbs when weighted with
sleet and snow or when thawing out after
a freeze.
Reports from all throughout the turpen-
tine district show that considerable dam
age was done to the pines 10y the freeze.
Several Of the naval stores factors have
received reports to this effect from their
customers, and these reports were con-
hrmed yesterday by operators and others
from the turpentine section who were in
the city The reports show that while the
damage is not general. it is widespread
similar reports coming from widely sep
arated points in Georgia and Florida
The reports state that the needles have
turned yellow on many pines and the
trees have the appearance as if fire had
passed over them. MIR. Carey B. Town
send, who represents the STANDARD OIL
Company in the turpentine district, arriv-
ed in the city last night
The freeze has undoubtedly done con-
siderable injury TO the pine throughout
the turpentiue district said Mr.. Town
send. The trees have The appearance OF
having been burned over. and the effect
can easily be observed from the car win
dows in travelling through South Georgia
and Florida. Il is hardly likely that the
trees are killed"
Nr W W Beach. prominent naval
stores operator Of Waycross. said: There
seems 10 be considerable damage in Flor
ida The needles are turning yellow on
many trees. and the trees look as II they
had been killed. II IS something unheard
% for pines TO suffer from The cold, but
this Is undoubtedly the case This is due
to toe unusual conditions The warm
weather before the cold spell had set the
sap running. and the trees were in just
the condition 70 b. most aHected py the
cod"
Ar Lawrence Mcneil of the Peacock &
Hunt Naval Stores Company said his
company had received several reports
from operators IN Georgia and Florida,
stating that the pines were showing the
effects Of the freeze Mr.. Mcneil at
tributed the unusual effect of the freeze
10 the fact that the pines were in bloom,
that is the young needles were just put
ting forth.
Some of the young trees may nave been
Killed but l hardly think this Is the case
with the older trees" said Mr.. Mcneil.
1.-The dead straw viii fail off and the trees
will put forth new needles. l do not think
the damage will have any appreciable ef-
feet on the turpentiue crop"
President w. c. Powell of the Savannah
Naval Stores Company, said that he had
also received reports on this line. The
freeze checked the flow Of the sap" said
Mr.. PoweIl, but this is only temporary.
The damage is moi likely TO be sufficient
to affect the naval stores output"
Should the damage prove 10 be more gem
eral than Is now supposed 1t would be a
very serious matter for the hundreds of
operators in the turpentine district as well
as the local business men who have con-
siderable money out among the operators.