The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-16
SAYS REPORTS EXAGGERATED.
MAI. RIVALS DOES NOT BELIEVE
FRUIT CROP DESTROYED.

He Has Just Returned From an In
spectiOn of His Orchards-Win Be
Some Days Before the Extent OF
the Loss Can BE TOId-A Smaller
Crop Means Better PrIces-Savan-
nah Truck Crops Totally Wiped
Out.
Maj. G. NJ. Ryals returned yesterday
from Ty Ty, where he went several days
ago on a visit of inspection to his fruit
orchards. He was on the ground during
the blizzard of Sunday and Monday.
Maj. Ryals was esked as to the extent
been damaged.
At this time, he said, 1t is impossible 10
make reliable estimate. Some days OF
sunshine or warm weather will be neces-
sary to reveal the effects of the freeze.
Untn then opinions are merely the most
hazardous sort of guesswork.
However" said Mai Ryals st believe
that the reports from the peach section
which have declared the crop TO be al
most an entire failure, are gross exaggera-
ions. My own opinion is that there ia
no such total destruction. Until the trees
nIoom' or are about to bloom, cold win
not Kill the life principle in the buds. and
rev or the trees were in this condition
VI course, some damage has been done.
just now much only time can determine.
put am very far from thinking that the
crop Is completely destroyed"
1.-THE latar
sooner than the early varieties" said Mai
Kyals land the damage has been done
therefore, principally to those trees that
Dear late in the season. I have no doubt
that the peach growers will make at least
good part of their crop and the out
put will bring better prices than If the
yield were unusually large-like, for in
stance, that of last season."
While Maj. Ryals was at Ty-Tv the noer-
curry fell to degrees below zero The
cola was more severe than Ii was here
though Ty-Ty is much farther south than
savannah. Sunday night and Monday
morning about two inches of snow fell.
MAJ Ryals returned to Savannah to find
the crops of vegetables on his farm al
most completely destroyed. He had about
tuhateiy less than he usually
plants, and these are shriveued and
dead from the effects of the freeze. Beets
are in the same fix. The tomato plants
were Killed in the frames, and all small
crops were either destroyed or seriously
injured.
one of the main losses the farmers have
sustained is from the damage done the
seed potatoes of which they all had large
STOCKS on hand. OF these from % to 80
per cent, are frostbitten and rendered use
less, either for seed or consumption. 1t
would De well for planters to examine
thelr potato seed before planting and to
be sure that il is sound and good. Other
wise they will find themselves waiting
expectantly for a crop that will not an.
pear.
Maj. Ryals brought back with him A
collection of cold weather stories, all
Vouched for as actual happenings. One
OF these is TO the effect that a good house
wife of Ty Ty entered her pantry Monday
morning, to find that several Of the glass
jars containing her preserved peaches had
burst from the cold. Their contents how
ever, were safe and uniniured having
frozen into a compact mass syrup and
all, and remained upright upon the shelves
Another thrifty mater fam!lias, who had
large and unshorn collection of children
stood them up in a row outside the door
of her dwelling. Their hair Just stood on
end from the cold and then became trans
formed into icicles. In this condition it was
readily reduced to the desired length and
the annoyance and expense of a haircut for
each of her progeny neatly averted.
Maj. Ryals does not allow the obstruction
of his crops TO dishearten him or to inter
fere with his plans. AS soon as the wealth
er permits, he will commence neplanting
the crops or replacing them with others.
A freeze or two year he accepts as a
necessary evil and a part of the businass
He does confess. however, that our last
experience with the Ice King was a trife
unusual and more or less undufy disagree
able.