The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-16
PEACHES ARE ALL DESTROYED.
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT EN-
TERTAINS LITTLE HOPE.


That the Destruction Is AbOnt Com
pIete-Miu Be "A Great Blow to the
Fruit Growers of the state-The
state Fair in Atlanta Finally As
sured-Subscription OF $4,000 Has
Been Raised.
hr,nta Feb. l5.-The state fair was
finally assured at the meeting of the com
mittee of the Agricultural Society and the
local committee To-day.
President Pope Brown of the Agricultu-
RAJ Society. and his assistants, who came
10 town for the purpose OF seeing what At
lanta proposed TO do for The fair, were
highly pleased with the work done by the
local committees and with the enthusiasm
displayed for the fair mere.
In consequence they pledged the undi-
vided cooperation of the Agricultural So
ciety and agreed that the fair should be
held as at first proposed. The date will
probably be from oct. IS TO Nov. 4.
The members of the Agricultural Society
who came to Atlanta with President
Brown 10 help arrange the details of the
president, and DR.. Hape, secretary; Vice
Presidents II. c. Evans, r. +. Cnttenden,
J. S. Black, B. n. Barrow, J. l. Johnson,
G. II. Jones; members Of the executive
committee, G. S. Rountree, o. s. Tumlin,
J. II. Easterlin, NJ. r. Russell, w. B.
Henderson, r. E. Parker, r. J. Jemison,
T. j. Lyon, J. O. Waddel 7. L. McAliister,
j. E. McElroy. J. G. Stanley.
Former Gov. Northen will serve as chair
man of the general joint committee, with
Hon. c. A. Collier, formerly president of
the Cotton States and International Elk
position, and now president OF the newly
organized business league, as vice chair
man.
Enthusiasm Displayed.
With a team like this the agricultural
society will have the benefit of as good tai
ent as there is anywhere IN the Fair bus
mess" Speeches were made at the meet
ing by ex-Gov. NoIthen, President Brown,
Mr.. Collier and several others, including
Mr.. r. W. Jamison, of Macon, formerly
secretary of the State Agricultural So
ciety.
Mr.. Jemlson created ripple of applause
in the meeting when he declared that
Macon did not have any grudge against
Atlanta for getting the fair, despite all the
talk on that line recently, but would heart
lily cooperate with this city in making it
a great success.
Reports were made by the committees
who canvassed the city last week, and 1t
was shown that approximately the $4,000
which Atlanta is to give the fair had been
raised, the balance being within reach
h. al
mittees opportunity to resume work.
Peach Crop About All Gone.
The state agricultural department is in
receipt of reports from the fruit belt show
ing beyond much doubt that the blizzard
has completely destroyed the peach crop.
Commissioner Stevens who has been gath
ering all the information possible takes a
very gloomy view of the situation. AS
soon as he gets his reports all in hand he
VIII issue a bulletin showing the devas-
tation of the blizzard.
Prof. w. NJ. Scott, the state entomolo-
gist, VINO began making inquiries in the
fruit belt early Monday, when it was an
parent that great damage had been done.
Is also IN receipt of reports from his cor
respondents which show an almost total
destruction of the peach crop and which
are confirmatory of his prediction several
Jays ibO AillOuSH AuG morning News dis
patches that thousands of young trees
have been killed and seriously damaged. In
speaking of the situation to-day Prof.
Scott said.
Ihat all the fruit below BarnesviFle and
Macon has been totally destroyed. 1 do
not believe there is any doubt. am sure
that much of the crop in the northern Dor
ton OF the state has been very seriously
damaged and 1t may be that every tree In
the northern part has been destroyed so
FAR as frutage Ia concerned this season.
Inc destruction of the crop will be a
great blow to the fruit growers of the
state. as they had just about recovered
rrom the freeze that came four years ago
ana ruined the crop for three years. Last
season the crop was what might be called
phenomenal. One million dollars was real
1zed from the crop, and the expectation
Tor a good profit was universal for this
season. Now that the season has brought
a freeze severer than was ever known he
fore in this state, the growers feel that
the fruit industry has been given a great
backset.
The Young Trees Killed.
THE young trees have been killed in
many orchards. The trees and and
years old have probably escaped, but l
fear that all of the young trees, or at
killed.
The trees, however, do not ALWAYS
freeze TO the roots, and there will be many
trees which can be cut off a foot or two
above the ground, and they viii grow from
the stump. l have seen many orchards
in this state where nearly all of the trees
had been topped on account Of freezes.
The limbs quickly grow out again, and
while there Is, of course, no fruit that
season, the trees will grow, and the next
season there Will be crop, unless, of
course 1t is killed again.
Therefore because a tree is killed at
the top the tree need not be dug up and
a new one put in its place
Has Examined Sprigs.
"A number of peach tree sprigs have
been sent to me since Monday for exami-
nation, and in nearly every instance I
found that the blossom has been killed
where this advanced stage has been reach
ed, and where the tree had not budded
the life of the tree had been DESTROYED
so far as any fruit this season is concern
ed.
by taking a pocket knife and cutting
through the bud it can be easily seen
whether or not the tree is killed or wheth-
er the bud has baqn destrovad Tf ;,ois