The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-02-24
DANGER TO THE CROPS.
Mai. G. VI. RyaIs Does Not Believe
1t to BE Serious.


Although the weather bureau continues
20 predict fair and colder weather for to-
day and despite the gloomy predictions
as to destruction of vegetation, fruits and
vegetables especially, by the alleged cold
wave that was said to be on the way to
this section. truck growers around Sa-
vannah are not permitting themselves to
be overcome by dependency
I'm the first place." said Maj G. M.
Ryals yesterday afternoon, II have no
idea 1t is going to be as cold as the
Weather Bureau is said to have predict
ed. Indeed. 1 am willing to stake my
reputation as a weather prophet against
that of the Savannah observer that he is
wrong and that the thermometer will not
fall TO % degrees within the next twenty
four hours.
mo, l do not believe that the cold
snap that seems impending will destroy
vegetation about Savannah. Some of the
tender crops, peas and cabbage and the
like, which are just now beginning to at
tain their growth, may possibly be a bit
injured and somewhat retarded and NAV
attain their maturity somewhat later than
would otherwise have been the case but
that they will be killed l do not believe.
Potatoes have just been planted and are
sufficiently deep in the ground now to
withstand the effects of anything less Sc
we're than continued and very cold
weather. The seed has not yet begun to
sprout, and in my opinion this crop, which
is the largest planted in this section, is
not in much danger"
Maj. Ryals was asked about the proba-
bfity of damage to the fruit crop in
Central and southwestern Georgia. He
said that at this distance from the scene
1T was impossible fer him accurately to
know what were the conditions in the
orchards, but his general knowledge Of
the fruit and of the situation led him to
the belief that the damage to the crop
would not be severe. He hardly thought
the fruit buds had attained sufficient ma
turity to be very greatly injured by the
cold. OF course. If the buds are killed,
this means the end of the fruit crop Tor
the year, as they form in the fall, once
for ALL Mai. Ryals, however, did not be-
lieve they will be much damaged.
While the extreme cold weather for this
immediate vic nifty, VIII CHI was pred cted,
scarcely seems likely to make its appear
ance, It was cold enough and disagree
able enough for fur gloves and buMa o
robes sixty miles from Savannah The
members Of hunting party. who spent
yesterday at Mt. Vernon, ia Mcntgom ~
county, reported that IN that section the
snow was eight inches deep on the
ground and the weather as dlsagreeable
and as cold as they remembered to have
seen it.
The hunters had tales to tell about
wading Ia snow that reached the tops OF
their leggins and about finding the quai
for which they were searching, resting
costly beneath the shelter OF logs, which
IN turn were almost completely covered
with snow. Some allowance must be
made. possibly, for the desire OF the or.
binary sportsman not 70 permit the mar.
rative Of his adventures 20 suffer In IN.
fefeat for the want OF n few facts, bur
tnat II was very cold 10 Montgomery
'.Rooniys and that there was very much