Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-01-28
MAY INJURE FRUIT
sLEET AND ICE MAY DESTROY
APPLE AND CHERRY CROP IN
WAPELLo COUNTY.
Heavy Coating of ice Has Made Many
ottumwa Homes Look Like Fairy
Palaces, But Has Destroyed Many
Beautiful Shade Trees.

If the ice and sleet continues to
hang much longer to the branehes6 te,
the cherry and apple ices as it does
, IN: the higher places in this vicinity, 1t
is possible that the crop will be ruined
for this year." said a prominent citi-
zen who takes great interest in botan-
ical subjects and who has a few choice
trees of his own. This gentleman call
ed attention to the unusual fact
that the ice had left the branches of
the trees in the lower parts Of the
city, but in the higher parts 1t still
clings to the trees.
A Warmer Current.
This gentleman stated that the only
way in which he could account for
the phenomena was that there must
have been warmer. current of air
passing through the lower parts Of the
city, and which does not reach the
higher attitudes. He stated that at
the city park the ice was practically
but even on that day near his home on
Court hill the Ice and sleet was as thick
as ever. The ice is more noticeable,
he states, from the Lincoln school
building on up the hill. This would
indicate that only the fruit trees on
the higher ground is liable to dam
age. sss ~ -, t54ss
Will Not Affect tho Leaves.
The opinion advanced by this same
gentleman was that the leaves on the
various kinds of trees where the ice
remains would in all probability re-
bud should the buds at this time be
killed. But he states that the buds Of
the blossoms of the fruit trees, If kill
ed now by the ice will mean there will
fected. TO-
May Affect Growers.
1t is possible that the ice clinging
to the trees in. the higher attitudes
may affect the growers Of fruit whose
orchards are located up on high ground
but as yet there has been no report
Of any damage received from the
country. 1t is stated upon good au-
| thority that there are a number OF
are upon high ground. but whether
the ice has chung to the trees outside
the city can not be learned.
Has Added to Burden.
The snow which began to fall Sun
burden Of weight which the trees on
higher ground are at present carry
| ing. Many that before the snow had
| practically all the weight upon them
which they could bear up, have since
| that time been bent almost to the
ground. The slender, graceful beach
trees which have adorned the lawns
of many of the residences along North
Court street have perhaps suffered
more severely than any other species
The tree is naturally not strong one
and the weight Of ice which chung to
every limb and twig has broken many
of them SO that they will have to be
| cut to the ground and allowed to start
again from the roots. Many Of the
apple trees have lost their large limbs.
A Beautiful Sight. u.
n The thick sheet Of ice which has
covered the houses, trees and the
ground has made hundreds Of the OF
tunlwa homes look like fairy crystal
palaces. People would travel thou
sands of miles for the privilege of
viewing an artificial scene of one-half
the beauty, yet The average ottum-
/ wan hurries along the street, rubbing
his benumbed ears, stolidly indiffer-
ent to the magnificent beauties that
! are about him.
Kodak Men are Busy.
The old saying that 1T is an Ill
l wind that blows nobody good" has
| proven true in this case. If the sleet
/ las ruined dozens of beautiful trees
all over the city which have cost the
owners much care and money, and if
h the icy condition Of the lawns, walks
and streets has proven terror to
those who are uncertain of foot. yet
the sleet has proven great joy to
the kodak der,d and to the photogra-
pher. Not moment has been allow
ed to escape and the most familiar
figure on the street mas been the de-
voice of the sensitive plate and the
knight of the tripod and the black
cloth.
4 A brick factory with a capicity of
10000 brick daily is to be erected at
Il Clinton