The Delta independent., 1907-04-26
THE FROST BIT HARD.

~
April l9, 20 and 81. Each day brings in
more encouraging reports. At first all
was thought to have been lost, but like
some people Delta county has wonder
full recuperative qualities. 1t has
strong constitution.
Peaches and apricots are pretty badly
knocked out, altho there will be some.
The big, red apple. however, will come
up smiling with full half crop and
what has been lost in quantity will be
made up in price. Apples will be ap-
pies this fall and one box will bring as
much as three in former years.
The freeze-up was not confined to the
Western Slope of Colorado by any
means. 1t was national, international.
From California, Alabama, New York.
Michigan; from Germany across the
sea: from everywhere, in fact, comes
the same sad story of storm and cold
and consequent destruction to fruit.
The storm on the Western Slope was
mild compared with what happened on
the Eastern Slope. In Denver snow
fell to a depth of IS inches. In Delta
not much more than an inch covered
the ground.
The storm OF Friday night did some
mischief. but we were still on top Sat
urGay morning. That afternoon the
sky began to clear and it was evident
heavy frost would fall before morning.
no rod tn Sr1tIfya
Among them were {. S. Gibbs at mis-
Cory fruit farm, Jay Gillette in the
upper Gunnison valley, l.. W. Sweitzer
on Garnet mesa.
SMuDGING AT swElTZERS
l.. W. Sweitzer's 80 acre orchard was
grand sight. a veritable snow ball of
bloom 1t is Delta's show ground.
When the stranger visits here he Is
taken to Sweitzer's. He is always met
with smile and handshake and bade
welcome. Delta people felt deep in
terest in this orchard and as a result
several business men urged Mr.. Sweit
zer to smudge, offered to help with the
work and to see that baled hay and
whatever else might be necessary was
transported to his place. Tne arrange
uasnt VAS made and that night at two
O'Clock a dozen business and profes-
sional men of Delta left the scant re-
mains of what had been a most delight
full lunch. served by Mrs. .Sweitzer and
went into the orchard to apply the torch
ITptI pipry
sun raised its glaring face above the
snow capped mountain range which
lines the eastern horizon, these men
moved from smudge to smudge. beating
down blaze here and stirring the en-
bers there. At six O'Clock in the morn
ing there was a sure enough smoke IN
that orchard and the temperature. COM
pared with thermometers down town
had been raised from four to five de-
grees An examination of the fruit
buds on Sunday proved conclusively
that much good had been done. Sunday
night the effort was renewed and as a
result MIR Sweitzer confidently predicts
that he will ship ten car loads or 5000
4 ppNSS Oh lEull lTlS year.
/ The only thing to regret about the
initial attempt at smudging in this To-
cality is that We were not properly
organized here in town and thus pre-
iSt in the vicinity. Another year organ
lzed preparation will be made.
REPORT OF CONDITIONS
The consensus of opinion thruout the
county at the present time is to the ef-
feet that full half crop will be pro-
duced. The North Fork country suf-
fcred severely. but on the higher mesas
where the trees were not out in full
apples.
DR.. Miller telephones from Austin
that the Rome Beauty will be full
crop: Gano. full crop: some peaches
and apricots.
W. n. kcnnicott at Cory says he will
have good crop of the Rome Beauty.
Gencton. Talmon Sweet. Northern Spy
and New Town Pippins. He will also
have some cherries.
W. +. Obert reports some of his
cherries full crop.
Elder States yesterday telephon ed
from Ccdaredge rs follows: Went out
in my orchard this morning to set tree 5
where some were missing and was sur
prised to find 50 much fruit in good con
dition. Pears and prunes are coming
out far better than could be expected.
Looks as if we had peaches and apples.
at least half crop. Mr.. Caldwell tells
me his apples are showing up favor