Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-05-07
NINETY PERCENT. OF WESTERN
SLOPE FRUIT CROP PROB
ABLY SAVED.
TIRED FARMERS REST
sMUDGE POTS IN CONSTANT USE
FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE
NIGHTS.

ShscA' "A 6Iduu JuuCtiOu SpeClti "
the News Sunday night says: After
three consecutive nights OF smudging
to save their rich fruit crops from the
ravages Of a severe frost, the farmers
throughout the Grand valley have
spent the day In the first sleep they
have had for forty-eight hours.
Last nights battle, in comparison
with that Of the night before. was a
tame affair. Early in the evening II
was warmer by ten degrees than on
Friday night. NJ grower. however. re-
laxed his vigilaut watch, and 1t was for
tunate that no one did so. for. though
dropping slowly, by 3 o'clock this
morning the temperature was once
more close to the danger point, and the
pots in many sections were quickly
fired and kept burning until 6 o'clock.
. At the weather bureau was the low
est record during night. but in some
parts Of the valley 27 was registered
a short time just before dawn.
Palisade. Fruita and Iona had an
easy night. and only few pots were
lighted at these points. Today has
been warm and no froJ: is anticipated
tonight. The weather bureau will keep
open to be ready in case Of emergency.
Although anxiety over possible
loss Of the crop by frost has been
greatly allayed by the remarkable ef-
ficiency displayed by the fire pots. the
growers realize that the danger is by
no means past. The critical period Is
set for another two weeks. and some Of
the severest spring frosts ever expert
enced here have come as late as the
middle Of May.
In this connection the weather bu-
reau today issued a special warning to
the fruit growers not to be off their
guard. as there was every likelihood
that one and possibly several more
smudgings would be necessary.
Further examination OF the fruit
buds confirms the earlier report that
90 per cent OF crop in the smudged
area will be harvested this fall.
From other points OF the western
slope encouraging reports have been
received today. The orchards in Mon
trose and Delta counties. although they
experienced q severe frost, are be-
lieved to have come out practically I'M
harmed. Last night was mild In those
sections, but not even on the coldest
nights was smudging resorted to. Few
Of the growers, in fact, have facilities
for smudging The buds are far be-
hind what they are here. and at the
present time are practically immune.
A Canon City dispatch Sunday night
saSs: The temperature did not go be-
low IS degrees here last night, and
for that reason small apprehension was
felt among the fruit growers in this
section OF the state. The situation was
closely watched, however. and while n
majority did not smudGe. there were
some who took extra precautions. 1t
is not felt that any damage whatever
occurred here last night.
A Rocky Ford dispatch says. The
frost here last night was not as bad
Us the previous night and very little
uneasiness was felt for the fruit crop.
There was practically no smudging
done near Rocky Ford last night,
though the temperature was a little
lower near Manzanola. and some
smudging was done in that neighbor-
hood. The fruit crop In this section
is believed to have come off with small
loss.
A dispatch from Pennington, N. NJ.
says: The cold wave that struck here
last night and the night before injured
the apricots and some Of the more ten
der plums. The peaches were also in
jured, but the orchardists here claim
that sufficient buds are left uninjured
to make a crop.
Friday night seems to have been the
worst in all sections and most OF the
damage to fruit was done then.