The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-05-01
UTAH FRUIT CROPS
SCOURGED BY FROST
Inspector John P. SOreDSen Es-
Inmates the Damage in Salt
Lake County 1925, 600.
REPORTS FROM OVER STATE
GENERALLY PESSIMISTIC
Apples Form the Only Crop That
Will Emerge With ColOrs
Flying.

Reports received from the fruit
growing sections of Utah, Colorado and
ms far south as the Panha ndlc of Tex
as indicate that the greatest shortage
in fruits that has afflicted the people
in years will be felt this summer, due
to the incalculable damapc done 10 the
fruit industry by the cold snap and
snow storm which swept over the coun-
try Thursday.
horticultural Inspector John P. So
Topsen estimates the damage 10 inc
fruit crop of Salt Lake county at S125,-
600 or $40. 900 He estimates that 10
per cent of tho stone fruit such as
cherries. peaches and plums, was dam
aged and the pears were pretty badly
hurt, Due to the fact that the apples
arc as vet not far enough along, they
suffered slight damage, but all of the
trees that were beginning TO blocm
were hurt. Such fruits as goosebcr,
RES, Strawberries, and the like. escaped
with slight injury, for the reason that
they were covered with the snow, which
protected them from the falling ten
perature.
Pessimistic Report.
Nicholas Bvbowcr. former superintcn-
dent of parks, had n very pessimistic
report TO offer regarding his iuvestiga-
tions of the horticultural conditions
following the storm, After an eNhaus-
tive examination involving the micro
scope and other means of arriving at
the true conditions of the buds, he re
ported that all of the early peaches
were killed and three .fourths of the re-
mander of the crop, Also, all OF the
early apples and one-half of the re-
mainder of that crop. The Peonics.
early plants, early flowers and all bulbs
we're killed Inasmuch as Mr. By
hover has spent the grcnter portion of
words nj u time like the present carry
considerable weight with the fruit
growers throughout tbe state.
At Clearfeld everything went but the
apples, and this same condition IS
found throughout the state regarding
that fruit, due to the fact that the APP
pies arc not far enough along. At Pro
vo all of the early fruits were dam
aged to large extent, while some of
the orchards reported great losses Of
the pear yield. At Springvillc the con
ditions are much the same. and while
there will be some fruit left, the yield
will be a very light one,
The prospect of a very light yield Is
causing the fruit growers Of Pleasant
Grove to take pcsslnustic view of the
industry III general. Those who have
watched the weather ut Bouutiful re.
port that the locality experienced the
most severe frost ever recorded in that
section. and ono which left the fruit
IN most disastrous condition.
In Boxelder County.
Throughout all of Boxclder county the
conditions have not been cqualcd IN
wears past. and arc much the same as
in other portions of the state. Those
who arc most pessimlstic in regard 10
the situation report total loss of the
fruit Weld for the year of 1903.
DIR. i. D. Ball of the agricultural col
lcge, who is quoted as an authority on
horticultural subjects in the state of
Utah. said Friday morning that he he.
licved tbe damage was more serious
than some of the fruit growers believed
it 10 be. Ii the conditions remain the
same for the next few days thc fruit
greater damage than it has at present
Or. Ball spoke of the reports he had
received from various parts of tho dis
trict lying between Provo on the south
and Brigham City on tho north. a sec
iiou Of the richest fruit country in tho
state. which Indicated that from - 10
50 per cent Of the fruit AT those points
had been killed, with the exception Of
the apples.
Throughout the fruit section the or.
cuardists have been binding large fires
and smudgos, so placed shat the wind
would drive the heat and smoke over
the trees and plants, hoping thus 10
save a portion Of the expected Weld.
These methods protected the fruit In
great measure and the fruit growing sec.
tion presented lively scene, every one
interested fighting 10 save at least a
portion of tho fruit.