The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1910-01-07
The Cold Hurt Some.

The cold of last Wednesday and
Thursday nights wrought considerable
damage to the orange industry in Ores
cent City AMI its envirous. The dam
age was confined TO the fruit on the
trees, the trefs themselves being unin-
iured. Just How serious was the loss to
the ungathered crop, will require few
days to tell. In some localities all hope
of saving any has been abandoned. In
other parts, more protected, the best
Judges hold to the view that considera-
bic fruit remains unhurt.
The Crescent City crop this year has
been estimated at 100000 boxes. OF
this amount probably two-thirds had
been forwarded.
The mercury on Wednesday night
went TO % degree along the ridge part of
town. In some outlying sections OF the
place ii is reported as low as 20.
On Thursday night the temperature
went to rs, with a freezing temperature
from II p. m. to a. m. That is long
period of freezing weather for this sec
ton, and it was on this night that the
greater damage was sustained. Much Of
the fruit came through the greater cold
of Wednesday night unframed, only to
receive a knock out blow by the less
severe cold OF the following night.
In many places the oranges, if frosted
at all, were so little damaged that ex-
perts are unable TO detect. They know
that other fruit, not great distance
away, had ice in it for they saw the
ice, and that the balance should be dam
aged il they are not. All agree that by
the middle of next week the status OF
these iceless oranges can be determined.
Many of the most intelligent growers
are of the opinion that goodly percent
age of the crop will be found marketa.
Bile.
A large part of the grapefruit is
thought to be all right. TangerineS are
quickest to show damage, as the water
shows between the sections where they
have been frosted. The editor of the
News personally saw many tangerines
that had not been frosted at all, Others
were slightly damaged, and many badly.
Natural protection due to location had
to do in preserving much of the fruit.
David Dawes, whose fine grove is in
the north end, says most OF his ffuit was
ruined. He had shipped but little, il
any.
L. A. Hurlbut had shipped about hall
the crop on his 30-acre grove. He in.
clines to the opinion that much of il
was uninjured.
E. H. Williams has shipped the fruit
from IS of his 40 acres of bearing trees.
He is satisfied that considerable of the
fruit on the trees will show up all right
Mccormick, Hubbs & Co.'S groves
had about $4,000 boxes ungathered
This firm is heavy loser.
]. L. Burton thinks the bulk of hi:
1000 ungathered boxes are gone.
c. P. Hale's grove was equipped witt
stoves between the trees, and these
were fired we'll the first night but ne
elected somewhat the second. Ii is be
lieved that Mr.. Hale has saved the maio
part of his crop.
Mr.. Chase of Chase & Co. made al
inspection OF the firms grove propert.
here on Friday, and ordered suspension
of shipments until he could with Ger
tainty determine the condition of tn
' fruit. He inclines to the opinion tina
4 much of it is damaged.
r Many growers are fortunate in tina
!, they had already shipped or sold all, o
y the bulk of their crops. Others, man
e of whom could lily afford to lose, ha
k shipped little. The losses fell unequal
S ~. To him that had not, was take
n away even that which he had.
But even the heaviest losers are phi
a oSophical. They are not whining.
$ The News feels sure that some Of tn
/. fruit will yet be found firm, thong
II there is no question but that the bulk c
g the crop now on the trees was damaged
In