The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-06-20
Register - ! at the U. S.
WeSsy Z Bureau in
- .orthfield
COLDEST JUNE DAY
RECORDED THERE
Thousands Of Dollars DAM
age Done All Over
Vermont


into the ken of a year that has been I
conspicuous failure so far as weather II
concerned, the heavy hand of the frost
king lay over the landscape at daybreai
to-day. People who make business oi
remembering Black Fridays and Blus
Mondays say that the early twenties oi
June will long be remembered for theil
crop-strangling propensities, for it was
year ago tomorrow that late frost
ruined hundreds Of war gardens in this
vicinage and caused thick layers of navy
blue to enter into the psychological at
mosphere of farmers hereabout. The
same cerulean hue superseded the frosty
pail that hung over this part of the ma
tion to-day.
From reports which had their origin in
several sections, it is evident that Wash
ington county was badly frost bitten
last night. Potatoes, tomatoes, field
beans and corn figured in the larger cas-
ualty lists. The mercury slumped to 20
degrees above zero in the coolest spots
and the frost which the Free and Ac-
cepted Order of Crepe Hangers has been.
hollerin' about for fortnight exacted
dire toll. Old farmers scorned at in
auiries as to whether frost had damaged
their preserves. ut was a freeze up"
they countered in tones that carried both
asperity and disdain. Small war garden
ers here in town who subscribe to more
than one paper had enough news print
on hand to mantle their patches, but
out in the countryside nothing availed TO
save the grain and vegetable growers
from heavy losses.
1t will not be surprising if the damage
runs into the thousands. Larger than
ever is the acreage under cultivation in
county, and because clouds
and windy weather in a June that thus
far has been but shambling futility of
a June had hitherto intervened against
frost rayages, the mercury recession last
night found many unprepared. Valley
farms escaped the paralyzing grip of the
frost, but the vegetation there was not
although heavy fog sought
The typographical recesses and fingered
here until well after sun-up. The fog
spelled salvation for some farmers.
There are no two people who agree
o-day whether the mercury descended
% minus so or minus SIS on the coolest
Law last Winter, and likewise accounts
,ervaded the air last night. Officially
he government weather bureau at
Jorthfeld reports temperature of %,
he coolest June day on record there.
Thermometer belonging to Mrs. Fan
lie Cooney of East Barre registered 10
egrees above the zero mark and ice
ormed solidly in a receptacle on her
The thermometer had
orthern exposure. On the east side of
he city careful recorders deposed to
eadings of 26 and 2s. Thirty obtained
/ other quarters. At the Morrison farm
here was weather enough to lay filmy
,ating of ice over a small pond.
Chronic pin prickers who worry about
rplane scandals, embalmed beef and
lell shortage, had their innings to-day.
hey declaimed to the effect that Kaiser
lillian, who is playing at the Park just
DIV and therefore should be available
n purposes of revenge, is getting all the
-eaks. And forsooth, squint in almost
~ direction where soil has been turned
-er seemed to bolster up their forged
king. North, east, south and west it
alters not. Everybody got tickled II
It pinehed by the frost. If anything,
! chilly breath was less death-dealing
the northward, but none of the towns
the upper end of the county seem to
we escaped. Along the Wells River line
me reports of heavy frost In Will
Lmstown acre after acre of corn, beans
d potatoes was laid low, and farmers
ire astir early with plans for replant-
2, albeit ii is conceded that the sea
n for replanting anything but radisbes
about past.
On the west hill the havoc wrought
the Morrison farm was typical. There
ied field beans, withered tomato
,nts and looping corn stalks bore ST.
It testimony to the effect of the frost.
Trow hill farmers found ice frozen
idly inside the waving corn. Late
n, which had barely pushed its way
rough the soil to daylight, was affect
less than the earlier corn. Potatoes
re scourged and growers were consid-
ng the feasibility of looping off the
nts in an effort to save them. In rare
tances potatoes had blossomed only to
e before the hoary breath of the frost
g. Beans were also in bad, and it il
,ected that the entire bean crop will
-e to be replsnted-
Dver on the East Montpelier road the
erience of James f. Mitchell, a large.
rket gardener, was the experience Of
ers. Beans and tomatoes were ruined.
atoes were dealt a death blow and
a perished for the want of heat. Up
th Barre way one might hear the
he sorry tales. An unusually large
ssge Of beans succumbed. Every
re, however. farmers were hoping
t midday. with the sun doing bust
at its well known stand. would re-
a few stalks that had succeeded in
,htening the corner where they are.
that leaves sadly nipped by frost
ht perk up a bit. II was the unani-
Is opinion on all sides that the sun
ht succeed where applications of cold
er and the use OF other restorstives
failed.
,ston. June 9o-Heaey frost did
n damage 20 crops in Vermont last
Il. Official reports 20 the weather
.au here to-day told Of unusually lhw