Evening star., 1921-03-29
FREEZING WEATHER
DOES BIG DAMAGE
Widespread Injury to Fruit.
Mercury Drops 56 Degrees
Here-Winds High.

tremendous damage to fruit
throughout the middle west and the
Atlantic states as far south as Ten
nessee and northern Texas vas re-
ported to the weather bureau today
as the result of the almost un-
precedented drop in temperature.
The driving rain and wind. fol-
lowed by the drop to freezing and
below. did much damage to fruit and
flowers in the District and nearby
Virginia and Maryland, shoots in
many instances being frozen stiff in
their water-soaked condition.
The bureau of markets and bureau
of crop estimates Of the Department
of Agriculture were chary today in
regard to reports of the freeze from
throughout the country. Employees of
the fruit and vegetable division Of
the former bureau who live in near
by states spoke of personal expert
ences. but would give no official es-
innate of damages nor of reports as
to damages.
Fall of SO Degrees Here.
A drop in temperature of Sc de-
grees was registered at the weather
bureau here. going down from 50 de-
grees yesterday afternoon to 26 early
to beat all records. was registered
at the kiosk on Pennsylvania avenue.
which registered SS degrees yester-
day afternoon against 28 degrees
early today.
High winds prevailed last night,
but police reports show that very
little damage was done, although five
trees were blown down and branches
were broken from several other trees.
Flowering plants in and about the
city suffered from the cold and wind.
The ground about hundreds of flow-
cred with blossoms this morning.
which were blown to the ground, and
blossoms of small plants were stiff
ened by the cold, willing with the
morning sun.
The beautiful rosebed in front of
the weather bureau was ruined by
the freeze of last night.
Freezing temperatures, predicted
for this vicinity again tonight by the
weather bureau, will about put the
finishing touch to the damage to fruit
done last night, in the estimate of
Warmer weather tomorrow, follow
ing freezing again tonight, with con-
tinued fair. is forecast.
Damage In Nearby States.
Reports from nearby Virginia today
reported everything frozen stin ex-
cept early apples. 1t looked to farm
ers in that state as il everything was
killed. but this cannot be definitely
ascertained until today's thaw allows
more mature judgment of the exact
damage. At Aocotink more than an
inch of ice formed on nearly Stpeams.
A repetition of freezing again tonight
Is feared.
The thermometers stood at 80 de-
grees this morning in nearby Mary
land, reports coming in that new
leaves on trees, bushes and plants of
all kinds had been frozen stin.
Some farmers estimated that much
damage had been done to fruit in
conservative, stating that the sun OF
today would reveal the truth as to
damages. Some said that the high
winds, by drying out the plants. had
prevented much damage. All agreed.
however, that repetition tonight OF
last nights freeze would result IN
great financial setback through fruit
twenty-five degrees above zero
was reported today from Prince
Georges county. Nd, with ice formed
on ponds. The reports stated that
of blossoms and lessened the damage
Several days would be required. it was
stated. accurately to estimate the
damage.
Some growers who have early vege-
tables under glass started their fires
last night as a precautionary meas
It is said that most farmers in this
section plant their early potatoes
ahout March II. but because of the
advanced season this year many did
their planting shortly before or after
March 1. One grower said he feared
cold weather would affect his crops.
hut he felt that it was worth while
to take the chance.