Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-04-04
FROST HURT CROPS
IN MANY SECTIONS
SAYS FRUIT PAPER
Winter Hits Peach, Berry And
Apple Crops Hardest.

New York, April Tile sudden
return OF wintry weather with its
accompanying frost last Monday
and Tuesday, played havoc with the
early budding fruit crops in many
sections Of the country. Especially
nard hit were growers throughout
Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. West
Virginia and Pennsylvania. The cold
snap while general east OF the
Rocky Mountains got in its hardest
ticks from western North Carolina
mp, although northern Georgia, Al
abamd Kentucky. Texas and almost
all OF Oklahoma felt its effects I'm
Il! growers have I'd time to make
+ real survey OF the situation moth
ing authentic viii be known, but the
monetary damage done will probably
mount 10 a staggering figure. The
prospective peach. pear, strawberry
ard ample yields were he greates
uNcrers
In southern and central Jerses the
loss to fruit and berry crops Is re
nendous Growing in the south Jer
tey section was very far advanced
due to the early warm spell and
when the temperature dropped near
ly 60 degrees in few hours, crops
we're ruined The frost that followed
the storm Monday night did the
greatest harm Officials Of the Bever-
ly Growers Association place the
damage to the various crops as fol-
lows; Pears. 50 to Go per cent;
peaches, IS to 90 per cent; cherries.
practically wiped out, early apples,
30 to 60 per cent, and late apples
from 40 to so per cent. Very little If
any damage was done to peas and
beans burlington county reports
place III. peach loss at from 80 to
100 per cent and all the hopes en-
tertained for a good, early yield
have gone a-glimmering Around
Hammonton, peach. plum and pear
orchards face almost complete an
Inhalation and while blackberries
were not seriously affected the
strawberry acreage was hard hit
The southern Jersey huckleberry
crop is reported from various sour
ces to be completely ruined.
Advices from Delaware express
crave fears for strawberries This
likewise applies to the regions
around The eastern shore OF Mary
land. In these two sections damage
to the extent of hundreds OF thou
sands OF dollars was done to the
frnit industry. Pears and peaches,
which with strawberries have been
IN full bloom for week were first
drenched by the rain and then froz-
on stiff as the temperature hurtled
downward and those growers who
hoped to recuperate recent tomato
losses with early fruit yields, now
face a decidedly gloomy prospect.
From central Delaware comes re-
ports OF some damage but there is
hope in certain quarters that apples.
pears. peaches and grapes in that
region will escape the heavy devas-
tation. In Washington county, the
center OF western Marylands peach
belt. come reports that the crop is
entirely destroyed after drop of 60
degrees in temperature in u hours.
Southern Pennsylvania suffered
severely as the wintry blasts killed
practically all early varieties of
peaches, cherries and plums. What
damage has been done to late vari
cites is not known yet. The Geor-
sia peach belt apparently escaped
the trail of the killing frost as re-
ports from the section are rather
optimistic. Southern Ohio reports
considerable damage with the north
end OF the state untouched. Oklaho-
ma crop officials reports all fruit
crops lost entirely while Kentucky
and Texas We're also affected. The
Crop Reporting Service in Missouri
says that r.ports fltering in indi-
cate a loss of from s10,000,O00 to
2l5,000,oo0 to fruit and garden crops
only today Wire from Winchester.
Va, tells of total loss of the apple
crop in that important section
Fruitman's Guide.