The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1921-03-31

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The mercury stood at 80 here
Tuesday morning. The fact that there
was high wind and that it was
partially cloudy prevented much frost,
though there was considerable ice.
The cold wave continued through
Tuesday and Tuesday night and there
was frost in evidence Wednesday
morning.
According to the best information
the Leader can gather, the freeze
caused considerable damage to spring
crops, though SOt as heavy as some
expected. A survey of the straw
berry fields around Covington indi-
cate that the damage done to this
crop will be about 10 per cent. Those
who have observed the strawberry
crop for several years state that only
the blooms for one day are killed by
a freeze coming at this time and that
it will mean that there will be one
or two days during the picking sea-
son when there will be no berries.
The freezing weather lasted but q
six hours, but much damage was
done to budding fruit trees. Many
early spring gardens will have to be
replanted. Had the freeze lasted
for any length of time it is probable
that all spring vegetables and fruit
trees would have been blighted.
The cold snap now seems to be
over. The cold weather hit other
sections Sunday night. Based upon
reports Monday from many districts
of Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas,
Oklahoma and Texas, officials of
farm and horticultural associations,
the information is that enormous
damage had been caused by freezing
temperatures which prevailed over
the southwest Sunday night.
Little hope for early fruit crops
in Missouri and Kansas was indicated,
although it was said that the later
crops probably had not suffered ma
terially.
The sudden cold snap was preceded
by warm weather in most localities
and, officials said, in many places
fruit trees in Missouri and Kansas
sections were in bloom. Grain crops
were said to have been we'll advanced
and in some sections jointing had
taken place. Fields which had not
been pastured were greatly damaged,
reports said.
Springfield, Mo-, reported a sheet
of snow and ice covering Southern
Missouri Monday morning. All early
varieties of apples, peaches, plums,
pears and cherries were in full bloom
and the loss undoubtedly will be
large, orchardists said. Another
freeze was predicted for Tuesday
n;Tht in that section. Strawberry
and other berry crops are not be-
lieved to have suffered.
Wichita, Kans., and the Arkansas
Valley found its fields of early grains
frozen down Monday morning. Wheat
which had not been pastured was
damaged particularly, while oats,
which, had been planted early on ac-
count Of the open season, suffered a
greater freeze. Alfalfa fields were
all discolored and no fruit is ex-
pected this year in that section, ex-
cept in few protected orchards.
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Arkansas City, Kans., and vicinity is
a total loss and grave fear for the
alfalfa also was expressed. Wheat
is not believed to have been damaged
and cherry, plum and apple crops
were saved, although suffering some,
according to the reports.
Between rs per cent. and 80 per
cent. of the peaches, pears, plums and
cherries of Tennessee were killed by
the recent cold snap, making total
of about $2,500,000. This estimate is
made by W. T. Morris, assistant COM
missioner of agriculture Of the state.
In view of the fact that Middle
Tennessee is the fruit growing CEN
ter Of the state, that section will suf-
fer the greatest damage. Not only
are East and West Tennessee not
specialists in the growing Of fruits,
but the cold weather was not as Sc
we're in these parts as in Middle
Tennessee, Mr.. Morris said. He
furnished the estimate on the basis
Of normal production, which is
about 100000 bushels wear.