Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-04-27
DAMAGE TO FRUIT CROP.

One week ago this section Of West
Virginia and the adjacent counties of
Virginia and Maryland had hopes of
the greatest fruit crop ever known in
this territory. The failure Of the fruit
last year had given the trees a good
rest, and the favorable winter had caus-
ed an abundance OF bloom such as was
never before seen. All varieties of
fruit gave promise OF great Yield,
and the commercial apple and peach
orchards were one cloud Of bursting
blossoms or budding fruit Today the
condition has been entirely changed,
and fruit growers are respondent over
the havoc wrought to the orchards
The trouble started last Friday. Snow
and rain fell during the the day, the
snowhakes being the largest, we think,
that we have ever seen. The snow fell
for several hours, and though most Of
II melted at once, some of il clune
to the trees and remained in shelter
ed places. In the late evening the
clouds broke away, leaving ali vegeta-
ton thoroughly saturated with mois.
ture. Friday night was very cold, and
after midnight the thermometer drop
pcd 10 about IS. The water-satU. ated
trees with their blossoms and the
young fruit that had already set simply
froze up tight, and next morning there
was ice from an eighth to a quarter OF
an inch thick. II was not only freeze,
but there was a heavy frost as well
The unexpected spell OF wintry wealth
or brought CONSERVATION to fruit grow
ers, who had been anticipating a great
Weld, for il was apparent that vast
injury had been done. AS if FRIDAY
nights freeze were not enough, Satur-
day confined cold, and Saturday night
there was another freeze and an ex-
tremely heavy frost again, the Their
mometer again being very low. Sun
day and Monday nights the frosts con-
tnued with diminishing severity
The ice and the frost hit the orchards
around Shepherdstown heavily, and the
sirst impressions were that the apples
we're all killed. Subsequent develop
ments are bit more hopeful. The
cool damp weather that prevailed after
the three bad nights was beneficial,
as 1T gave the buds a chance to re-
cover in part-hot sunshine would have
been disastrous, it is believed. The
Grimes Golden, Black Twigs, STAY
mans and Winesaps are thought to be
practically all gone; Ben Davises are
not all destroyed; the FORKS Jared bet
ter than any other varieties. Growers
who have examined York buds within
the last day or two express the be-
lief that there may be from IS to so
per cent OF crop. Some OF the or
chards in this neighborhood look as
II the trees had been scalded, the
freeze having withered and discolored
the blossoms. Here and there, how
ever, bright blooms may be seen, Civ
ing hope Of at least a few apples.
Chas ]. Miller, our largest peach
grower, thinks that there is practical
" no hope for the peaches Before
the freeze, the promise was for
splendid crop, and he anticipated a
yield of from 1000 to 5000 bushels
from his orchards west Of town Plums
and cherries are all gone, il is said,
and even the hardy Kicffer pears have
been ruined. Grapes were frozen clear
back to the main branches, and unless
they put out again there will be no
grapes to speak of.
The news from Berkeley county,
where are many apple orchards, in
GLIDING the largest in this section, is
conflicting. The Martinsburg Journal
says that some men estimate a IS per
as so per cent. The American Fruit
Growers, who have extensive interests,
say that they look for a 25 per cent
crop. On the other hand, it is said
that there are numerous orchards that
seem to be utterly ruined, SO far as
any fruit this year is concerned.
Interviews with prominent fruit
growers of Berkeley county yesterday
brought out the belief that there will
probably be fair crop of York I'm
perials, though it Is feared that there
will be few of other varieties. The
estimates of the yield of Yorks run
from 25 to 60 per cent, differing in
the several localities of the county.
The report from Cumberland, Md,
Is as follows:
Practically the entire crop of early
and late apples and peaches of the
Potomac fruit belt. extending from
Martinsburg to Keyser and Romney and
M0orefield, has been obliterated as
| result OF the freeze of Friday, Satur-
! day ant last nights, according to infor-
| narion received by officials Of the Cum
berland Fruit Exchange. Orchardists
! say that barely enough fruit for do.
nestle use will probably be produced
: I Is estimated tnat approximately ST.
! 100000 in fruit value will have been
, lost throughout the entire belt The
YEARLY production Of apples has averag-
cd 100000 barrels. Peaches, the
rreater number of which are grown in
nc orchards adjacent to Keyser. Rom
icy an! Moorefeld, averaged 1000
carloads season. Some fruit grow
erS hope that warmer weather will show
I
commercial purposes will have been
| .lNcd hut that nrnSnect &c .cnutni b..