The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-21
TRUCK GROVE RS IN STATE SUFFER BIC LOSS I ROM FREEZE
Strawberries Nipped by Win try BlaSt-Peach Blooms
 BIackened by Frost
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU ]
 THE AGE-HERALD MontpOmery. Ala. March 20 J

Serious damage was done by the freeze of Monday night to fruits and vegetables in various sections of Ala bama. according to reports received Tuesday by F. W. Gist, federal and state agricultural statistician. The damage was more serious than that of two 8weeks ago. when freeze covered muchs of Alabama.
 No financial estimate or the dam age can be. made at this time MT. Gist said future developments of high prices might recover most mone- tary loss, but in some instances other crops will supplant those killed. He expressed the opinion that peaches which ,were- killed will not recover. Even with the recovery on some of the fruits and vegetables. he said the severe cold spell at this late date will cause considerable damage.
 The temperature did not fall so low in Alabama this time as it did two weeks ago, but the reports showed : that conditions were such as to cause more serious damage. There had been a steady rain for "A hours and then the temperature began to drop, reaching IS at Athens and 2S at Mo- bile. The rain had saturated all veg etables when the freeze came Be- tween the two cold spells fruits had bloomed freely and the growth of vegetables had advanced.
 Gives Official Reports.
 Reports of the damage in the fruit and vegetable growing section fol- low:
 blooms killed, causing serious delay in production. Peach buds seem to be killed. while Irish potatoes were not seriously damaged.
 Dothan-Total loss of fruits and vegetables, though few fruits were growing, and gardens may be re- planted. The financial loss is not so heavy because of the small volume.
 sGreenyilie-Radish crop totally lost when it's just ready to snip. This is the only commercial radish in this section of the country, and the finan- cial loss will be heavy to the growers who were preparing to ship by ex- press. Vegetables which were con- fined to gardens were killed, but they may be replanted. There was little damaget to fruit in Butler county.
 Bay Minette-All cucumbers were killed outright, with an estimated damage of 50 per cent to that crop. Irish potatoes were slightly injured Sand pears in bloom were killed and a small crop only may be expected as a result. Satsuma oranges were not injured.
 Moblle-CabDage, Which IS the prln- cipal crop at present, and will soon be ready for shipment, were not in- jured. Irish potatoes which were up were killed but the volume is small and the loss may be regained. Beans were Killed but they will be re- planted at once.
 Fruit Hard Hit.
 Anniston-Damage to fruit in this section is estimated at from 70 to 100 per cent. Few vegetables had been planted and the loss will be small.
 Athens-Peaches damaged 50 per cent pears 100 per cent, strawberries 90 Der cent, and vegetables 10 per cent.
 Cullmap-Strawber damaged 9 per cent. while the fruit crop is cut 90 per cent. This is one of the prin- cipal strawberry areas, which usually comes into market after the southern crop.
 ntsville-Peaches. plums and pears damaged fully 50 per cent. .Ap- pies are thought to have come through without damage. Light loss to vegetables. due to the small plant ing up to this time.
 uscaloosa-Opinions vary, though the concensus was that the damage was notsserious.
 ntgomery-Cabbage was prob ably damaged, though the loss may prove to be not great. Irish pota- toes were not materially damaged. Peaches in bud and bloom probably were killed. Strawberries were in- jured where Blooms and fruit had set. The plants were not materially in- jured, but the crop will be delayed.