76 AGRICULTURAL APPROPRIATION BILL, 1924. | 



of storm coiiditioiis before tlieni, aiul imiuy instances like tlie letter from the 

 Standard Oil Co. can be cited of the threat economic benefits resulting from the 

 hurricane warning service of the bureau. 



((•) Cold-icarc irarni)i[/.i. — Sudden and damaging low temi)eratures which 

 fretiuently occur and sweep across this country during the winter season have 

 acquired the name of cold waves and lihzzards. Forecasts of such are issued 

 from 24 to 3(J hours in advance an<l are disseminated throughout the threatened 

 regions \>y means of Hag disi)lays, by telegraph, telephone, radio, and mail. 

 The.se warnings ai'e valual)le e.specially to railroads in tlie making up of trains 

 and in the maintenance of schedules, to slupiiers of perishalde goods, public 

 utilities, stock raisers, citrus fruit growers, fiori.sts. and other innumerable 

 business interests. 



(/) Front learnings for protection of orchards and other crops. — Whenever 

 conditions indicate the occurrence of damaging frosts, detailed and specific 

 warnings and advices are disseminated Ity tlie bureau to all localities alTected, 

 wliere growers are prei)areil to protect tiieir crops l)y the various nie-ans in 

 vogue. In many instances indu.stries would be too liazardous to be profitable 

 without the Weather Bureau warnings. This is true especially of early truck- 

 ing in the South Athintic and (iulf States and of citrus- fruit production 

 in sections of the Pacific coast. This work has l)ecome .so important in the 

 latter districts that a trained meteorologist is assigned for a few weeks to 

 certain localities during the danger se-asou to give warnings of the minimum 

 temperature during the night and advise as to the extent protective measures 

 must be taken. The frost warnings also serve for the protection of sugar cane, 

 alfalfa seed crops, home gardens, flower be<ls, etc. Alfalfa seeds are very 

 susceptible to damage, and frosts are frequent about the time the crop is nui- 

 turing. It is estimated that the crop increases in value at the rate of aliout .$."> 

 an acre each 24 hours during the harvesting period; if cut too early, mucli 

 loss is sustained, but heavier los.ses may occur from frost if not cut soon 

 enough. The growers dei)end on the Weather B\ireau in keeping them advised 

 and vigoi-ously push harvesting operations when a warning is received. 



In the efficient prosecuti(m of the fruit frost work extensive temperature 

 surveys in tlie principal citrus and deciduous fruit districts of the West, par- 

 ticularly in Arizona. California. Oregon, and Wasiungton. are being made, in 

 cooperat.J<»n with organizations of fruit growers, as an aid in frost protection. 

 Severe freezes occurred in tlie citrus districts of southern California during 

 the winter of 1921-22. which resulted in great loss to fruit growers, but damage 

 would have been nnich greater had it not been for the special service renderetl 

 by the Weather Bureau. 



In regions where frost protective methods have been mo.st fully developed 

 and where growers are best organized to profit by the Weather Bureau service, 

 the work is held in very higli esteem, and local organizations not only write 

 us many flattering and commendatory letters but are reaily to put up the money 

 of their organization to carry the work beyond that possible from the limitHl 

 funds of the Weather Bureau. For example, the fruit growers of soutiiern 

 California, wishing a more extensive temperature survey and frost service 

 during the i)reseiit winter than the available funds of the bureau permit have 

 made a sum in excess of .$S,tMK) available for cooperative work with the 

 bureau, which in fact more than equals the expenditures in the same locality 

 from (Jovernment funds. 



To remove any doubt as to the real economic benefits of tiie fruit frost 

 service of the Wejithcr Bureau a few (luotations may be given from letters 

 from the citrus growers and organizations who depemi uixm fliis service. 



Letter by Mr. II. K. Walcott, si^-retarv of the Pomona tCalif.) Fruit (Jrowers" 

 Fxciiange, dated January 31. 1922: 



"We find in the district covered by tlie Pomona I Weather Bureau^ stations 

 tlnit there are approximately 7.(MK> a<'res equipped for tiring and making us»> 

 of your forecasts. The value of the crop in this acreagt> is fully .$2.S(Hi.{H)0. 

 There are witiiin this same territory about 9.(MKt acres not i»repared to protect 

 against frost. The crop in the unjirotected acreagj' is practically a total lo.ss. 

 besides severe injury to the trees over a large iiropoition of this uniirotecfed 

 aci'eage. 



" 'i'lie growers having eqniiimeiit and using your .service burned about 1.."IS0.(M10 

 gallons of oil. and we consider the intormation you have riiniished Ii.ms pre- 

 vciuted unnecessary burning of a much larger (piantity. 



