COLD SNAP

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 14 October 1926, Page 4

COLD SNAP

SEVERE FROST AT CHRISTCHURCH

SERiDUS DAMAGE TO GARDENS AND ORCHARDS HEAVY FALL OF SNOW (By Telegraph.—Special to “The Mail.”) CHRISTCHURCH. I3ih Del. Frost has withered the early plant life and blighted the hopes of gardeners and orchardists. Ten degrees were recorded this morning at Christchurch Observatory and probably the intensity, as is the way with frosts, has varied over the district. So far it is impossible to estimate the full damage, for tbe effect on fruit trees in blossom will not be evident for a week or so, but 10 degrees at this period of the season are sufficient to cause intense damage. It was more than chilly last evening. Wise gardeners carefully covered early potatoes and such like, hut their precautions failed. One gardener pointed to a row of blackened and withered beans. With a stifled groan he told the tale of a blanket of scrim which had failed to stop the frost. So heavy has been the snow over Canterbury that damage and losses in lambing will be heavy in places. The presence of snow is bound to cause Hosts and the pasture and orchards will suffer.

Reports now coming in show how ex tensive lias been the snow and bow bitterly cold the weather generally.