The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-11-07
Secretary NJ. F. V. G. A.
NUMBER ONE.


To the Members Of the Middle Florida Vegetable
Gr0cers association
Frost Warntnos-The L. s. Signal Service
Bureau at Washington has organized system
OF telegraph warnings of coming frost and cold
waves for the benefit of those engaged in aeri.
ture, horticulture and fruii-growing throughout
the country, and of the sugar-growers in the
South. These warnings are to be sent free of
expense to certain distributing points designated
by the Bureau. and thence disseminated by tele-
graph TO certain persons in each minor district
or locality where they are desired The persons
selected to receive the ielegraphic message of
warning are expected 10 give the widest, imme.
date publicity thereto, by publishing in local
daily papers if there be any, and if not, by any
other efficient method
The following persons have been, or will be
designated 10 receive aod distribute the warnings
in the several localities r&ned At Tallahassee
c. A. Cboate, Secretary o! the Middle Florida
Vegetable Growers Association at Quincy,
Judge }. E. A. Davidson, Postmaster; at Mon
ticello, Mr.. W. 81. Girardeau, member of the Ex.
ecutive Committee, Middle Florida Vegetable
Growers Association at Madison, Mr. E. D.
Beggs, editor oil the Rtc0rder.
The method recommended by the officers of
the Bureau 70. the distribution of the warnings
where no daily paper is published, are as fol-
lows: BY postal card or messenger to points
beyond the reach OF the telegraph by the dis
play, both at such points and at the place where
the Geographic message is received, of q danger
signal, consisting of red flag with black centre,
upon some elevated situation, (such as the flag
staff the Capitol at Tallahassee the top of the
courthouse at Quincy, Monticello, and Madison,
or other convenient and eligible locatOn,) where
ii can be seen by the greatest number, by the
posing II bulletins NJ public places about the
town or elsewhere. As may be deemed most e.
fecive
HAS sRi Sasgesa9as.-The S. 8. Bureau has
recently issue.i small pamphlet containing in
s'ruc,ious how to foretell frost by the deter
mina,ion OF the dew point by means of the n.y.
| grome,er; oul such instruments are expensive,
and their Use in our vegetable and fruit growing
districts impracucable. The pamphlet contains.
however The following facts, which if more
widely known may perhaps aid the intelligent
cultivation in the protection OF his crops when
threatened by trost
At all temperatures, even the lowest, moist
IRE exists in the atmosphere in an invisible state
| the air Is never absolutely dry. The intervals BE-
tween the particles OF air are partly filled with
the yapor that IS constantly rising from the earth
Ihls capacity ot the air Tor moisture has q limit,
and when this is reached tue mir is said to be SAL
urated. This vapor is not sustained in the air
like water in sponge, nor. does il float in the air
like small particles of dust but it penetrates be-
tween the particles of the permanent gases
which c'nnlNSe the atmosphere, and sustains it.
| self precisely as they do. A rise of temperature
| increases the capaclty of the air for moisture.
| On the other hand a fall of temperature dimin-
lshes the capacity. But the capacity of the air
| Tor moisture increases more rapidly than the
| temperature.
Hoat-frost is formed under the same circum-
stances rs dew, with the exception of q lower
/ temperature. When the temperature OF the sur
face OF plants falls below thirty two degrees the
moisture If the air is contiensed upon them in
the sod>ta,e and forms layer OF snow crystals.
like spongy ice. Hoar-fiost therefore is not fro
Zen dew. but the moisture Of the air is deposited
in the solid form. without having passed through
the liquid condition. Hoar.trost like dew, is de-
| posted Chiefly upon those bodies which radiate
best, such AS plants and the leaves of vegetables,
and the deposit is made principally on those
! parts wlHch are turned toy ard the sky.
Since plants sometimes become cOoled by
radiation from twelve degees TO fifteen degrees
| below ihr temperature of the surrounding air.
frost maj occur although a thermometer q few
feet aboSc the ground, in an instrument shelter,
may not sink to ihiriy-twts degrees. During 9
clear ant still night, when u thermometer six
feet above the ground sinks llirty-six degrees, 9
heavy frr>t may be expected; slight frost may
occur when The same thermometer sinks only to
forty-sev{n degrees.
Whatever prevents the radiation of heat
serves al4n 10 check the formation of hoar-frost.
During the cold nights OF spring. plants which
are sheltered by tn less liable To be injured
by frost than those which are fully exposed, and
thin covering Of cloth os straw will generally
afford protection. A garden may frequently
be saved srom injury by kidding q small smudge
fire, which. will envelop the plants in Q cloud OF
smoke. Fogs and clouds also project vegetation
from the effects Of FROST