Morris tribune., 1895-10-09
ys 4 49,
aGARMeFognD
1R'1sD GAR 9H
PROTECTION AGAINST FRosTs.

PROTECTION AGAINST FRoSTS.
How This Vital Subject is Considered by
The American Agrienlturist.
This is a vital matter to fruit grow
ers and truckers, whose seasons labor
and investment may be wiped out by g
single destructive. frost. The more vain
able the crop and the greater the risk OF
frost the more effort and expense may
be safely put into means of protecting
against frosts. A famous California or
ange grove is equipped with system
of iron pipes through which water is
conducted to nozzles at frequent inter
walls, the idea being that the spray will
ward off light frosts. Barrels of tar and
rubbish in different parts of the orchard
are available for making smudge OF
smoke, which is the most practicable
means yet devised.
In the case of a freeze such as visited
California two years ago and Florida
last winter or real hard frost IN other
sections, neither of these methods is of
much avail. Smoke is good against all
light frosts, and is easily obtained.
Strawy manure, leaves, rubbish, ETC..
should be piled in the lowest places and
about the sides. and covered with hay
caps or ducking, previously painted
with two coats of inseed oil and dried
so as to be always dry. Have barrel of
kerosene oil handy. some cans and
torches.
When frost threatens, set night
watch to inspect thermometers placed
on stakes in various parts Of the field,
especially in the most exposed places.
II the mercury drops to 35 degrees by ]
ora a. M, it is likely to mean a frost of
more or less severity before sunrise
Then call up the folks, light the torches.
and let each person take torch and oil
can, previously filled, and set fire to the
row of rubbish heaps previously ASST gn-
ed him If the wind blows the smoke
away from the field, carry some rubbish
over to that side SO the smoke Will be
blown OH to instead of off from the field.
IL the danger never comes, no expense
worth mentioning has been incurred, as
the piles can be scattered and plowed
under for manure or burned, the ashes
making excellent fertilizer No prudent
person thinks of leaving his buildings
uninsured against fire. Certainly it is
just as important to insure against frosts
so far as it can be done by such simple
means as smoke coverings on water We.
wish all who have had experience III this
matter would send it for publicati on.
Mr.. E. P Powell, successful and
bIainy horticulturist III western New
York, writes:
s'The very best preventive against
frost is not fires, but thorough spraying
with water during the evening and
night. When this can be done, we can
overcome the danger from a fall of two
or three degrees. This will often save
our whole crop. This last spring lost
my grapes by margin Of not more
than two degrees, but on preceding
night anticipated the frost by deluoing
the trellises with wafer. OF course bon
fires may also be used. ] anticipate we
shall be compelled to adopt irrigation
III d14 tu6 CGStSII StdtGo.
The White Grub.
During the present year there has been
unusual complaint of damage from grub
worms. Not only was corn injured. but
in some districts meadows and pastures
were seriously affected The presence
of the grub in numbers sufficient to be
L. l.
damage done becomes apparent, max
ing it very difficult to fight the pest.
This grub is the larvae of the May bee
tie or June bug and is always present
to some extent, but the damage is usu.
ally insignificant This year, however,
the grubs are found in some districts iii
unprecedented numbers.
Remedies are difficult to, suggest |!
Prairie Farmer advises where corn h..s |
suffered that hogs be turned into The
fields as early as possible, as they will
root out and eat the grubs. Fall plow1ng
should be done late enough to tnrD them
up to cold weather. Ia meadows they
work in patches, eating off the grass
roots just below the surface, dotting
u0lOS Win O6aQ SpOtS.> dor6 III is even
more difficult to reach them. The only
effective remedy seems to be to turn
the sod up, even if it necessitates re-
seeding. The urgency of each particular
case will determine the necessity of
such extreme measures
Next year when the May and June
beetles are feeding upon the foliage of I
trees future broods could be prevented !
by energetic spraying of orchard, orna
mental and, as far as practicable, forest !
trees with paris green or other insecti /
cides.
Subsoil Flowing.
According to Prairie Farmer, the EVIL I
dence seems conclusive that subsoil I
blowing on the fertile prairie soils of /
such states as Illinois and Iowa. for in I
stance, is not generally profitable. Oc-
casional reports, well Sttested, have
shown paying results, but these have
1,oo,, tho oy cnntifn rather than the rn1a