Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-04-03
Frost Fighting Device.

i Orchardists in this vicinity
whose crops have suffered from
the effects of frost in the past,
may profit by installing the frost
fighting device perfected by Mr..
P. D. Bane, who owns a splendid
4o-acre orchard near Redding,
California. Mr.. Bane is a brother
of S. B. Baue Of this city, He
has given the matter of FROST
fighting devices careful study for
years, and the plant he has in-
stalled in his orchard is said to
meet all requirements.
"Whas causes frossf" enquiries Mr.,
gAne. He answers the question by say
ing: "Poorly drained air, and if by
means we could prevent streaks. pools
or basins of stagnant, cold air, We could
prevent frost to great extent.
"Not being able to combat with for
nation or location, we are forced to
battle by means of artificial devices, or
submit to nature though it often comes
high.
"The vapor OF water condensed to
water and CONCEALED to ice, is not of it.
self injurious. In fact, the action of the
water throughout retards too rapid
change in temperature, and as frost is
simply an index of temperature change.
e~s@ &hor irin m v,Ia
life. It cannot be emphasized too clearly
that it is the low temperature and not
the solidification of the water which
does the damage: If there be but little
vapor in the air there will only be light
frost appear and yet the temperature
may be go low as to cause injury. A
heavy frost when the top Of the ground
is dry is usually killing.
"It has has long since been proven
that the coolest air is nearest the ground,
while few feet above makes differ
ence of several degrees. After years of
experimenting it is now conceded fact
that in order to ward off the damages
caused by frost, you have to warm up the
lower stratum of air in order to raise the
temperature.
"With organized preparation along
these lines already demonstrated to be
valuable, frost can be successfully COM
batted by warming up the lower stratum
of air and diminishing radiation.
''This has been accomplished by using
large number of fires in pots with crude
oil as fuel. The oil makes very hot
fire and is inexpensive when compared
with its efficiency. By using lid di-
rectly over the pots and few inches
above, the heat is kept down and forced
to warm up the air by convection, keep
ing up steady heat for hours. It is now
! generally believed that as much injury
results from the sudden warming up of
the chilled plant as from the chilling it
self. 1t is now fully concluded by most
practicrl frost fighters that there is
no method superior TO the one have
recently installed
AS the most critical time dur
ing a freeze is at sunrise, it is
best to arrange the lighting so
that the pots of oil will be burn
! ling at least one hour after sun
rise. Mr.. Bane has placed his
pots much thicker around the
outside of the orchard, as the
wind or even the cool air has a
double hold on these trees.
About forty pots are placed to
the acre and one gallon of oil put
into each pot. A lid with three
supports is placed directly over
the pots leaving a space of about
four inches between the top of
the pot and the lid. This ar
rangement of the lid has ten
dency to hold the heat downward
and cause the heat and smoke to
spread over more territory and
stop any direct draft which
would have a tendency to carry
both heat and smoke upward.
One gallon of oil will burn four
hours or more.
The number of pots to fire on
a cold night depends upon cir
cumstances. When the location
is an average one and the ther-
mometer only drops few degrees
below the danger mark, probably
20 pots per acre will be sufficient.
Should there be more heat than
necessary, it can be checked by
turning the lids upside down.
This will exiting uish the flames.