The Colorado statesman., 1908-06-06
METHODS Of
FIGHTING FROST
SMUDGES HAVE ONLY PROVED
USEFUL WHEN COLD is
NOT INTENSE.
WOOD OR COAL FIRES
VARIOUS DEVICES FOR BURNING
OIL AND COAL IN
POTS.
(By o. 3. Whlpple of the Colorado Ex-
pertinent Station.)


ing fruit crop should arouse the fruit
growers of Colorado to concerted ac-
ton in the protection Of our fruit
against untimely frosts. The past
two seasons have not shaken our faith
in the possibilities of Colorado as a
fruit section, but on the contrary have
proved that it is one of the most IA
vored. Each year We have saved a
partial crop; while many other sec
tions have lost all. Again, they have
proved that our fruit districts are not
exempt from injury from late frosts
and, at least suggest that high land
values cannot be maintained unless
such loss may be averted. Luckily for
the fruit growers at large, a few of
our enterprising growers have to
certain extent demonstrated the posi-
bilities of frost protection.
Various methods of frost fighting
have been resorted to, not only in
Colorado, but much more extensively
in other fruit sections. OF the diff
ferent methods probably none has
been more universally tried than
smudging. The philosophy of this
form of frost protection is to prevent
the radiation of heat from the earth's
surface by maintaining a cloud of
smoke over the area to be protected.
The theory is all right, for we know
frosts do not occur on cloudy nights;
but the past season, think, has fully
demonstrated that such protection will
not always meet the requirements.
Within certain limits, smudging is
sufficient, but when normally more
than five or six degrees of frost are ex-
pected, 1t is inadequate. However,
with no other means of protection at
hand the grower should prepare for
smudging, as it is only in extreme
cases that it proves a failure. Two
essentials to successful smudging are,
an abundance of smudge material
and concerted action. Since smudg-
ing is a preventative rather than
cure, smudges should be started be-
fore the danger point is reached. 1t
is hard to raise the temperature
great deal by smudging. Not only
must the fires be started early, but the
cloud of smoke should be maintained
until well after sunup. One of the
greatest obstacles to smudging is the
difficulty of obtaining suitable
smudge material, and too often the
exhaustion of the supply at a critical
time is the undoing of all previous
successes. Any material which will
trolled and will give off dense smoke
may be used for this purpose. Stable
manure is one of the most common
materials used.
The past spring has demonstrated
that the only way to save a crop
where the temperature drops below
twenty-five degrees fahrenheit, is by
generating more heat rather than the
conservation of that already absorbed
by the earth during the day. For this
purpose, several forms of open fires
have been used. Some growers have
saved their crops by building wood or
coal fires among the trees, while
others have resorted to the use of pat
ent devices Tor burning oil or coal.
Some of the prettiest demonstra-
tions in successful frost fighting un-
der most trying conditions were made
this spring, using an oil pot manufac-
tured by The Frost Prevention Com
pany, Fresno, California. This is
very simple sheet iron pot, large
enough to hold gallon of OIL 1t is
supplied with lid which may be used
to regulate or to smother the blaze.
When filled with Florence crude pc
troleum, it will burn three hours with
maximum blaze, or longer If the
blaze is controlled with the cover With
such pots burning the light crude oils
of Colorado 1t will be necessary to
equip the orchard with one hundred
pots per acre to insure protection
against minimum temperature of
twenty-five degrees fahrenheit. 1t is
very seldom that all these will be used,
but the number is necessary as some
must be held in reserve to be used
while others are being refilled. 1t
would seem that pot with a capacity
to burn longer would come nearer
meeting our conditions, as it requires
a large amount of ready help to refill
the pots during the night The ques-
tion of fuel is one that must be looked
into, and if possible a heavier oil
should be secured and special
freight rate obtained which will place
it in the hands of the growers at a
minimum cost.
Another patent device. not SO ex-
tensively tried, but promising good
results, is coal pot invented by Mr..
Bryan of Paonia, Colorado This is
really a sheet steel stove with an un-
der draft, designed to burn nut or bro
ken lump coal, ton of coal being
sufficient to charge one thousand pots
for a nights burning. They are sup
piled with cover and may be charged
with kindling and coal at any time and
placed in the orchard for future use.
When the occasion arises for start
ing them, they are readily set by pour
ing on little kerosene.
Other devices for burning coal have
been suggested, and it is surprising
how simple a contrivance may be.
With open fires 1t must be emphasized
that large fires should be avoided as
n rd Itaf
carry the heat upward. While the
orchardists should begin to think
about protection for another year,
they should plan to cooperate in
choosing the best system for their
conditions They should not iunnr n