The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-04-03
TELLS MODERN WAY
TO PROTECT FRUIT
E. H. Grubb Gives Practical
Methods of Using the
Orchard Heaters.
GRAND VALLEY TRIES 1T
EXPERIMENTS FOUND TO BE
VERY SUCCESSFUL.


state from spring frosts is not passed by
any means. Recently the sweet cherry
crop in certain districts OF the state suf-
Tered. because of the fact it is said that
the Orchardists were not prepared with
heaters to raise the temperature. 1t
would only have been necessary in most
OF the districts TO produce artificial heat
HuInclent 10 cause a difference of eight
OF ten degrees, and this is said to be COM
paratiVely easy with the modern heaters.
IN writing OF the "Smudge pot, T.. H
Grub, an orchard expert, gives the fol-
lowing suggestions for protecting and saw
ing the fruit crop:
1t is practically impossible to estimate
the average damage to fruit from late
spring Irost but conservative estimate
of the average annual loss to fruit grow
ers ia the United States from this cause
would be at least 50 per cent of the posi-
bic crop. Ii is probable that the percent
age OF annual loss is even greater than
% per cent, but assuming that half OF
the possible crop each year is destroyed
at its inception by frOsts. when il Is
stated that a method has been discovered
whereby the greater part, If not all, Of
this can be avoided, every fruit grower
is Interested.
THE recent experiments in orchard
heating in the Grand valley, Colorado,
have apparently demonstrated beyond
doubt that ii is possible to maintain a
safe temperature in orchards when the
natural temperature is at twenty degrees
above zero or even lower As q result OF
the experiment in the Grand valley, a
crop of fruit valued at 100000 was saved
and marketed when the records show that
temperatures outside of the orchards at
various places in the valley were as low
as nineteen and twenty degrees above
zero.
Many Used Heaters.
About 20 per cent of the orchards of
the valley We're heated during the dan
ar fnH Of "
these orchards had crops where those IN
the danger zone lost all OF their crop
The experiments went SO lar that trees
protected by the heat on one side and IN
protected on the other, bore fruit on the
protected side and none on the other
While there are Stin many details 10 De
worked out, results thus far attained
justify the assertion that II is possible 10
protect the fruit crop from the early ana
late spring frosts by applying artlnclal
heat.
''The Grand valley experience means
revolution in the fruit-groW1ng industry
1t me ans that hereafter all fruit growers
10 be successful. must as soon as posi-
HE equip their orchards with apparatus
to urotect their crops from the late spring
frosts 1t means that the larger part OF
the annual 50 per cent loss will be saved
and that the growing Of fruit VIII cease
TO be the gamble IL has BEEN Inc GER
tainty of crops VIII, or course. result IN q
larger annual output ana lower prices
Mar uniform profit instead OF combating
the uncertainty Of years or light crops OF
no crop at all.
zone point that seems to have been
definitely determined is that oil is the
nest and most practicable fuel. While
there are coal mines IN the Grano NeIiSg
almost within the OrchsEds, ana cOal -
cheap. the work of handling II ana IhAHi-
raining an aaiusta bic heat makes TINS
fuel impracticable, except IN an emerson
cv II was also denonstr ated Ihdt the
pllre crude oil is not the best, put that a
s.gas OIL can be utilized to better al
This is the REFUSE from s! tsg
finerv after the crude has been dlsuIIed-
The crude oil heats up ana Dolls over,
vvniIe the dfstillate makes gas Whlch
mikes readily with the air and gives
good heat. -. 49,, 1,oo+
nsed should be subject to regulation ana
! punishment If the frost should ne lshl'
Int Httle fire would be required. but tenn
peratures are liable 70 very Iaplu . Cnd4i -
The thermometer might drop several DE-
grees il. as many minutes and the ap-
niiance= must be of a nature to permit OF /
ranid adjustment to these condltlons. rms
vrss one ok the objections to the use OF
coal Tha coal fires once started pro-
,-ided a me- -ximum heat which must pufn
normally or be put out. II eXtlngulsneC~
thew must be rearranged for relighune;
and this takes time which might De Iatdl
20 the results desired
heoFT OF 1SattHSs
There has been much confusion in the
mind Of the public over the theory OF
sTnudgine and heating. The Grand valley /
method is a combina ton OF both prlncl-
Mes Of heat and smoke, and While some /
are Of the opinion that tee heat IS me /
MAR. factor, and the smuose' OF hIlOhe
nj no value in the general result, there /
are many who consider the smoke or great /
assistance in maintaining the heat. The
original theory of the 'smudge' is as fol- |
lows: When frost attacks the fruit bios |
som the cold draws the sap from the /
Siosson1 to the surface and forms it into /
frost crystal Tt was found that when /
tt,a u,orning sun reached these frost cryS- |
tails il dissipsted them so apidly that !
this moisture, really the Ire piooo OF th s
blossom. was evaporated into the air and
he blossom died. Fruit growers called /
this sscalding,' The idea or the smudge |
vas to provide over the orchard shade |
which would keep the morning sun from
the blossoms while the temperature gradu- |
ally rose and melted the frost thus per-
-nittfue the moisture to return within the |
fiovesr. The practice has been very sue |
eessful for years. both in this country |
and Europe.
Grand Valley Methods.
I'm the Grand valley the following gem
eral principles of orchard heating are ae-
l. The appliance for heating must /
be simple, easily controlled and ADJUST /
ed. and capable of quick application.
2 The object Is not to raise the |
in the orchard. but to /
maintain ii. 1t is agreed that IT Is /
Inuch easier 20 maintain a safe tenn
oerature in the orchard, with falling /
Femperature outside, than to raise the 4
after ii has declined.
8. The danger period covers the /
time from the first swelling Of the bud
CONTINUED on Page Two.)