The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-06-14
PREVENTION Of FROST INJURY To FRUIT
The Use of Oil Heaters in Orchards Will Overcome
Destructive Atmospheric Conditions And
Save tho Fruit
BY G. B. BRACKET

mortal, has been at the mercy Of the
clements. Frost is one Of the most
formidable foes with which he has
to contend. Millions of dollars are
lost annually by silent. relentless
frosts that come either when the trees
are in bloom or JUS after the fruit
has set.
Recent demonstrations in the fruit
district Of the Middle West have
proved beyond a peradventure that
damage to fruit trees by frost can
be controlled to a greater or less
extent. One Of the fundamental prin-
ciples that underlie successful frost
fighting is a knowledge OF the subject
of air drainage. Cold air, like water,
settles to the lower ground. and any
thing that will break up this stratum
Of cold air and cause it to mix with
the upper strata of warm air will
prove of great value in combating
frost injury.
Frost injury to fruit trees most fire.
Quently ecu when there is a clear.
still. dry atmosphere, and when the
radiation Is uninterrupted by clouds or
moisture, and the cold air settles in
poorly air-drained areas.
While frOSts may not be severe,
they are often just severe enough to
damage the blossoms and tender fruits
and they not only reduce a crop of
fruit ~one-third to one-half of what it
ipIld Z Out SoIi1CtIIlltS ueSl1oN tJlC
entire crop for one year or for several
successive years.
Oil Hcater-Capacity Seven Quarts
Of Oil.
In orchard heating the fuel to be
depended upon must be easy to light.
a fuel that will burn a long time and
that Will give out a great amount of
heat; it must also be easily controlled
in regard to temperature. Oil, in
some forms, doubtless best meets
these requirements, but where oil is
scarce and coal abundant the latter
would be the cheaper fuel.
The oil heater, SO far as we know
was first manufactured by a firm in
Fresno. Cal. Since then several styles
Of oil heaters have been manufactured
and put on the market. One of these
well known and extensively used or
chard oil heaters. constructed on sci
entifiC principles. has a centerdraft
tube that feeds oil to the flames, pro-
notes combustion, and makes good
use of the oil. The heater holds
about 5 quarts of oil, will burn six
or seven hours. is made of 28-gauSe
iron, and weighs, with cover l "a
pounds. 1t stands IL inches high.
The cover Is made to fit like a lard
pail lid, and is raised in the center
so as to shed water. This heater has
successfully stood the test of several
years. 1t is successful because based
on the principle that there is
for great heat locally, but for numer-
Gus small fires well distributed. The
small fires do not necessarily change
the direction Of the air draft, the OBJ
Ject being to warm up the draft as
it is pressed down from above by the
setting Of the colder air, and thus
avoid the forming of colo spots or
pools Above the danger point the
upper air strata are warmer, and
usually a few degrees Of rise in tenn
perature is all hat is necessary for
safety.
An oil heater that will hold 7
quarts of oil will burn ten hours.
Ihls heater is so arranged that the
heat may be increased or diminished
at will. There are larger heaters that
noid Is gallons Of oil and burn thirty
i've hours, but the medium size IS
deemed best for all practical pur-
poses.