The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1911-02-24
ORCHARD HEATING TO
SAVE THE FRUIT CROPS

there has beer no attempt whatever
to prevent the damage. In the most
of them, perhaps, there could have
been nothing of consequence done.
But within the last few years there
have been many methods and ap-
planes devised to control the tenn
perature sufficiently to ward off the
damage, with considerable success.
In some cases, says H. f. Van De-
man in Green's Fruit Grower, the
prevention was about perfect and
big profits have been the result.
Very often it only needs a slight
elevation of temperature to secure
the tender bloom from damage. and
in such cases success is attained far
more easily than most people would
think possible.
The most primitive method of Or
chard heating is by burning wood;
log heaps, piles of cordwood, chunks,
old stumps, brush, soft coal and all
sorts of trash have been used for
this purpose. Some fruit growers
make business of keeping on hand
material of this kind, so as to be
ready for the time of need, and it is
a wise provision. 1t would be far
better to burn up old waste on many
farms in trying to save the fruit
crops than to let it be destroyed by
wild fires that ravage the neighbor-
hood. There have been many pro-
fitable crops saved in this simple
way.
But the best of all fuel to use in
preventing frost damage in orchards
is crude oil or petroleum, wherever
it is obtainable at reasonable cost.
1t burns regularly and the flame can
be regulated by the use of several
kinds of pots or orchard heaters
that are in Use. Crops have been
saved in cases where the thernom-
eter outside the orchards went as
low as 20 degrees above zero. The
oil can be kept on hand within little
space and the heaters as we'll. They
can be got into use on short notice
and this is often very important,
for the climatic changes are apt to
be sudden.
There are warnings given over all
the fruit regions by the government
weather service and if they are
promptly needed the. crops can of
ten be saved. All who are situated
so they are in need of such warn
ings should keep a strict watch for
the times of danger, as they are
about to come and use the means at
hand, whatever it be, to prevent the
damage. This is as sensible as any,
thing that fruit grower can do.
1t is matter of insurance that one
has within his own power, if he will
use it. Why not make preparations
now and be ready when the time of
need comes? If it does not come
there is little expense incurred COM
pared with the safety that is almost
assured. There are many kinds of
fire pots in use and they are adver-
tised in many of the horticultural
papers. w
Good, reliable and accurately
tested thermometers should be bot
and one hung in tree on each acre.
When the danger is near, a reliable
Waterman should be kept going
over the orchard to note the changes
of the Thermometers and when they
indicate lower temperature than
80 degrees the firing should be done
Predictions by wire and telephone
are usually made in time to warn
the growers of almost the exact de-
gree that will be reached before
morning, where there is united eff
fort to have such warnings given.
The L. S. government has issued a
farmers bulletin on this subject
and can be had by asking the de-
partment of agriculture at Washing
ton, d. c., for it.