The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-04-13
lFRUITNEN WAGE
WAR ON FROST
Precautions Are Taken TO Pre-
vent killing of Buds
by Cold.
WEATHER DIRECTOR
THlESSEN AT PROVO
Little Damage Likely in Salt
Lake County: Utah Is
Fortunate.

Early fruit bloom. coaNcd out lay the
warm weather preceding the present cold
snap. received watchful care at the hands
of fruitgrowers in the fruit sections ~!
the state Wednesday night. and as re-
suit II is believed little II any damage
was done. When the weather blew up
cold With Gurries OF snow Wednesday
morning fruilmcn began looking 10 the
filling of smudgc pots and the securing
of other devices used 10 heat orchards
III the danger regions. Under modern
methods the late visit of winter is
cheated out OF destroying the fruit crop
as has happened many lines before these
means and devices were applied TO check
the frosts OF midApril.
Taking the weather indications AS dan
serous. a. III. ThiesSen. director OF the
local weather bureau. went to Provo
Wednesday 10 take charge of The weath-
or bureau substatlon there and 10 watch
carefully The signs until the present wave
of cold weather passes over and warmer
weather again prevails.
Precautions Taken.
In the Provo district fruitmcn were
ready To combat the low temperature
orchards. Hourly bulletins were issued
from the substation 10 give the growers
general information on weather condi
lions. Different sections of the irult
temperature, according TO their location,
and for this reason the only safe way TO
protect the fruit was 10 watch orGhard
thermometers and act accordingly, FROM
reports received generally from the trult
districts the night was passed pracu-
cally in safety.
Views of an Expert.
Relative 10 the system of orchard heat,
ing j, Edward TAYLOR, state horticultural
inspector. says: ''FruitGrowcrs this year
were better prepared with heating appli-
auces than ever. and feel sure the truii
crop will not be damaged by this cold
weather even II the temperature does set
below the place where danger sets IN.
The smudge pot Is pretty generally used.
although some OF the smaller growers re
sort TO bontires at advantageous points
in and around their orchards. The best
method is the use Of many small ires
scattered through the orchard as u pro-
duces nearer an even temperature, rev
large fires may save large part OF the
trees from the frost, but necessarily por-
tons Of the orchards Will be exposed, no
matter how big the !ircs.
Utah Is Fortunate.
Utah fruit sections are fortunate when
compared TO the Grand Junction. Colo.
territory While killing frosts come TO
Utah the Colorado fruit belt mentioned
In temperature. The fruitgrowers in the
Grand Junction country have come TO
recognize The absolute necessity Tor the
smudge pots II they raise a crop; while
i'm the best fruit sections In Utah it is
only occasionally that IL is necessary TO
fight off frost with fire.
"A tempera ture OF 30 degrees Is sui"
ficiently low TO sound a warning TO fruit
growers. Apples generally will stand
lower temperature than other fruit. but
precautionary steps should be taken on
all fruits when 80 degrees Is reached.
Right now the apricot trees are in full
bloom and have been out several days,
so frost would be especially damaging
10 that crop. Fortunately cherry trees
are not forward this year and no danger
is in sight for them that | can see
At 1870 the thermometer in the gov
ernment kiosk showed temperature OF
30 degrees with the indications that il
would 20 no lower account OF a shift
OF the wind from the north 10 the east
However with the temperature lowering
around 80 there Is grave danger that the
unprotected fruit trees received some in
jury.