The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1912-02-02
INSPIRATIONS FOR
ORCHARD HEATING
SAYS sMUDGING is NEW HERE.
II. 5. Herrick, Formrely of Delta,
Writes Article That is Both In
teresting and Important to
Fruit Growers.


been thought by many as ridiculous
and out OF reason. Orchard heating
as well as everything else, had to
have a beginning. 1t was received
by many orchardists with enthusi-
asm and today is pronounced a sue
cess by some and failure by 9TH
ers. Orchard heating has gone
through a kind of evolution or devel-
opment and there is no doubt that
there will be even greater changes
in the future concerning it. 1t
was first started in this state by
the use of ''smudges' which consisted
of burning dampened material, such
as hay, straw or manure. This gave
off a dense smoke and if there was
scarcely any wind, the temperature
could be raised two or three degrees
This was followed by large fires
around the orchard, but this was
found to be worse than no fires.
/ because they caused such a draft Of
cold air to fill the central open
space as to be very damaging to
the fruit These forms of fighting
| frost were followed by having sew
eral fires throughout the orchard.
/ Where wood is plentiful this mode
/ of orchard heating can be done sue
cessfully. Orchard heating in Colo
rado has been carried on for the most
part by the use of coal and oil heat
ers.
| Orchard heating is new to the
Colorado orchardist but the practice
is not new, although some of the
methods used and improvements are
of recent date. Prof. P. G. O'Gara,
of the U. S. Weather Bureau, says
in part Better Fruit, Dec. number.
| 1911).
/ The protection of plants and
/ fruits from frost injury dates back
perhaps 1000 years. 1t is known
/ that the Romans pracIiced heating
and smudging as protection against
frost injury; This fact is worthy
of recommendation. Tress planted
on land with a northern slope and
those grown in high attitudes are
N
grown in lower attitudes on land
with southern exposure. The rea-
son for this is that in the early
spring there is cooler atmospher-
ic condition which exists in the
higher attitudes.
Sweet cherry buds which have
started to swell will not stand
zero temperature for any length Of
time. Dormant peach buds viii not
stand 5 degrees below zero for any
length of time. Dormant apple
sour cherry and native plum will
stand the lowest temperature which
is ever likely to occur in the fruit
sections of Colorado. A strong and
vigorus peach tree, well filled with
bloom ought to go through a tenn
perature of 2S or % degrees with
good crop if the frost is OF short
duration so as not to freeze the
tissues solid. When set they have
been known to stand a temperature
or 26 or IS degrees for short time
Apples when in full bloom will not
stand temperature lower than Is
degrees. and this will do great deal
of thinning of the fruit. After they
have set. and unless there is a great
amount of them, they will not stand.
much below 20 degrees without a
great loss to the crop.
One of the laws of nature is to
perpetrate the species and this is
Why an unhealthy fruit tree will
one of the reasons why an unhealthy
fruit tree will often try to produce
a large crop of fruit before it dies.
A healthy tree. properly cared for,
should withstand the ravages of the
frost better than an unhealthy, ne
elected one. Proper pruning, spray
ing, irrigation and cultivation have
much to do to better the vitality of
trees.
One of the great advantages in
| fighting frost is to have the trees
bear plenty of bloom. The more
flower or fruit buds the better. as
this gives larger number for frost
elimination and then. one is surer
OF n full crop of fruit than when
| there is small amount of bloom.
When bearing apple tree bears
full bloom II one can save about one
fruit flower out of ten. he ought
to harvest at picking time, q full