The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-01
THE SMUDGE-POT| IN
APPLE ORCHARDS

(SOntInQeQ FROM
days nave brought out the buds. to be
killed by frosts in April Entire or
chards without a specimen of apples
have been no uncommon occurrence.
AS to other fruits, it was case OF
hit or miss.
The Man of the Hour.
But James Craig. who gamers a
fortune 4 year from his ORCHARD near
WaYnesboro. in Augusta County. saw
reason for such sacrifice. He
cast about him to discover a way to
defeat the fell intentions OF Jack Frost
prohting largely by the experience OF
growers in the Northwest and having
doubtless gotten some pointers from
orange growers III Florida He has
Two tracts OF land, the river dividing
making in ali about $4,000 trees. some
OF which are not yet III bearing. The
Rose Clin Fruit Farm, for so he calls
nls property, IS a kso the purchaser OF
apples Tor wide range Of territory,
and upon its prices depends largely the
market value in this State.
In this orchard there we're Installed
5000 smudse- pots. snudge- pot is
Il stove set In the ground 1t burns
crude oil. A sliding top permits OF
regulation OF the amount OF flame The
whole theory Is very simple--it is
merely TIA, with the creation Of ar
tihcial heat in the orchard the tenn
perature may be kept above freezing
point.
story in Pictures.
The pictures IN Inc Times dispatch
today saow now II is dore Tne two
lines OF smudge-pots set between rows
@. trees can be dlscegned Perhaps
the photos .aph OF the orchard a; n!ght.
Win the pots a.!ghi. Is the only one
OF the kind ever taken OF course.
1T is time exposure, with very un-
satisfactory light FOR such a ventur.
The reade. may not be able TO make
neads or tails o: the picture.
When the cold wave came along. Mr.
Craig made ready. Tie pots we're filled
with crude oil. Usually they are not
lighted until after midnight, except
IN the severest sort OF weather. and
often IL was found that couple OF
hours burning just before sunrise was
sufficient. But from midnight until
some timc after the sun had made his
appearance Was found ne cessAryYn tns
severe weather OF few weeks since.
so far as Z. G. Myers. the travelling
agent OF the Rose Gin Fruit Farm
knows. there is no special virtue in
the crude oil The same results could
be obtained from burning brush But
anything else than OIL would require
much more labor and probably more
expense. Men 20 about al the proper
time. lighting the oil at tho top and
regulating the size OF the fame They
burn until tie top is entirely closed.
cutting on the air
Warmth spreads through the orchard
md
Is beaten. II is estimated that 80. 900
gallons OF oil WAS consumed in the
Rose Cliff Fruit Farm during the
spring just past
Evcrybody Can DO IL.
The small grower can. he feels.
hardly AFFORD 10 install the pots. Yet
tns time may come whcn even the man
with few trees Will take this precau-
ton. In such season ae that Of 1912
they would cost nothing. for last year
they were not needed. Just following
severe winter. there is little danger
that fruit Will be far enough advanced
10 he hurt by late frosts. But with
tic nigh value of fruit nowadays, ma
ture will be given little chance by the
wise grower 10 destroy whcn destruc-
ton can be prevented
Other pictures shown herewith are
OF methods o; estoring trees damaged
by frost. The bark expands. and. when
warmer weather comes. IL cracks and
falls. Unless something IS done. tn.
tree viii die, The Rose Cl!if Fruit
Farm pccls the e.K :. rs shown ~
one OF the photogra phs Then ii takes
the water sprouts. that -row UP from
the roots. conveys ,hem to point
above the peeled surface, and CRAFTS
them again into their parent tree Thus
the tree continues To draw sap FROM
the ground through the sprouts l--jGli
give u life and visOr When the
sprouts are larger, the tree gets enough
nourishment, is sound and produces
ss ell as ever. Truly the apple and
peach growers OF Virginia are learn
ins new tricks. and that they may
learn them all the faster the above
facts concerning roc mt doinss at Rose
C.u are given.