The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-04-07
HEATING THE ORCHARDS
To SAVE FRUIT TREES

II IS DelleI 70 nave UlhDy sources
/, OF heat than few even though the to-
TAI amount of heat is the same in both
Instances. The heaters should be
Placed from 20 to % feet apart each
way in rows between the trees rather
| than near to or under the trees, and
! on the windward side of the orchard
| they should be about 10 feet apart in a
row perhaps Is or 30 feet away from
| the first row of trees and outside of
the orchard. This outside row thus
| has an extra number of heaters be-
| cause It must protect the first row OF
trees and because the heat from it is
! so much scattered by the wind that
| fewer heaters could not give the neces
| sary protection. The heaters are piac-
&C in rows to facilitate filling, light
ing and extinguishing them.
The condition of the fruit buds
whether partly open, or wide open
makes some little difference in the
danger point of the temperature, but
as soon as they first begin to open, 80
| degrees f. had better be accepted as
meaning trouble. While the buds are
still closed they will stand lower
| temperature and heating is seldom or
never done until they begin to open
Good Judgment is necessary at this
time in order not to burn fuel useless
| j.. Tested thermometers should be
distributed throughout the orchard
parison outside the orchard If the
temperature goes down slowly during
the night and reached 80 degrees a
| short time before sun rise, it will not
be necessary to light the heaters. IF
the temperature reaches 32 degrees
earlier in the night then every fourth
, feater should be lighted, and more #
! necessary TO keep it at 80 degrees or
little higher. The thermometers out
eide the orchard must be watched so as
To know how cold it is away from the
heated area,
If the temperature drops rapidly to-
ward the danger point in the evening
OF drrihg the night then the fruit grow
er must be alert and get fires going
| before 80 degrees is reached because
| il SIS easier to maintain safe tempera.
| ture than it is to raise an injurious
one. When the outside temperature
begins rising and approaches 33 de-
grees the fires may be extinguished as
fast as weather conditions permit. The
| length of time the heaters are lighted
may vary from an hour TO several days
depending on weather conditions.
/ There is much more danger on =
clear night than ON a cloudy one be
cause the radiation OF heat from the
earth is more rapid. Clouds act as a
blanket and check the radiation very
considerably Fruit growers, during
| The season when there is likelihood of
frost damage, should maintain care
ful observation of weather conditions.
They should also study the us. wealth
er reports and whenever the forecast
indicates likelihood of frost, make
ready to light their heaters and there.
after keep especially close watch On
local weather conditions
One or more alarm thermometers
may be installed in the orchard and
be connected with wire and battery
tC an alarm bell in the house. If this
thermometer is set at 33 degrees Il
will automatically complete the cir
cult when the temperature falls tc
SO degrees or below, and the bell will
ling until someone breaks the circuit
or the temperature goes above 80 de
grees.
/ 1t IS absolutely essential to have
storage tanks so as to have fuel a
} hand all of the time. These shoulC
: be placed near TO or in the orchard
! for convenience in refilling the heat
ers If 100 heaters per acre are burn
ing il means the consumption of 10'
: quarts of oil per hour or 100 gallons
: in four hours. In many parts of thu
D country it is usually necessary to ligh
: tho heaters only three or four time
. per season and keep them going from
two TO four hours. This will mean
|, consumption of 900 gallons or less o
a Oil per acre each season 1t is no
e safe to risk having less than thi
n amount per acre available even thougl
L the season be favorable and none
e used, and the orchardist can quickl
/. compute the amount of storage spac
d he needs for his entire orchard. H
n should also have an understandin
t, with the jobber to ship oil irnmediatel
y upon receipt Of telegraphic order.
4 Storage tanks may be made of WOO
( iron, or cement at the option or tn
it Lowner,
A wagon tank with large faucet an
II short piece of hose is desirable Tor di
IS tributing the oil in the orchard. Th
II oil is drawn into buckets-lipped {