The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1916-04-26

none, but when a bad storm is driven
down the coast a streak of unusual
weather is apt to strike most any
kind of a paradise, and southern Cal
ifornia is not given the go-by, so the
ranchers feel more comfortable i'll
they have the satisfaction of know
ing that they can protect their groves
in case of emergency.
Mutual Plan of Aid.
Practically all of the frost associ-
ations are run on the mutual plan, so
the one at Pomona is probably as
good an example as any, because it
covers a wide range of territory and
serves a combined area of 1000
acres.
The Pomona valley organization is
known as the Frost Protecting Asso-
citation. C. D. Crookshank is presi-
dent and j. e. Adamson is secretary.
He is assisted by H. E. Walcott who
is manager of the Pomona Fruit
Growers Exchange, and by other
prominent citrus men. This assOcia-
ton protects practically all of the
fruit which is marketed by seven CO.
operative associations through the
San Antonio Fruit Exchange, and it
works for two associations that are
outside that marketing office. With
/ two EXCEPTIONS the Pomona protective
system covers the entire valley.
Frost Like Lightning.
1t would be unfair to say that Po-
mona alley is the coolest of south
ern California valleys and is there
| fore in need of more frost protection
than any other district, because frost
! is a good deal like lightning. One
| never knows when or where it will
strike. and it seldom strikes twice in
| the same place. AS a matter of fact,
when southern California did get a
cold snap a few days ago which made
tself felt to a considerable extent it
was felt near San Diego, it hit Red
LANDS. Riverside, Corona, the Foot
! hill districts and in fact everywhere
rences. of course, are extremely in
rences. of course, are extremely in
| frequent. and such VisitationS today
with the amount of frost protective
apparatus that is at hand are no cause
! for alarm.
During the present winter south
ern California districts have fired
their groves as follows: Two nights
in November, four in December and
| five in January.
The dea of heating is to create
1aver of warm air which rises treetOp
high and remains there so long as the
heaters are burning, and the original
theory that a layer of smoke was sat
isfactorv has long since been eX-
plOded.
/ ic
have gotten orchard heating down to
such a system that they don't go by
guess any more. Instead of going
out. shifting the air, getting frlghten-
ed and lighting up heaters to waste
oil the ranchers depend upon the as
sOciatiOn to notify them If heating Is
necessary, and if they have to tre
up at all they generally ire Tor a
brief period.
Many Telephones.
In Pomona valley the Frost Pro-
Elective Association reached from
Central avenue on the east to Valley
Center avenue in San Dimas on the
VESTS square miles. 1t served
over 1000 acres of citrus groves. Inc
ranches will average 10 acres each,
and some of the growers have tele-
phones for their employees, so there
are about 500 telephones hooked to-
gether in the protective district.
The district is laid out into seven
routes, numbered like hotel floors
from 100 up. There are 12o govern
ment tested thermometers in the dis
trict. Some of the night riders have
as MANY as 81 thermometers to visit.
IOthers have less. The thermometers
are on trees and telephone poles
along the roads nj the coolest spots
that can be found. BY constant study
the association has found the places
which are apt to feel drop in tenn
perature first and at these the lndl-
Gators have been established.
The seven young men who patrol
the district are Archie VarcOe, New
ton Crawford, Benton FredenhalI,
Morris Nelson, T. j. Abbott, Paul
Cline and A. F. Partch. FredenhalI
and Abbott use automobiles. me
other boys use motorcycles. They
work only on the coolest nights and
receive $3.50 per night.
If rider is making the rounds
and he finds a thermometer gong
exceedingly low he goes to a neigh
boring ranch and telephones to head
quarters so the alarm can be given
at once Otherwise he finishes his
trip and starts over the course again,
The boys cover the ground every 9V
minutes until the temperature is such
that they can safely be sent home TO
bed.