Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-10-04
FROST PROTECTION FOR CITRUS TREES
saved while other trees adjoining and not
protected were killed back.
WODD FIRES SAVED ORCHARDS.
(By D. J. ]. Morton, Citrus ~lnspector.)
PART z.

saved wllile other trees ADJOINING anu not
protected were killed back.
WOOD FIRES SAVED ORCHARDS.
Other orchards were saved By building
fires Of wood and holding plenty Of wood
in reserve. Several Of these attempts were
successful. Yet il must be recorded that
in some eases where the orchardist had
successfully combatted the freeze on two
occasions the orchards were severely
damaged by lack Of available fuel for the
last and most destructive freeze.
There are many ways of preventing in
jury to an orchard during a freeze, n it
j. the writer's experience that the SIM
ple>t and cheapest has always been the
best. The simple methods can be adopted
BY any person, experienced or inexperi-
enced. The intricate appliances may be
impracticablc 10 the inexperienced.
Ii would be a waste of space 10 enter
into an explanation Of the various plans
for fighting frost. The orchardist who j.
aiming at becoming successful ut citrus
growing must equip himself with a knowl-
edge of the resources Afforded by his en-
v.ronment. Whattrould be utilized in one
community might mot be available a few
miles away. The be-i heater that can be
used this winter, or any other winter. 4
the heater which can be readily obtained
at home. No matter what kind Of heater
YOU NAV use. whether il costs ten dollars
and certain amount Of knowledge and
labor To raise the temperature the neces-
-ary number of degrees. Preparation and
drill are necessary for the operation Of
even a small heating system. The u>e Of
many small improviscd heaters i better
than 10 install a few large heaters. The
small heaters evenly distribute the heat.
The large heaters lose most Of their heat
by their self created air draft.
OLDER TREES SAVED MORE EASILY.
With very Young trees frost protection
j. raore difficult thsn with larger trees.
Unless well protected by windbreak-.
young or one-year planted trees NAV not
receive much benefit from hcaier-. While
the banking Of young trees always carries
with il the menace of foot rot. and other
diseases. il j. for the orchardi~t to decide
whether il j. more profitable to bank
his trees and lose a few by disease. or
leave them ~unbanked and risk the loss Of
the entire orchard by a freeze. Even
banked, the protection i little better than
u gamblers chance. II sometimes saves
rebuilding. but often gives an unpre>enta
hle tree. Where banking ha> been com
bined with artificial heating in orchards
suitably protected by windbrcakS. success
ha~ ben attained. although it max be said
the banking was the least important fea-
turc.
III il ha- been decided to bank Young
trees a a means Of frost protection. care
should be- taken that this j. one AT a time
when the bark Of the tree j. dry. Care
should also be exercised in choosing a tim,
when the soil j. dry. If the young tire,
j. banked with wet or damp soil the tree /
more likely 10 suffer from bark decay than
III banked when the soil i dry.
BANKING CITRUS TREES.
The banking should be removed from
time 10 time and the bark examined foI
injury. III injury has occurred a paintin.
with Bordeai-- paste may be of much ben
eft: ii there i no apparent INJURY tn,
banking may be replaced.
Painting with Bordeaux paste q day 81
two before the banking l. performed vii
prevent. 10 some extent. foot rot and Other
diseases. but there j. no %wrappin. -
painting known which will prevent bari
decay when the trunk j. banked with u we
soil or \ >oil containing the organisms "
disease.
THE ORCHARDIST TIE BEST JUDGE.