Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-10-08

salAh ~bt Htdt - tIutit uft s' ~ /
the perI>hing tree.
HEATING BY MASSED SMOKE.
A plan of heating which had to he aban-
doned in other states need not be entirely
ignored or discarded in the Valley. This
i the plan of producing dense MASSES Of
low hanging smoke by burning such ma
terlal> "a wet rubbish and brush. This
retard~ radiation To some extent. and it,,
only objection j. that il di>colors winter
fruit and retards the spring growth by the
SCOT deposit which it leaves on the trees.
Al present the citrus crop J. usually sold
before the appearance of "A freeze IN the
Valley and it, injury to the trees growth
j. offset by it, benefit n an insect repel-
liant. Ii would not be of any service.
however. unless accompanied by an adc-
quatc system of heating by radiation.
One of the occurrences which marked
the trial Of the last freeze and which
caused comment. was the immunity from
low temperatures which some localities en-
poycd while their ncishhoring communities
suffered severely. 4 good illustration Of
this l. To he found in the experiences of
Mercedes.
To understand II. let IL he remembered
that Mercedes ENJOYS a greater ahount "f
soil wafer than any place IN the Valley,
amounting IN some places to a high water
table. In addition Ia this. much ot the soil
IN this vicinity J. of !, heavy clancy ma
ture, IN many places undcrlaId with 4 clay
cy >ut>oil. \ soil consisting OF heavy.
compact clay, saturated with water. will
hold IT. heat considerably longer during
4 shore freeze than a sandy soil. Eut
should the duration ut the freeze he longer
than the capacitv of the soil heat. then the
heavy. damp soil would take such a long
time 10 yet Pack it, neat after II once be
came cold that it j. doubtful If tine citrus
trees could obtain enough neat f. recover.
4 This latter instance was well Illustrated a
few miles east Of Mercedes.
But one Of the principal causes. perhaps
the greatest cause of Mercedes immunity
from frost damage was the fact that this
vicinity ha~ a vast natural reservoir "f
heal IN the dense forest oi brush. which
was competent 10 give off considerable
amount Of heat hN radiation into 4 slowly
moving atmosphere. and keep the temper
atuit ahnNt nv haHEti lHf- - dh Hh-
lunci to the heating process of the forest
and L. the heat retention by the heavy soil.
must b. considered the advantage Of the
proximity vi several lake. These lakes
were ~ some advantage. but were not
equal Ia the other factors mentioned. To
DC II much advantage during 4 freeze. the
body If water must be- very deep or very
extensive. Shallow water will not give off
sufficient heat To make much difference
unless the freeze i very slight and of
short duration.
The lack OF this immunity was very eyi-
dent ~ Donna. When the cold slowly
moving atmosphere came across the tree
less cultivated area north Of the com
munIty, II had no heat 10 gam from brush.
soil or lakes, aud the destruction by the
freeze was severe.
This brings II 10 the point Of debating
what = the best course Ia take 10 meet the
natural detrimental condition, here re-
viewed, and BY what appliance or appara-
tus can We supply the necessary amount
Of heat most economically and practically
10 insure a freedom from frost injury.
Ito tie Continually