The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1921-05-20

daytime heat, regrets his generosity of the
shiny hours.
On rainy days, when the cloud strata has cut
off the suns heat, the earth is not much warmed
during the day. If, during the night, the clouds
blow away, the earth is apt to go bankrupt. That
is why, when the season is passing from spring
to summer from to fall. three days
rain is often followed by a frost. The first
clear night presents heat bills the earth which
he is unable to pay, and Jack Frost, natures
sheriff, places his crisp seal upon the improvdent
old fellow. The farmer looks out across his
blasted fields in the morning and sighs "a kill
ing frost last night" And this is because the old
earth, already gray with age and experience,
hasn't yet learned how to save up for rainy
dayl"
The most common method for frost prevention
Is to establish a sort of savings bank for the old
fellow earth Rest assured that he'll spend his
reserve If he can Glass makes the best heat
ings bank. II has the curious property of allow
ing the heat from the TO pass through to the
earth, bur 1t will not allow the radated heat from
the earth to go back TO the "eager air." Glass is
expensive, however, and can be used only for the
protection of comparatively small areas of ground
Wood is also a good Waterman to set above the
ancient profgate. Though 1t will not allow heat
to pass from the glass does, neither will
ii allow 1t to pass outward from the earth. In
sections of the South ath network is used to
crops during the danger periods The wood
network holds down a large amount of heat.
and when frost occurs it helps the frozen plants
by shading them from the direct rays of the
morning sun and allows them to thaw gradually.
Quick thawing of the frozen water particles in
plant or fruit is fatal, as ii causes the cellular
tissues to break down; If the thawng process is
very gradual the plant may reabsorb the fluid
and the damage done may be surprisingly slight.
Various Methods Used
Paper is of less value in conserving heat than
Is wood. though it is more efficient than CLOTH
Cloth allows that cold mendicant the air, to pene
trate to the earth and steal the last degree OF
heat from him. SO cloth covering must be quite
heavy If the frost is a hard one. Iron metal
pots are not at all good bankers for the earth
they allow the heat to pass back into the air al
most as readily the earth itself.
There is another method that is employed to
save the spendthrift from the sheriff. The pres
ence of moisture in the air makes the radiation
of heat difficult and helps greatly to conserve the
heat which the earth already holds. Also If the
temperature drops to freezing each drop of water
gives up bit of latent heat before congealing,
and ali these tiny contributions help to keep the
surface air warmer.
breeze from ocean. lake, river win usually
bring this wet blanket. and It sometimes be
supplied in an artificial manner by letting water
into irrigation bitches Results not so good may
be had by building damp smudge fires in the or
rhard Cranberry growers often save their crops
by flooding the with water. In the event OF
extreme cold It is often possible to submerge en-
ire areas growing this crop This gives absolute
Less prodigal than earth, water keeps
Is reserve heat for long periods of time
Force Air to Be Honest
The third method of keeping the earth solvent
$ by adding heat to the air layers near the sur
ace. This is done by means Of many small fires
If OIL coal, wood, or orchard refuse and Is n
method well known in sections where fruit grow
ng is a speciality. II is sometimes scOrned as an
tempt to warm up all outdoors" bnt that is
ot what happens, exactly We know that at
light, the air above the earth is warmer than
be air directly against IL. Therefore. II the low
r and colder strata could be lifted and mixed
18th the upper air. higher and more equabe
would result