72 Report of State Board of Horticulture. 



Owing to the topography of the country and air currents a damag- 

 ing frost may occur in one locality, while but a short distance away no 

 damage is done by reason of favorable air currents that drive the warm 

 air to this favored section. These warm air currents are variable; 

 one night they may favor a given locality, and another frosty night 

 some other. Hence, it would be unwise for the fruit-grower to rely on 

 these warm belts without being up to note the degree of temperature 

 of his locality from his thermometer. 



During thirty-eight years I have lived in Josephine County, engaged 

 in fruit-growing, I have known of severe damage done the fruit in 

 Jackson County, and Josephine County have no damage whatever; then 

 other years Josephine County has had nearly all her fruit killed by 

 frost, and Jackson County have no damage done from a like cause. 



If one notes carefully his thermometer on a frosty night, and no 

 change occurs, there is no necessity for starting the oil pots, until near 

 32 degrees of cold; hence by careful watching of temperature while 

 smudging, one can save much oil. However, care should be taken 

 to have the oil pots fired before the temperature falls to 32 degrees, and 

 the smudges active. 



During my experience of smudging in 1887 I was unable to see that 

 my fires raised the temperature, but the smoke circulated in large 

 quantities through the trees, and no doubt had I thought to have taken 

 the temperature up in the tree tops I would have noticed a higher 

 temperature. I had my thermometers hanging on the lower limbs where 

 they did not get the heat which no doubt was greater where the heavy 

 volumes of smoke circulated. 



