Agro-Climatological Investigations— Bensin 



213 



temperature on the surface of snow upon which lignite was 

 scattered. A rise of temperature of 4 above the check plots 

 was observed in the afternoon hours. As a result all snow on 

 the coal dust coated plots melted within 12-14 days while in 

 the adjacent area depth of snow remained about 24 inches. 



In 1948 smaller amounts of coal dust were used per square 

 with similar results. Local gardeners interested in this experi- 



SOLAR RAD/AT OR 



SOLAR REFLECTOR 

 AL UM/NUM 



SOLAR RAD/ATOR- 

 REFLECTOR 









SOLAR PAD /ATOP -REEL ECTOR 

 PLACED OAL THE R/D6E 



Fig. 8.— Solar radiators and reflectors for growing warm-season vegetables. 



ment were vising about 1,000 pounds per acre of the same 

 material. This removal of snow enables the beginning of the 

 field work of the season 10 to 14 days earlier. During the same 

 seasons coal dust has been used in gardens by spreading along 

 the seed beds and east-west ridges with the side exposed to the 

 south coated with coal dust. This method increased soil tem- 

 perature near the surface up to 4 . Response of the vegetable 

 crops (particularly beans and onions) was very favorable. 



In 1948 experiments on growing cucumbers in black painted 

 25-gallon tubs with white painted reflectors placed behind them 



