THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



Care of Pots. 



Every pot is thoroughly inspected for holes or other defects when 

 taken from the car. It is then dipped in asphaltum paint before send- 

 ing to the field. This asphaltum paint is a very effective protection 

 against rust. It has been our observation that rust will deteriorate an 

 oil pot more rapidly than the firings in the orchard, and it is our regular 

 practice after every siege of firing, be it for one night or a dozen, to 

 send men through the orchard with paint and brush to retouch every 

 spot where the protecting coat has been burned off. The shiny coat of 

 lacquer that covers the pot when it comes from the factory will not last 

 long when exposed to the weather, and we believe it an extremely waste- 

 ful practice to allow pots to stand in the field with no other protection. 

 The making of the asphaltum paint is a simple matter. Heat fifty 

 pounds of broken asphaltum in an iron tub or kettle until thoroughly 

 melted. Remove a safe distance from the fire and stir into it five gal- 

 lons of stove distillate, being careful that it does not boil over. This- 

 will be a little too thick for dipping purposes, but can be diluted to any 

 -desired consistency with engine distillate. The cost of dipping each 

 pot is about one cent. 



The Latest Oil Pot. 



"While not recommending any particular pot, we do not hesitate to 

 say that in our opinion the greatest advance step ever made in oil pot 

 construction has been the introduction within the last year of the ' ' down 

 draught" tube, either perforated or slit in such a way that an ample 

 supply of air is always available at the surface of the burning oil. -And 

 the positive control of this air supply means great economy in oil con- 

 sumption and a cleaner flame, and makes available if needed the last 

 heat unit contained in the heavy residue that unavoidably accumulates 

 in the bottom of the pot. 



It might be mentioned here that when this pot is new the first attempt 

 to light it will probably result in failure and possibly serious delay, 

 unless a loose wad of excelsior be crowded into the mouth of the tube. 

 This will become saturated with oil and make possible instant ignition. 

 After a little soot has accumulated about the openings the excelsior may 

 not be necessary. 



Assembling the Help. 



At the first suggestion of danger the regular night watchman will 

 call several patrols who will go, each one to a different part of the 

 orchard, and report to headquarters over our newly installed telephone 

 system the temperatures in his section. All of the temperatures will be 

 charted as they come in, each thermometer's readings separate from 

 the rest. At every telephone station are a number of torches and an 

 extra supply of distillate to refill them. At a temperature of 33 degrees, 

 if the night is threatening, the men will be assembled ready for lighting 

 the pots. As most of them are in dormitories close at hand this refjuires 

 but a few minutes. The telephone will enable us to know the temper- 

 ature at all points every few minutes, and as the mercury approaches 

 30 degrees in any section a firing squad will be sent at once to that 

 point with orders' to light the pots immediately if there is no change for 

 the better.' In like manner, by means of the telephone, any squad may 



