APPLE GROWING IN CAf JF( >RXIA. 73 



FROST PROTECTION. 



It is safe to say that the orchard which is well cared for in general is 

 less liable to injury from freezing than the one which is neglected. The 

 first point which should be emphasized, then, in connection with protect- 

 ing the orchard from killing frosts, is proper care. Cultivation, prun- 

 ing, fertilization, irrinat ion and spraying are all necessary at certain 

 times for the best development of trees, including the fruit buds. If 

 the buds can go into the winter in perfect condition, there is every 

 reason to believe that they will stand more than they would if devital- 

 ized because of unhealthy trees. 



SMUDGING. 



It has lon-j- been known that there is little danger from killing fr 

 on a cloudy niuht. This fact has led to a belief that the same protection 

 ;* {'forded by the clouds can be produced artificially by means of smoke. 

 With this idea in view, various materials which in burning will pro- 

 duce much smoke, have been burned in orchards during frosty nights. 

 This method of protection is known as smudging, and is fast giving 

 way to the better method of heating. It is probable that light frosts 

 have been warded off by means of such smudges, or at least a sufficient 

 blanket has been formed over an orchard in the early morning to pre- 

 vent the rapid thawing of the blossoms which, it' thawed out too rapidly. 

 are sure to be killed. It is now thought that smudging in itself is of 

 little value, and many of the successful orchard heaters now in use are 

 designed to utilize as much of the fuel as possible; the more complete 

 the combustion the better they are thought to be. 



ORCHARD HEATING. 



"While there are still many problems in connection with orchard heat- 

 in. ir yet to be solved, it is now frenerally conceded that, under certain 

 cnnditinns. at least, a crop of fruit citrus or deciduous can be saved, 

 even though the temperature falls as much as fifteen degrees below 

 ing. During spring freezes of four different seasons in Colorado, 

 the writer had abundant opportunity to study the various operations 

 of the orchard heating business in time of action, and the effect of 

 such heating in saving fruit. The first practical demonstration of what 

 could he accomplished was made in the spring of 1908. Three or four 

 different parties had previously purchased some of the Bolton orchard 

 heaters, which at that time were manufactured in California. By the 

 use of these small lard-pail pots, as they were called, which held about 

 three quarts of oil, these men succeeded in saving a considerable amount 

 of fruit. The demonstration was a perfect one, for only in the heated 

 areas was there any fruit. Before this time there were orchards in 

 California where heaters had been used. The Limoneira Company had 

 done considerable work along this line, and had used wire baskets for 

 burning coal with more or less success. The fact that it was possible 

 to save a crop of fruit by burning coal or oil in containers led to the 

 making and patenting of a great many types of heaters, practically 

 any one of which will do the work, provided that the necessary amount 

 of fuel is burned. Both coal and oil have <riven satisfaction, but the 

 latter is preferred by most orchardists. in California, where oil is so 



