Orchard-Heating 269 



like, must be avoided. At best, an orchard-heater is 

 roughly handled and the more expensive and complicated 

 types would find a very short existence in actual orchard- 

 heating practice. Furthermore, the matter of storage 

 must be considered. The simple pot which will nest easily 

 and occupy very little space will be more desirable. There 

 is no objection to the high-priced reservoir heater provid- 

 ing it is not complicated; but the same results may be 

 secured by the more simple lard-pail type, holding about 

 five quarts, and having a burning time of four and five 

 hours, depending upon the quality of fuel-oil used. 



"The cost of orchard-heating is such a variable quan- 

 tity that it is almost impossible to make a general estimate 

 which will be of any value. Equipment, cost of fuel, 

 length and number of firing periods, and so on, will vary 

 in different localities and seasons. Orchard-heaters will 

 cost all the way from 6 cents to 50 cents each, and from 

 fifty to one hundred heaters, depending upon conditions, 

 will have to be used to the acre. The quantity of oil will 

 vary with the season, and the cost will be all the way from 

 1 to 5 or 6 cents a gallon. Usually, no less than 300 gallons 

 an acre should be provided. At least one wagon-tank will 

 have to be provided for each 10 acres at a cost of $25. 

 Lighters and torches will cost from $1 to $2 an acre; 

 thermometers 75 cents to $1 an acre. The cost of a storage- 

 tank charged to each acre will depend upon its size, but 

 will not be far from $10 an acre for large tracts. It is 

 possible to get at the actual cost of fuel-oil to the acre in 

 the following way: The quantity of fuel-oil necessary to 

 raise the temperature 5 F. above the surrounding air in 

 an orchard in full bearing, with wide-spreading trees, will 

 be approximately twelve and one-half gallons an hour to 

 the acre. This will be true if the air remains calm or does 



