340 Fruit-growing in Arid Regions 



Heating the Orchard 



Undaunted by the failures of other methods, progressive 

 fruit-growers have endeavored to demonstrate that it is 

 possible and practicable to avert frost injury by actually 

 raising the temperature of the air, by means of burning 

 suitable fuel in small fires about the orchard, either in 

 small piles upon the ground or in orchard heaters designed 

 for the purpose. While many persons have been inclined 

 to doubt the feasibility of heating "all-out-doors," it has 

 been well demonstrated that fruit-crops may be saved by 

 practical means of heating the orchard during the bloom- 

 ing period, even when the temperature falls as low as 20. 



This means of frost-fighting was probably first tried in 

 a large way in California, in protecting the citrus fruit- 

 crops from frost in the months of December, January, and 

 February. In deciduous fruit-orchards it was probably 

 first tried in Colorado in the spring of 1908. The results 

 were so encouraging that great interest has been aroused 

 in the designing and manufacturing of orchard heaters 

 and in attempts to demonstrate the efficiency of the 

 various patterns. Some of the most promising styles are 

 shown in Figure 94. The writers have had many oppor- 

 tunities to study the behavior of these orchard heaters 

 in actual tests, and much interesting information has 

 been gathered, which may prove of practical value when 

 assembled. 



Fuels. With the oil fields close at hand, it is natural 

 that the California fruit-growers should favor the use of 

 oil in heating the orchard. Possibly the only objection 

 to its use in protecting the citrus fruit-crop in California 



