26 



Prevention of Damage by Frost. 



[APRIL, 



should, of course, be kept ready filled in their places during 

 the whole time the blossom is out, and there is any risk of 

 damage by frost. They should be covered with some sort of 

 rough lid to prevent the rain getting into them, which would 

 make the ignition of the fluid rather difficult. 



A useful instrument was designed for us by Messrs. Crabtree, 

 of Birkenhead, in the shape of a thermometer so constructed 

 as to ring an electric bell when the mercury touches freezing 

 point, the connection passing through the mercury. The bell 

 is placed in the bedroom of the unfortunate frost tighter, the 

 thermometer in the garden outside. On the bell ringing a call 



South. 



East. 



West. 



P North. A 



Pots in position for a south-westerly wind on an acre of plantation. 



to arms, bed should at once be quitted, clothes hastily donned, 

 and the fight commenced. The fires are easily ignited with a 

 torch. It is necessary to put a small wisp of hay into the 

 fluid to start ignition. 



In my own case the plantation operated on was one of half- 

 standard Victoria plums, with red currants between, also mixed 

 plum and apple half-standards with gooseberries beneath. 



My own idea is that the process answers best where the trees 

 are thick and the smoke hangs. The heat produced by the fires 

 had a very noticeable effect on thermometers placed in the trees, 

 the temperature rising several degrees. An enormous pall of 

 black smoke hung like a heavy blanket some 8 or 12 ft. from 

 the ground, enveloping the trees satisfactorily. 



