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Growers were determined to beat the frost. So determined that they would spend several nights out in the cold trying
to keep the groves warm, as well as themselves. Many growers planted corn stalks throughout the groves in order to keep the
trees insulated. Other orchard owners burn hay bales and straw to keep the temperatures above 30º.
The wealthier owners used smudge pots to fight the cold, which is why they are also known as ‘orchard heaters’.
A smudge pot is an oil-burning device that is used to fight frost off the trees. The design is simple; there’s a large
base and a chimney like opening in the middle of the base. The smudge pot would be place between the trees, and the smoke
from the burning oil would keep the trees warm throughout the night.
Costly or not, the low temperatures and high winds were too much for the defenses to fight. Whether the growers used
hay, corn stalks, or the more expensive smudge pot, all efforts failed.
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| worldwide.typepad.com |
Conn stalks were planted between the trees as an insulation throughout the groves.
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| wikimedia.org |
Hay bales and straw were burned to keep the tempearutes above 30º in the orange groves.
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| missioninnmuseum.com |
The more serious growers used smudge pots to keep the groves warm. As the frost continued, the number of smudge pots
increased.
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