THE FROSTS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19787, 27 November 1929, Page 15

THE FROSTS.

TO TWI IDTIOI Of TB» ► BtS*. Sir,—The frost* of October and ot this month hare been so disastrous that ewery kind of enquiry into the matter may prove of use. though very depressing. The great intensity ot the frost* seem* to ui« to be associated *ith the drought through a lowering ot the humidity or moisture content ot the local atmosphere. The average humidity will °*- * suppose, between 70 and I*o per cent of its maximum, and I note that on the Friday morning prior to the killing frost of Saturday, ltjth mat., th.- humidity had fallen to 35 per tent. On Saturday morning it in only 12 p*;r cent , and there was a farther killing frost on Sunday morning. Dvring these day* the "'maximum in sun" »»,* also high, showing unobstructed pu.t.vii:e of the sun's ray=>. A low humidity *e«"m* to me to !«•"> untarouraMe in two way-*, first l>> lowering the dew-point, and alio by allowing heat to pass or radiate into space without interception. With a fair humidity the evening coolness soon get* down to the dew-point and moisture then condeA««s and the temperature falU. but little more. If the moisture .imtent i* low a killing frc*t may o»:< ur b.-tore the dew point I* rrnchtxl There appear* to lie no economical or practicable method ot keeping up tfs- humiditv. but th»- pcn.ibility of raiting thv r«>!t!j>*"rat"ir«" ot" tl»« **>tl a few (i«"C»'»"i ma* h*» lt ha> W.'ti *homn tii.it a <.mooth <•' toil I<we- it-« at night far mor.»1ot»It than a clodded itirface. and it seem.* sound therefore to propose the fdlins of a fine *iirfare to aid the temperature. The warmth dnelopetl be tl* derompcuition of a heavy crop ot green staff ploughed tn early id October, prior to emoothing and rolling. wo»tld prnhahW also help a httle. OcraAioaalty in notice* of agncu!niral eipenmentatioo one see* unexplained diSerence* of temperature between plot* and it is evident that *u<"h jn:»tan<«ji should He more widely published --Your*, etc . J R. |riLKTN«>N. Lohtra, November >HJh, 1929.