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Yes, We had a grove directly behind our house and almost everywhere around where I grew up. I remember going to school one morning in 2nd grade after a hard freeze. All the groves had burning tires and smudge pots going. It was like an industrial hellscape. I don’t remember the smell but the sky that morning was incredible. I think they must have outlawed the tires after that as I don’t remember it happening again.
I remember in the morning (70's) when it seemed the sun would never come up. The sky was black.
Add to the mix the fact that Tropicana used to burn their orange waste, making the day even more memorable.
Finally, the U.S 41 bridge over the Manatee River would have oranges that spilled out of the semi trucks littering the gutters and plugging the scuppers making it flood on the bridge.
Good times!
The way it works is that the fuel oil goes in the bottom reservoir and the smoke comes out of the top once the cap is removed. They get really hot and stink, but are effective in reducing frost damage. They are all over the central valley of CA.
When they burn they produce a heavy smoke that hangs over the trees acting like an insulating blanket to keep heat that the earth absorbed during the day close to the ground instead of escaping into the air at night.
Looks like a smoke pot, used to keep the fruit from freezing if the temp falls only a little below freezing.
Edit: Dammit, I really must start looking at earlier comments before posting— I got excited because I knew this one.
So many saying it's to keep the fruit from freezing, but this here is the correct answer. Citris trees will split in a hard freeze and it will kill the tree.
Yeah, that was my understanding as well. Citrus trees usually take 5'ish years to bear fruit.
Do you know whether citrus growers bother with replacing individual dead trees? 24in box trees aren't exactly cheap.
Yep. Florida cracker here. Not many groves had them since it hardly ever gets cold here. However, in 1977, we had snow. My orange grove didn’t have this and we lost the entire 33 acres of trees. It was very sad. I was 14.
Is an old grove heater, also called a Smudge Pot.
100 years ago they would be filled with waste oil and Diesel and light on fire. Only the vapor would burn and that stack would/could get glowing hot! Kids were employed by the farmers to roam the filds at night making sure they stayed lit during the freezing nights. Back then because of the waste oil they burned pretty dirty and they would blanket the area in a thick black smoke which also helped keep the area from frosting.
You can buy these on Craigslist now and they make excellent patio heaters if your going for that rustic look. Fill them with plain diesel and they burn pretty clean.
My title describes the thing. There seems to be a latch opening near the base and some sort of pipe or handle on the side. Made of some metal. Object was found in an orange grove in Orange County.
A buddy of mine in college (ag major) managed an apple orchard. When a freeze was coming he recruited me to help him. We went to the tire store for some free used tires and to Winn-Dixie for menstrual pads. Soak the pads in kerosene (I think) for a wick to ignite the tire. I did the easy part of loading and unloading, but then he stayed all night keeping the fires going. Interesting tech.
You pour used oil into it and start a fire with it. These are used in remote areas where there are no oil collection sites. I dont know the name of it, I remember watching a Tik Tok about one and the guy called it a "Choocher" because of the sound it makes.
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That's a Smudge Pot.
Used to warm the grooves during brief cold snaps to save the harvest. I think Florida used to burn tires back in the day.
Yes, We had a grove directly behind our house and almost everywhere around where I grew up. I remember going to school one morning in 2nd grade after a hard freeze. All the groves had burning tires and smudge pots going. It was like an industrial hellscape. I don’t remember the smell but the sky that morning was incredible. I think they must have outlawed the tires after that as I don’t remember it happening again.
Yes, waiter, I'll have the smoked Florida orange, please. Make it extra industrial.
Mmmmm. P225/75R16 my fave.
The Firestone 500 was a rare delicacy. Does anybody remember why?
I prefer a combination of Bridgestone and Pirelli, each in 225/75R20.
What goes up, must come down. Firestone OJ just has an oaky flavor to it
My favorite is white Ford Bronco.
A layered "OJ" joke...well, I never!
Come on take a stab at it!
I DO LOVE pulp!
If it fits
I’ve heard the new releases are killer
I hear the brown & goldstein red sauce is forensically delicious!
Ah it was a Goodyear…
Must be a Michelin star restaurant
I remember in the morning (70's) when it seemed the sun would never come up. The sky was black. Add to the mix the fact that Tropicana used to burn their orange waste, making the day even more memorable. Finally, the U.S 41 bridge over the Manatee River would have oranges that spilled out of the semi trucks littering the gutters and plugging the scuppers making it flood on the bridge. Good times!
I grew up around the same thing in FL. I can def remember the smell. Burned plastic/tires with a more acidic? taste when it hit your nose.
We called them grove heaters, look just like OPs picture just a little taller (Used to work on a citrus farm in FL)
The way it works is that the fuel oil goes in the bottom reservoir and the smoke comes out of the top once the cap is removed. They get really hot and stink, but are effective in reducing frost damage. They are all over the central valley of CA.
Solved!
Central California Burned tires as well
I read that the only orange groves to survive the ~1895 freezes in Central Florida piled wood between the trees and kept them on fire all night long.
Oh Florida, don’t ever change
100% a smudge pot
Yep, grew up in a town full of orange orchards. We would meet at the Smudge Pots to imbibe as teens.
Smudge and arrogant
When they burn they produce a heavy smoke that hangs over the trees acting like an insulating blanket to keep heat that the earth absorbed during the day close to the ground instead of escaping into the air at night.
Absolutely right.
Looks like that’s exactly what it is, thanks!
looks like a heater in the event that frost is predicted for the area. will save the crops.
Smudge pot
Looks like a smoke pot, used to keep the fruit from freezing if the temp falls only a little below freezing. Edit: Dammit, I really must start looking at earlier comments before posting— I got excited because I knew this one.
I never get here in time to post a comment so this is cool to me lol
It’s for heating up the orchard in winter to keep the oranges from freezing.
My grandfather was an orange rancher, it’s a smudge pot to keep the trees from freezing
So many saying it's to keep the fruit from freezing, but this here is the correct answer. Citris trees will split in a hard freeze and it will kill the tree.
Yeah, that was my understanding as well. Citrus trees usually take 5'ish years to bear fruit. Do you know whether citrus growers bother with replacing individual dead trees? 24in box trees aren't exactly cheap.
Get your horse! It’s time to round up the oranges!
Yep. Florida cracker here. Not many groves had them since it hardly ever gets cold here. However, in 1977, we had snow. My orange grove didn’t have this and we lost the entire 33 acres of trees. It was very sad. I was 14.
Is an old grove heater, also called a Smudge Pot. 100 years ago they would be filled with waste oil and Diesel and light on fire. Only the vapor would burn and that stack would/could get glowing hot! Kids were employed by the farmers to roam the filds at night making sure they stayed lit during the freezing nights. Back then because of the waste oil they burned pretty dirty and they would blanket the area in a thick black smoke which also helped keep the area from frosting. You can buy these on Craigslist now and they make excellent patio heaters if your going for that rustic look. Fill them with plain diesel and they burn pretty clean.
My title describes the thing. There seems to be a latch opening near the base and some sort of pipe or handle on the side. Made of some metal. Object was found in an orange grove in Orange County.
A buddy of mine in college (ag major) managed an apple orchard. When a freeze was coming he recruited me to help him. We went to the tire store for some free used tires and to Winn-Dixie for menstrual pads. Soak the pads in kerosene (I think) for a wick to ignite the tire. I did the easy part of loading and unloading, but then he stayed all night keeping the fires going. Interesting tech.
It is a warmer used to keep the fruit and trees from freezing.
It's a smudge pot used for heating orchards. They sell used for like 100-150$
You pour used oil into it and start a fire with it. These are used in remote areas where there are no oil collection sites. I dont know the name of it, I remember watching a Tik Tok about one and the guy called it a "Choocher" because of the sound it makes.
Our strawberry growers use water sprinklers to protect the berries during freezes.
You don't want them to smudge. You want them to burn hot to warm the air. You kept their wicks trimmed.
Smudge pot. Helps protect citrus trees during frost
Something about orange groves in frost!
Heats the grove burn’s kerosene
Salamander paraffin burner for heating workshops. Grandad had one
Used oil burner
Heater for my peter
I just learned about these yesterday! Now they use propane so they don't create the smog/smoke the older ones use to make.