Farmer Ed Rawlings smiles as he looks at his orange trees.
Farmer
Ed
Rawlings
smiles
as
he
looks
at
his
orange
trees
.
The young oranges are growing well in Florida's weather.
The
young
oranges
are
growing
well
in
Florida
's
weather
.
Warm sunshine and gentle rains, along with Ed Rawlings' expert care, will produce a good crop of oranges this year.
Warm
sunshine
and
gentle
rains
,
along
with
Ed
Rawlings
'
expert
care
,
will
produce
a
good
crop
of
oranges
this
year
.
However, Ed has to guard against Florida's changeable winter weather.
However
,
Ed
has
to
guard
against
Florida
's
changeable
winter
weather
.
In January and February, temperatures can destroy Ed's entire orange crop.
In
January
and
February
,
temperatures
can
destroy
Ed
's
entire
orange
crop
.
Having farmed in Florida for the past 35 years, Ed is prepared for the frost.
Having
farmed
in
Florida
for
the
past
35
years
,
Ed
is
prepared
for
the
frost
.
When temperatures drop below freezing, Ed tries to save his crop by watering his orange trees.
When
temperatures
drop
below
freezing
,
Ed
tries
to
save
his
crop
by
watering
his
orange
trees
.
The water freezes and forms a thin layer of ice around the trees.
The
water
freezes
and
forms
a
thin
layer
of
ice
around
the
trees
.
Strange as it may sound, this thin layer of ice actually keeps the fruit warm.
Strange
as
it
may
sound
,
this
thin
layer
of
ice
actually
keeps
the
fruit
warm
.
What happens is simple.
What
happens
is
simple
.
When the trees are watered, the water loses heat and becomes ice.
When
the
trees
are
watered
,
the
water
loses
heat
and
becomes
ice
.
The warmth of the heat it loses is taken in by the fruit and keeps its temperature at a safe level.
The
warmth
of
the
heat
it
loses
is
taken
in
by
the
fruit
and
keeps
its
temperature
at
a
safe
level
.
Ed has effectively used this method to save many orange crops.
Ed
has
effectively
used
this
method
to
save
many
orange
crops
.
But Ed still faces difficulties.
But
Ed
still
faces
difficulties
.
The trees must be watered at the exact moment the temperature drops to the freezing point.
The
trees
must
be
watered
at
the
exact
moment
the
temperature
drops
to
the
freezing
point
.
Also, just the right quantity of water must be used.
Also
,
just
the
right
quantity
of
water
must
be
used
.
Too much water can form a thicker layer of ice that will break the tree's branches.
Too
much
water
can
form
a
thicker
layer
of
ice
that
will
break
the
tree
's
branches
.
Another difficulty is that wind blows away the heat, so Ed has to worry about not only when but also how often his trees should be watered, and how much water should be used.
Another
difficulty
is
that
wind
blows
away
the
heat
,
so
Ed
has
to
worry
about
not
only
when
but
also
how
often
his
trees
should
be
watered
,
and
how
much
water
should
be
used
.
Computer technology may help Ed with some of these worries.
Computer
technology
may
help
Ed
with
some
of
these
worries
.
With equipment, air and soil temperatures and wind speed can be measured.
With
equipment
,
air
and
soil
temperatures
and
wind
speed
can
be
measured
.
The information is fed into a computer which can calculate when the temperature will drop below freezing.
The
information
is
fed
into
a
computer
which
can
calculate
when
the
temperature
will
drop
below
freezing
.
The computer can correctly decide the quantity of water to be used and how frequently the trees should be watered.
The
computer
can
correctly
decide
the
quantity
of
water
to
be
used
and
how
frequently
the
trees
should
be
watered
.
Ed finds looking after his orange trees a lot easier with the help of a computer, and, his customers will have the benefits of computer--age oranges.
Ed
finds
looking
after
his
orange
trees
a
lot
easier
with
the
help
of
a
computer
,
and
,
his
customers
will
have
the
benefits
of
computer
--
age
oranges
.
Farmer Ed Rawlings smiles as he looks at his orange trees. The young oranges are growing well in Florida's weather. Warm sunshine and gentle rains, along with Ed Rawlings' expert care, will produce a good crop of oranges this year.  However, Ed has to guard against Florida's changeable winter weather. In January and February, temperatures can destroy Ed's entire orange crop. Having farmed in Florida for the past 35 years, Ed is prepared for the frost. When temperatures drop below freezing, Ed tries to save his crop by watering his orange trees. The water freezes and forms a thin layer of ice around the trees. Strange as it may sound, this thin layer of ice actually keeps the fruit warm.  What happens is simple. When the trees are watered, the water loses heat and becomes ice. The warmth of the heat it loses is taken in by the fruit and keeps its temperature at a safe level. Ed has effectively used this method to save many orange crops.  But Ed still faces difficulties. The trees must be watered at the exact moment the temperature drops to the freezing point. Also, just the right quantity of water must be used. Too much water can form a thicker layer of ice that will break the tree's branches. Another difficulty is that wind blows away the heat, so Ed has to worry about not only when but also how often his trees should be watered, and how much water should be used.  Computer technology may help Ed with some of these worries. With equipment, air and soil temperatures and wind speed can be measured. The information is fed into a computer which can calculate when the temperature will drop below freezing. The computer can correctly decide the quantity of water to be used and how frequently the trees should be watered. Ed finds looking after his orange trees a lot easier with the help of a computer, and, his customers will have the benefits of computer--age oranges.