The Spraying op Trees. 575 



is placed on the front of the rig (in the seat-rack), and one man 

 drives and pumps. The horses are stopped at every tree. Two 

 leads of hose are used, and two men stand on the rear platform and 

 direct the nozzle. These men have ample space, and the railing 

 gives them security. Until this year a boy has been employed to 

 agitate the liquid with a large hoe. These three men and the boy 

 cost $5.50 per day, and they can spray thoroughly about five acres 

 of full-grown apple trees in a day. This year, an automatic agitator 

 Jias been employed in place of the boy, with good results. 



Another good rig is that shown in Fig. 134, used by A. H. But- 

 ton, Youngstown, N. Y. Many other efficient spraying outfits are 

 in use in this State, but these two will serve to illustrate the kind of 

 work which is needed to be done. The greater number of fruit- 

 growers use an ordinary wagon, with box or rack, and a single 50- 

 gallon barrel ; but if one has much spraying to do, it is generally 

 economy to use a larger tank, especially if water has to be hauled 

 some distance ; and more thorough work can be done in old 

 orchards if the operator is elevated above the barrel. The use of 

 long pieces of half -inch gas-pipe with the nozzle attached to the 

 end is advisable when one is working in the tops of the trees, but 

 they are apt to be a nuisance if one works from the ground. They 

 are awkward if more than ten feet long. We generally prefer to 

 use a bamboo fishing-pole, and secure the hose to it near its upper 

 end, letting the lower part of the pole remain free. Most operators 

 have insufficient hose. For work in old orchards, the run should 

 be at least 15 feet long. 



6. Pre/pare stock solutions for the Bordeaux mixture^ rather 

 than to maTce each hatch in the quantities called for hy the formula. 

 — The sulphate of copper may be put into solution and kept in 

 this condition indefinitely, ready for use. A simple method is to 

 dissolve 40 or 50 pounds of the sulphate in as many gallons of 

 water, pulverizing the material and hanging it in a coffee-sack in 

 the top of the barrel. A gallon of water, therefore, means a pound 

 of sulphate. The lime may also be slaked and kept in readiness for 

 use. Slake it into the creamy condition familiar to masons, cover 

 lightly with water, and then close the box or vessel to prevent the 

 water from evaporating. When making the Bordeaux mixture, 

 pour the requisite quantity of the stock solution of sulphate of 

 copper into the barrel, and then dilute with four or five times the 



