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STANDARD FITTINGS FOR SPRAY MACHINERY. 



BY WILLIAM B. ALWOOD, BLACKSBURGH, VA. 



(Abstract by Author.) 



It is my desire to briefly present to this Association a matter with which doubtless 

 many of your members are already familiar, and which I feel confident will meet the 

 hearty approval of all the economic workers. At the Champaign meeting of the Associa- 

 tion of Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations, held in November, 1890, I pre- 

 sented a paper before the botanical section, dealing with some of the newer forms of 

 machinery used in fungicidal work, and pointed out the great inconveniences under which 

 we labored from the diversity of styles and sizes of fittings and thread connections used 

 in the various machines now offered by manufacturers. The subject was considered of 

 such importance that a motion was carried to ask the sections of entomology and horti- 

 culture to unite with the botanists in appointing a conjoint committee, which should be 

 charged with recommending to manufacturers such styles and sizes of connections and 

 fittings as were thought to be most convenient in the practical work of treating injurious 

 insects and the fungus diseases of plants. This committee, as finally organized, was 

 composed of the writer, as chairman, Mr. G. D. Fairchild, assistant mycologist of the 

 Department of Agriculture, and Prof. James Troop, horticulturist of the Indiana Experi- 

 ment Station. 



This committee issued a circular letter to manufacturers which met with a very general 

 and cordial response from them. Nearly every one fully endorsed the ideas sei forth by the 

 committee, and most of the prominent parties agreed to carry out the committee's sug- 

 gestions so far as practicable with the state of their business. By the time standard 

 styles of fittings could be circulated among the makers of spray machinery the season of 

 '91 was so far advanced that we could not hope to efiFect much change during the current 

 year. However, now that interest and sympathy with this efi"ort have been awakened, 

 we believe that it is possible through united effort to secure all we ask in this line. While 

 we are all aware that the members of this Association are in a large part station entomolo- 

 gists, it is also true that some very prominent members are not connected with station 

 work ; hence my reasons for bringing this subject before you for discussion. To any one 

 who has had actual experience in field work the importance of better, and, I will say, 

 uniformly standard sizes of fittings, can not be doubted, and to aid in securing this 

 desideratum is the chief purpose of my paper. 



I shall at an early date publish an illustrated circular dealing with the question of 

 styles and sizes of fittings, which will give detailed information, both for the use of 

 manufacturers and the special workers. 



On motion of Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Lintner, it was — 



Resolved, That the Association of Economic Entomologists heai tily indorses the 

 work of the committee from the Association of Agricultural Colleges and Experiment 

 Stations, appointed for the purpose of consulting the manufacturers of spray machinery, 

 with the end in view of securing the adoption of standard sizes of connections and attach- 

 ments on such machinery. 



Further, the Association of Economic Entomologists urges upon the manufacturers 

 of this machinery the importance of acceding to the request of this committee. The 

 Association requests the committee to publish its recommendations, with drawings and 

 descriptions for the information of manufacturers and special workers, and to include 

 in this publication a list of all manufacturers who have agreed to conform to the standard 

 sizes. 



Mr. Kellicott stated that in his opinion firms which will not comply with the request 

 to manufacture standard fittings should be requested to furnish an adapter to their 

 machines which will enable their use with the standard fittings. 



