216 Report op the Horticulturist 



' of the 



In order to simplify correspondence, as well as to supply a 

 still popular demand, it was thought best to issue another bul- 

 letin on spraying machinery. Accordingly, a circular letter 

 was sent to some of the leading manufacturers requesting them 

 to send their pumps to the Station for testing. The majority of 

 the firms addressed responded to the request and kindly sent 

 their pumps free of charge. 



In testing pumps it is not our purpose to try to decide what 

 one is best, as some forms are better adapted to certain kinds 

 of work than others. In the following pages we have tried 

 to point out the good and bad features as they have appeared 

 to us in our tests, so that the reader who intends to buy a spray- 

 ing outfit may have a clear idea of what the pumps are like 

 before he places his order. The illustrations are for the most 

 part quite plain, so that extended descriptions need not be given. 



Many of the hints on spraying that are given have been printed 

 a number of times in former bulletins of this Station. However, 

 we still receive numerous questions concerning these points, so a 

 repetition of them will not be out of place here. 



Selection of a pump. — When selecting a pump one should not 

 have in view the cheapest one that will do good work. Almost 

 any of the pumps now on the market will work satisfactorily for 

 a time, but there are a number of other qualifications that should 

 be considered. The durability, capacity, ease of working, ease 

 with which the parts may be gotten at and repaired or replaced, 

 and the etficiency of the agitator, are among the essentials that 

 should be thought of. 



Work intelligently. — We sometimes receive such questions as 

 the following: " Isn't it about time for me to spray my orchard?" 

 When the questioner is asked what he intends to spray for, per- 

 haps the answer will be, " Oh, I don't know, only I thought it 

 must be about time to begin." It is safe to say that such per- 

 sons will not be able to see much benefit to be derived from 

 spraying. 



Occasionally inquiries are made concerning the use of Bordeaux 

 mixture for poisoning insects, and the value of Paris green for 



