3/0 Report of the Horticultural Department of the 



mates it at from one to one and a half bushels a da}' according to the 

 man who does the firing. 



The capacity of boilers most commonly used at present is one and 

 one-half horse-power, but a number of persons recommend two horse- 

 power as better. One reason is, that with this power the pump runs 

 steadier and requires less attention, and having a surplus of power 

 there is less variation in pressure if the fire gets down a little or if 

 cold water is taken into the boiler. The difference in weight is be- 

 tween the two boilers is little, and the difference in cost in the case 

 of one make commonly used is only $5. 



It may be remarked incidentally that the size of the air chamber 

 appears to be of less practical importance in the case of the steam 

 pump than it is in hand pumps, for in steam pumps the working of 

 the machine is constant and steady, while in the case of hand appara- 

 tus there are frequent stops and great irregularity in the pressure. 



Both brass-lined steam pumps and those that are bronze throughout 

 are in use, and there is considerable diversity of opinion as to which 

 is better. Some persons report that they have used the bronze pumps 

 for several years without their wearing to such an extent as to dam- 

 age them. But in the case of the brass-lined pump a worn cylinder 

 can be suppliedwith a new lining at little expense. On the other hand 

 brass-lined pumps have the defect that the orifices in and out of the 

 cylinder are not lined with brass and the liquid is likely to attack the 

 iron at these points, causing flakes to scale oft" and fall into the spray 

 mixture thence getting into the nozzle and clogging it. On the whole, 

 the bronze pumps are to be preferred. 



care of steam spraying apparatus. 



Certain practical difficulties in the operation of steam spraying out- 

 fits are met with. Some of these will now be considered. 



Piston packing. — Complaint is made that the packing on the piston 

 rod of the pump has to be replaced frequently, one man specifying 



