682 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
SPLITGERBERA. A 
(which see). 
SPONDIAS. S. cytherea is asynonym of S. dulcis; 
S. Mombin, of S. lutea; and §S. Myrobalanus (of 
Jacquin), of S. purpurea. 
SPORLEDERA. A 
(which see). 
synonym of Bohmeria 
synonym of Ceratotheca 
SPOT. A popular name for many diseases, usually 
of fangoid origin. One, for instance, attacking the fruit 
of Tomatoes is known as Spot. There is a black patch 
about the centre or eye of the green, and also the ripe, 
fruit. So far, no remedy has been discovered. It attacks 
finit both under glass and outside, growing in both rich, 
moderate, and poor soil, and the application of special 
Tomato manures have no apparent effect in preventing or 
stopping its increase. It is advisable to pick off and 
burn any infested fruit at once when the Spot is detected 
and burn them. ‘This seems to be the most effectual 
Spraying—continued. 
however, is the heavy cost of the labour required to work 
it; while the work of conveying the insecticide or the 
fungicide mixture to the pumps, and moving the pumps 
themselves, occupies a great deal of time. This is a 
serions matter, as when the Hops are attacked by insects 
the washing should be done qnickly—the sooner the better 
—to avoid loss to the grower. 
The best system, at any rate for use on a large scale, is 
that introduced by the well-known firm of engineers. 
Messrs. Merryweather and Sons, of London, and illustrated 
in Figs. 697, 698, and 699. It consists of a light, portable, 
steam pumping-engine in connection with a system of 
easily-movable wrought iron piping, and enables from 
twelve to twenty-four sprays to be worked simultaneously. 
The piping is in convenient lengths, each length being 
fitted with a piece of flexible anti-caustic hose at each 
end and quick-hitching gunmetal couplings. Tee-pieces, 
each with flexible hose and two couplings, are provided, 
Fic. 697. MERRYWEATHER’S ‘‘ VALIANT” STEAM PUMPING-ENGINE—At work on the Farm of Mr. Isaac Reader, 
Paddock Wood, Kent. 
mode of dealing with this fungoid enemy. Carnations, 
Pelargoniums, Orchids, and many other plants are attacked 
by a fungus that produces black Spots in the foliage and 
stems. See Anthracnose. 
SPRAYING. For years past growers of Hops, frnit, 
vegetables, &c., have realised that the quality of their 
crops depends largely upon the efficiency of the cleansing 
apparatus employed, and many methods have been more 
or less successfully adopted for the Spraying of the crops 
with insecticides or with fungicides; but in each of these 
devices weak points have been discovered which have 
caused growers to wish for a really infallible plant for 
mechanical Spraying. 
Judging from the results produced, the most efficient 
system hitherto employed is undoubtedly the hand-pump 
system, consisting in the employment of pumps placed in 
portable cisterns containing mixtures of water and 
chemicals, with one or two spray jets attached to each 
pump. The pumps are each worked by one or two men, 
and another man is required to manipnlate each spray 
jet. One disadvantage attending the use of this system, 
and, in work, are connected between two lengths of pipe. 
Each tee-piece has cock attached, and by means of 
breechings two lines of hose pipe can be led away from 
each cock to supply two jets or sprays. This system of 
pipes can be laid down between the rows of Hops, fruit 
trees, or other crops by a few men in a very short time, 
and enables the washing to be done rapidly and thoroughly, 
there being no small hand-pumps to be filled with insecti- 
cide, causing work to be stopped every few minutes; the 
sprays in this case being worked continuously. 
The insecticide or the fungicide is mixed up in a tank 
placed on the ground alongside the engine, and pumped 
continnously into a portable pipe system. Hach man has 
a long jet pipe with a spray nozzle, and a cock is fitted 
to each pipe, so that any of the jets can be shnt off 
independently. The pump is of rustless gunmetal, with 
copper air vessels and gunmetal pipe connections. It 
is fitted with a patent injector for keeping the_ boiler 
supplied with water, as well as with a lever hand-pump 
to fill boiler when starting work. An important feature 
is that one or the whole of the sprays may be shut off 
