o24 RKPORT OF THE COMMISSIONKR OF AGRICULTURE. 



leaves. The machine is inatle to pas.s over tAvo rows of cottou, and the 

 distribiitiDg- pipes are so arranged that four rows can l)e ])oisoned at a 

 time. Owing to its great weight, the machine in its present form is im- 

 practicable, but the idea w^hich it embodies is a good one. ]\Ir. Daugh- 

 try's machine was patented February 19, 1878, No. 2U0370. It is figured 

 in the special report, p. 232. 



Mr. John A. Wolfram, of IMeyersville, Tex., has also invented a ma- 

 chine which throws a fine spray upon the lower surface of the leaves. 

 An application for a patent of this machine is now before the Patent 

 OfiBce. 



Mr. John W. Johnson, of Columbus, Tex., has patented a machine 

 for distribntiug liquid poisons upon cotton plants. This machine has 

 been used to a considerable extent in Texas j it is represented in Plate 

 XVI, Figs. 2 aud 3. 



The following description will explain its Avorkings: 



This invcution relates to certain improvemeuts on that for -uliich I fihjd an appli- 

 cation for letters patent on the 2"2fl day of Septeuiher, 1S7:'; and the invention con- 

 sists in a tank jirovided with a <louhle-actiug force-])nnip. connnnnicating with a pipe 

 and hranches similar to those descriVjed in my application aforesaid, the pump being 

 connected by a pitman with one of the Avheels upon -wliich the tank is supported, 

 whereby the pnmp is operated automatically as the ji))paratiis is di'awn along, the 

 wheels ujjon which the apparatus is supported lieing much sn}al]er in diameter than 

 ordinary cart or wagon wlieels, and attached to the tanic by means of vertical bars, 

 whereby the apparatus is enabled to pass over the rows of cotton plants without in- 

 juring them, while at the same time the dimensions of the wheels are such as to give 

 the required number of strokes to the pump-lever necessary to the producing of a 

 constant aud full voluiue of spray from the pipes. 



In the aceomi)anying drawing A represeutstiie tank containingthelifjuid compound 

 described in my application aforesaid. Instead of ]daciug it upon an ordinary cart 

 or wagon and working tlie pump by hand, I attach rhetanktoa j)latform or cart-bed, 

 B, providcfl with two wheels, C. These wheels are iiiuch smaller tlian ordinary cart- 

 wheels, being about twenty or twenty-four inches in diameter, in order to give the re- 

 quired number of revolutions necessary to the successful operation of the jmmp. In 

 order to phice the cart-bed at such an elevation as to enable it to pass over the rows 

 of cotton plants without injuring them, I attacli lo each side the upper end of a bar, 

 the lower end of which is bent outward and formed into a spindle or axle for the 

 wheel. These bars are of such length that when the wheels arc in place the height 

 of the cart-bed from the ground is equal to that of a veliicle provided with wheels 

 from five to six feet in diameter. The wheels C may be of cast-iron, and the bars D 

 may be of wood or iroTi, as may be ])i'ef(vrred. One of the w heels C has a crank-pin, 

 c, formed on or attached to it at a suitable distance IVoui the center, andto this crank- 

 l>in is attached the lower end of a ]>iMnan, F,, the upper end of which is attached to 

 the pump-lever G. By this arrangement the )iuui]i is oper.ated automatically as the 

 apparatus is drawn over the field, thus dis])ensiug with the labor of one man for op- 

 erating tlie ]iuuiit. The pipe aud liranches art- arranged and connected with tlu; pump 

 in a similar luunner to that shoAVU in my u])i)lication aforesaid, the supply-])ii)e H be- 

 ing provided with a stoji- valve, I. to regulate the How of the liquid. The branch- 

 I)ipes K are made of cast im-tal, instead of slu-i't-uietal, as shown in my application 

 aforesaid, aud instead of coiTugating the metal as therein shown, I form the grooves 

 / on the innov surface, either during the process of casting or by planing or cutting 

 them out afterwar<l, as may be preferred. The braneli pi})es thus formed are cheaper 

 and nnne durable tlian tln)S(! iormed of corrugated sheet-metal. 



Dry 2)oison.<i. — The dilution of poisons with ])owdeied substances in- 

 stead of Avater has been adoi)ted to a considerable extent, and in some 

 resi^ects is far superior to the Intter. The greatest obstacles that planters 

 have had to encounter in the destruction of cotton-worms is the removal 

 of the ])oison frojn the i)lants by rain. It fierpiently orcurs that before 

 a ])lanler has (•(mii)leted poisoning a field a sudden rain undoes the work 

 just ])erlV)rined. This obstacle is es]iecial]y serious, as the rainy seasons 

 ;ire notaldy those in wliich the woi-nis most rapidly juultiply. In fact, 

 many planters intve been diseouragedand abaiMloned the uscoi']»oisons 

 on this account. This (UliicuUy is, to a great extent, obviated by the 

 use of Hour as a diluting substance. The flour combining with dew or 



