130 SPRAY MACHINERY AND SPRAY MATERIALS 



The chief function of a nozzle is to throw a very fine spray, 

 and to distribute it uniformly in all directions. A nozzle 

 clogs up easily and needs cleaning frequently for good work. 



Spray Rod. — The spray rod is used to facilitate spraying 

 and to aid in distributing the spray mixture where it is wanted. 

 It affords an easy means of extending the spray. The spray 

 rod is often spoken of as an extension rod. It is made of 

 bamboo and varies in length from 6 to 12 feet. Each rod is 

 lined either with aluminum, brass or iron, but a seamless, 

 aluminum tubing, which is screw threaded into brass connec- 

 tions at either end is preferable. These connections sleeve 

 over the end of the rod, which make the joints very 

 strong. The use of aluminum tubing makes the rod very 

 light and easy to handle. The bamboo extension rods are also 

 fitted with rubber drip guards which can be moved up and 

 down on the rod, and are used to catch all of the moisture 

 that settles on the rod while spraying. 



Spray Gun.- — The spray gun, which is the most recent devel- 

 opment in this line of equipment, promises to replace entirely 

 the spray rod. This gun not only saves labor and money, but 

 is efficient and easy to handle. It can be quickly adjusted 

 throw either a fine or a coarse spray and at a short or a 

 long distance. 



SPRAY MATERIALS. 



The necessity of spraying is no longer doubted. It has been 

 demonstrated and proved beyond further doubt that unless 

 spraying is done it is almost an impossibility to produce first- 

 class horticultural products. The only question that remains 

 is to determine what is the proper material with which to 

 spray the plants. 



Spray materials are divided into two classes, namely, insecti- 

 cides, which are chemicals used for the killing of insects, and 

 fungicides, which are chemicals used to prevent or destroy 

 plant diseases. The insecticides are divided into stomach 

 poisons and contact poisons, based upon the way in which they 

 kill the insect. 



Insecticides and fungicides are used in two ways, either in 

 a dry state as a fine powder or dissolved in water and dis- 



