DISEASES AND INSECTS 



DISEASES AND INSECTS 1059 



1330. A garden barrel pump. 



The rapidity of the spread of spraying knowledge 

 among fruit-growers is remarkable. Only a few years 

 ago it was an unknown art by the rank and file. Today 

 agricultural clubs and granges purchase their spraying 

 materials by the carload direct from the manufacturer. 

 The American farmer leads his fellow-workers in all 

 parts of the world in the 

 practice of spraying. 



The principles of spraying. 



A spray may be effective 

 (1) by hitting the enemy, (2) 

 by placing poison 

 before the depre- 

 dator, and (3) by 

 protecting the plant with 

 a covering unfavorable 

 to the growth of the pest. 

 The cautious farmer in- 

 sures his crop against 

 injury by insect or vege- 

 table parasites by spray- 

 ing. The fruit-grower 

 asks, "Do I need to 

 spray this year? My 

 trees are not blossoming." "Certainly," we answer, 

 "spray to protect the foliage from possible injury by 

 insect or fungous disease." Healthy foliage is essential 

 to the protection of health and vigor and fruit-buds. 

 Spray this year for next year's crop. 



Insecticides kill by contact or by means of a poisonous 

 principle; their efficiency depends largely on the time 

 and thoroughness of the application. If applied too 

 soon they may be dissipated before the insects appear; 

 if applied late the injury is only partly prevented, 

 because insects feed less voraciously and are harder to 

 kill as they approach maturity in the larval stage. 

 With the vegetable parasite, the case is not essentially 

 different. The tree is covered with a thin coating which 

 destroys spores of fungi resting there and prevents 

 other spores from germinating. Fig. 1326 shows the 

 stage of development of fruit-bud calling for bordeaux 

 mixture and paris green. The keynote to success is 

 thoroughness. Hasty sprinklings are worse than use- 

 less; they discourage and disappoint the beginner. Full 

 protection is not afforded unless each leaf, twig and 

 branch has been covered. Time is the next most 

 important factor bearing on success. The early spray 

 is most effective. This applies particularly to the 

 treatment of fungous diseases. Spray before the buds 

 open. Get ahead of the enemy. 



Spraying machinery. 



Bordeaux mixture was first applied with a broom 

 (Fig. 1327). Poison distributors were first made in 

 America for the protection of cotton, potato and to- 

 bacco. There are five general types of pumps: (1) The 



hand portable pump, often 

 attached to a pail or other 

 small reservoir, suitable 

 for limited garden areas. 

 (2) The knapsack pump 

 carried on a man's back 

 and operated by the 

 carrier. The tank is made 

 of copper, holds five gal- 

 lons and is fitted with a 

 neat pump which may be 

 operated with one hand 

 while the nozzle is directed 

 with the other. This pump 

 has been modified recently 

 so that all the pumping 

 is done when the sprayer 

 is filled and before it is 

 1331. An orchard barrel pump. placed on the shoulders. 



Excellent for spraying small vineyards and vegetable- 

 gardens. (3) A barrel pump; a strong force-pump fitted 

 to a kerosene barrel or larger tank suitable for spraying 

 young trees; may be mounted on a cart, wagon, or 

 stone-boat, depending on the character of the ground 

 and size of trees. (4) A 

 gear -sprayer; being a " 



tank provided with a 

 pump and mounted on 

 wheels. The pump is 

 operated by power bor- 

 rowed from the wheels as 

 they revolve, and trans- 

 ferred by means of chain 

 and sprockets. Suitable 

 for vineyards and field 

 crops, which may be 

 satisfactorily covered by 

 the spray as the ma- 

 chine moves along. For 

 this reason it is not 

 adapted to orchard work. 

 (5) The power sprayer; 

 power being furnished 

 generally by gasolene, 

 sometimes by com- 

 pressed air. When the 

 trees are large and the or- 

 chard over 5 acres in ex- 

 tent, a power sprayer will 

 usually pay. Some of these various types of machinery 

 are shown in Figs. 1328-1335. In recent years the spray- 

 ing of field crops and shade trees has developed rapidly. 

 The spray pumps have been adapted to this work by 

 the use of special attachments. For the field crops, 

 nozzles are distributed along a horizontal arm, which 

 makes it possible to cover a wide strip. The sprayers for 

 shade trees are equipped with a more powerful pump, 

 which is usually multiple-cylinder. The pump must 

 be capable of delivering a large quantity of material 

 each minute under a pressure of 200 to 300 pounds. 

 The nozzles for this work are of the solid stream type 

 and are usually fitted with interchangeable tips varying 

 from Yy to 34-inch aperture. In order that the tops of 

 high trees may be reached by the spray mixture, it is 

 necessary to use a long extension rod, as well as very 

 high pressure. 



1332. Square tower, giving more 

 working space for the nozzle-men 

 than the conical form. 



1333. A power sprayer for orchard use. 



