28 THE AMERICAN PEACH ORCHARD 



If a car of oil can be allowed to stand for 48 hours 

 after delivery before it is drawn off from the tank, 

 the oil will largely separate and leave the water at 

 the bottom. The oil can then be dipped or drawn 

 off the top, leaving a certain amount of water be- 

 hind. This same precaution, however, ought to be 

 exercised by the shippers before the oil is forwarded. 



When the oil is received it is usually necessary to 

 store it in some sort of a tank. Two types of tanks 

 are now in common use: (a) cement, (b) galvanized 

 iron. The cement tanks are generally preferred, 

 where they can be constructed. They should be 

 placed at some distance from other farm buildings 

 on account of the dangerously inflammable character 

 of the oil which they are to hold. Such tanks should 

 always be arranged so the oil can be drawn off by 

 gravity into the tank from which it is distributed 

 to the orchard. If the storage can be placed on a 

 fairly steep side hill, it will be possible both to fill 

 and to empty this reservoir by gravity. Such an ar- 

 rangement is obviously most economical. 



The typical method of using is to burn the oil 

 in small galvanized iron pails about the size and 

 shape of a ID-pound lard pail. The ordinary com- 

 mercial pail holds about one gallon of oil, but larger 

 sizes are offered in the market and are preferred by 

 some growers. Various modifications of this form 

 have been invented and patented and are now being 

 sold in large quantities. Each has its advantages 

 and its disadvantages. One of the most important 

 improvements is the introduction of an air draft by 

 which the oil is more fully consumed. The best 

 heater is the one which gives the most hot flame and 

 the least smoke, for in this method the smudge is 

 not sought for, the object being to heat the air di- 

 rectly. 



