120 



THE GYPSY MOTH. 



as the machines were either too cumbersome or could not 

 be used on rough or uneven ground. It was found necessary 

 to provide an apparatus which would distribute the oil in 

 a spray, as when thus thrown in fine particles in the air and 

 ignited, it formed an extremely hot gas flame and was con- 

 sumed to the best advantage. For economy's sake such an 

 apparatus must be light enough to be carried and operated 

 by two men, as wagons could not be driven over much of 

 the ground upon which this work was done. Experiments 

 were made with the cyclone nozzle. (Plate XXVH. , Fig. 2. ) 

 An oil spray from this nozzle when ignited was found to 

 give a very hot and effective flame. Crude oil was first 



used as a burning 

 fluid, but as it is 

 very objectionable 

 on account of its 

 rank odor, " paraf- 

 fine gas" oil was 

 substituted later. 

 This oil has less 

 odor and burns to 

 better advantage , 

 but is somewhat 

 more expensive. A 

 fifteen-gallon tank 

 which could be readily carried about by two men was pro- 

 vided. On such a tank a Johnson pump with a fine strainer 

 placed over the suction pipe was mounted, and a short 

 hose of the kind made for the delivery of oil was attached. 

 Ordinary rubber hose is worthless for such a purpose, as it 

 is soon destroyed by the corrosive action of the oil, and in 

 the mean time the disintegrated particles frequently clog the 

 nozzle.* A pole, consisting of an iron pipe twelve feet 

 long, braced by being surrounded by wood for three-fourths 

 of its length, was coupled to the hose. (See Fig. 1.) No 

 solder could be used in the fittings of the pipe or nozzle, 



FIG. 1. The cyclone burner. 



* The best " oil hose " that can be obtained will soon become corroded, clogging 

 the nozzle. If an " automatic clearing nozzle " could be devised which would with- 

 stand the heat, much time might be saved which is now necessarily used in clearing 

 the nozzle. 



