CHAPTER V. 



SPRAYING DEVICES AND MACHINERY. 



THE development of spraying machinery received an impetus 

 about the same time that the injury of insects and fungi began 

 to threaten and destroy so many of our cultivated plants. For 

 a long term of years very little had been 

 done towards developing apparatus of this 

 character, and many crude contrivances 

 were used. The early history of the in- 

 dustry reveals many appliances which are 

 no longer in use, the names even being 

 nearly as obsolete as the machines. 



I. HISTORY OF SYRINGES AND PUMPS. 



The simplest device for making liquid 

 applications to the stems and foliage of 

 plants was probably a whisk of heath, 

 straw, or some similar material ; the stems 

 were tied in small bundles, the part above 

 the tie serving for a handle (Fig. 1). 

 Brooms were also used for the same pur- 

 pose. The liquid was applied by first dip- 

 ping this crude brush or broom into it, and 

 then throwing upon the plant what ad- 

 hered to the brush. A fairly good applica- 

 tion can be made in this manner, although 

 the process is a tedious one. This device 

 was, nevertheless, used as late as 1882 in France for the purpose 

 of applying mixtures composed of the sulphate of copper and 

 lime. It is probable that the density of this preparation pre- 

 181 



FIG. 1. Heath whisk, 

 the first device used 

 for applying Bor- 

 deaux mixture. 



