182 



The Spraying of Plants. 



vented it from being applied by means of other devices then 

 known. Since brooms were used in applying liqiiids and semi- 

 liquids to plants even less than twelve years ago, it is not im- 

 possible that in certain sections the practice may still be in 

 vogue. For many plants it is surely much better to use a device 

 of this character than it is to make no application, for low- 

 growing plants can be fairly well treated, and they should be 

 benefited nearly as much as if more 

 costly machinery were used. The 

 character of many crops grown 

 during the past few seasons indi- 

 cates that plants will repay treat- 

 ment whatever be the nature of the 

 method followed. An improved 

 brush is shown in Fig. 2. The 

 liquid, which was carried in a tank 

 on the back of the operator, entered 

 the hollow handle through a tube 

 connected with the bottom of the 

 tank. The fluid then ran along 

 the fibers of the broom, and was 

 thrown from the extremities. The 

 flat broom was attached to a broad 

 piece of oilcloth, which assisted in 

 making a uniform application. A 

 stopcock was inserted in the handle 

 so that the liquid could be shut off 

 when desired. This device was 

 used in France for applying the 

 Bordeaux mixture. 



The watering-can is one of the 

 first contrivances made for apply- 

 ing liquids upon plants. Its structure, as a rule, is very simple, 

 being composed of nothing more than a cylindrical reser- 

 voir capable of containing one or more gallons of liquid. 

 This device is still in very common use, especially among 

 florists. The water or other liquid is poured out through a 

 tube which projects on the outside of the reservoir, and which 

 springs from the bottom or from near the bottom of the can. 

 These tubes or sprouts are of varying lengths and shapes, and 



FIG. 2. An improved brush for 

 distributing Bordeaux mix- 

 ture. 



4 



