212 



The Spraying of Plants. 



the pump, so that at every stroke the liquid will be more or less 

 thoroughly stirred (Fig. 29). These have proved successful so 

 far as the agitation is concerned, but all who have worked a 

 spray pump know that the labor is sufficiently severe without 

 the addition of an attachment which necessarily consumes con- 

 siderable force. Since the agitation must be accomplished, the 

 use of some of these devices is one of the best ways out of the 

 difficulty. My own practice has been, however, to insert a long- 

 handled paddle into the 

 opening through which the 

 barrel is filled, and to stir 

 the liquid in this manner, 

 directly by hand, whenever 

 it is necessary. This method 

 is, on the whole, probably 

 the easiest and most satis- 

 factory. The work can be 

 done as thoroughly as de- 

 sired, and with but little 

 extra labor. 



The liquid contained in 

 large barrels or tanks can 

 be agitated very easily by 

 means of a permanent de- 

 vice consisting of one or 

 more paddles which are 

 moved by a lever that pro- 

 jects above the reservoir. 

 At short intervals the lever 

 may be moved until the fluid is thoroughly stirred. When long 

 tanks are employed, several paddles should extend crosswise of 

 the tank, near the bottom, and, if these are properly connected, 

 one movement of the lever will cause a movement of all the 

 paddles, thus quickly and easily agitating the contents of the 

 tank. 



If a pump is to be used upon a barrel, as is the most common 

 practice, the base-casting should be curved. It is better to turn 

 the barrel on its side (Fig. 26) and fasten the pump in this 

 manner. When it lies on its side, the sediment collects very 

 near one central point, and can easily be dislodged and mixed 



FIG. 26. A spray outfit, the pump properly 

 attached to the barrel. 



