

AGITATORS 57 



applied in the form of a mist, or very fine spray, and 

 must strike the fruit, leaf or twig with force. A 

 nozzle which will not do this is, with the exception 

 noted below, of little or no value, so far as treatment 

 against insect pests is concerned. Do not think that 

 a mere sprinkling is going to do the work. Note, in 

 this connection, that the old-fashioned field sprinkler 

 which used to be employed in putting Paris green 

 solution on potato vines has been replaced by the 

 modern cart, geared to pump automatically, and fur- 

 nished with nozzles which apply the liquid in a fine 

 spray and with force. This is economy, for when 

 there is but a coarse spray, or if the nozzle " dribbles, " 

 the liquid is wasted. It is economy, too, while seeing 

 that every leaf and every part of the fruit or twig is 

 well covered, not to waste the liquid by spraying too 

 much; that is, the liquid should not drip off or run 

 off the tree or plant to any great extent while being 

 treated. 



Strainers. All compounds used for spraying should 

 be strained before or while being poured into the barrel 

 or other receptacle from which they are to be drawn 

 by the pump. If possible avoid using burlap for this 

 purpose, as lint is bound to be carried into the pump, 

 and is likely to give trouble by clogging the nozzle. 

 Brass strainers are the best. They are made to fit 

 the opening through which one pours the liquid. In 

 addition to this, every good pump has a strainer in 

 the lower end of the suction pipe or suction hose 

 through which the liquid is drawn into the pump. 



Agitators. Most pumps all good pumps are 

 equipped with agitators which, as a rule, the working 

 of the pump handle keeps in motion (Figs. 74, 75, 

 76). These are generally paddles which keep the 

 liquid in the barrel or other receptacle constantly 

 stirred. Paris green, being heavier than water, sinks 

 if the liquid is not kept constantly in motion, the 

 result being that the poison is unevenly distributed, 

 and a part of the tree or a portion of the plant will be 

 injured or killed by receiving an unnecessarily large FIG. 83. A 

 amount of the green, while other parts will receive j bo exten ~ 



