238 REPORT 



The tubing for conducting the blast must of necessity be small and 

 diminish its capacity one-half beyond each fork, otherwise the velocity 

 will check and some of the powder will be thereby allowed to deposit 

 and accumulate inside, occasionally to be thrown ©ut irregularly when 

 jarred into the blast. To prevent such accumulations any shaking or 

 jarring in the machine will be beneficial, and if the tubes always proceed 

 in a somewhat downward course gravitation will assist. 



On this plan is constructed the most practical bellows apparatus yet 

 invented for poisoning fields. There is no possibility of moisture im- 

 pairing the working of the bellows or reaching the powder in the tight 

 can, clogging is less possible, and the powder may be sui)plied in mini- 

 mum quantities beneath several rows. 



It is now necessary to describe some machines embracing the i)rin- 

 ciples above set fortli, and also, thereafter, a few devices invented for 

 similar purposes by others. 



In Plate XXXIII, Eig. 1, appears one of the bellows, v, recommended 

 above, as hung upon the end, c, of a cart or wagon, to be operated by 

 the wheel, w, and to blow poison from the can, p, through a system of 

 distributing pipes carried on a frame, which has its part, a, supported 

 and conveyed by connection with the cart. The cleat of one head of the 

 bellows is attached at points, c c, by hanging hooks or clamp-screws or 

 otherwise. Between the two projecting ends of the cleats is a spring, 

 .s, to open the bellows. This may be placed inside, but when situated 

 externally can be more easily repaired if necessary. A ratchet, ?, is 

 hinged opposite the hind wheel at the attachment, g, to play upon the 

 spokes and operate the bellows by communication of the rod, r, and by 

 tlie reacting spring, s. The blast tube passes through a valve, o, to pre- 

 vent the poison powder or fluid from being sucked backed into the bel- 

 lows. Beyond this the tube extends through the basal portion of the 

 powder-can, p, after which it connects with the branching system of dis- 

 tributing tubes extending to beneath the plants. 



This is a very simple motor arrangement for operating the bellows. 

 The same principle may be used with the bellows in other positions, 

 and it can be so set with reference to the wheel that its arm, x, shall 

 act as the ratchet, or pawl, upon the spokes, whereby the other parts 

 will not be needed. Also for giving or communicating the motion to 

 operate the bellows any of the more complex mechanisms used for giv- 

 ing reciprocating or oscillating movement may be employed, as, for in- 

 stance, those for working pumps in the other machines described in this 

 rejjort. 



The reservoir and its device for feeding the poison to the blast may 

 be adax)ted for fluid or for powder-poison as desired, the same blowing 

 apparatus answering for either. 



A simple bellows-blower may be combined with any implement drawn 

 in the field, as a plow or cultivator, and so become operated by the 

 horse without effort on the part of the plowman, as shown in Plate 



