156 



THE GYPSY MOTH. 



When Paris green, lime, arsenate of lead or similar com- 

 positions are used with glucose or other adhesive constituents, 

 and the pump is not thoroughly cleaned after using, trouble 

 with the valves may be expected. When the trouble cannot be 

 found at the strainer, it is well to clean the valves thoroughly, 

 being careful to put them back in their original positions, 

 seeing that the packing is clean and in place before putting 

 the screws back or screwing any nuts down. In tightening 

 the nuts or screws, put them down until they come to an 

 easy bearing all around ; after which go over them again and 

 settle them down tightly. In case the pump should be a 

 heavy one having a piston working through packing, and the 

 liquid escapes around the piston, loosen the large nut and 

 take out the ring which will be found pressed in by the nut. 

 If the packing which will probably be found there is hard 

 and dry, it will be well to replace it with some hemp packing 

 such as is used by steam fitters (or if this is not at hand, 

 with cotton wicking), saturating it with heavy oil or tallow 

 mixed with a liberal supply of black lead (graphite). Soak 

 the packing thoroughly and wind it loosely about the piston, 

 pushing it in the mean time toward the pump until you have 

 about as much wound on as the ring will push in without 

 preventing the nut from catching. Then screw the nut up 

 as far as it will go without preventing the pump from work- 

 ing easily. It is not well to screw it up too tightl}^ at first, 

 but to turn it a little at a time, just enough to keep the 

 pump from leaking. 



In connecting hose to pumps, it will be found necessary 

 to use rubber washers at all connections to prevent leakage 

 when couplings are screwed together. Wherever the cast- 

 ings or other parts of the pump are broken by accident, much 

 time may be saved if duplicate parts are kept ready for such 

 an emergency. Before the pumps are stored at the end of 

 the spraying season, they should be taken apart and care- 

 fully cleaned and oiled. 



When to Spray for the Gypsy Moth, 

 Spraying should be done early in the season, as soon as 

 the leaves are well grown, for at that time there is least 

 risk of injury to the foliage. The insecticide also will be 



