Abstract:
A herbicide applicator has an inclined underside surface supported at a selected elevation and slope with respect to the ground. Liquid herbicide is fed at a variably controlled rate to an upper edge portion of the inclined underside surface, and the herbicide flows down the underside surface without dripping before reaching the lower edge portion of the underside surface. Preferably, the underside surface is provided by a durable, non-absorbent, structural-grade material that has been roughened to increase its liquid storage capacity, for example, by grooves, indentations, or pockets. Preferably, liquid herbicide is uniformly fed to the underside surface by a distributor having a perforated tube and a strip of porous plastic sealed within a channel so that liquid fed to the tube must exit through the pores in the porous plastic strip. Preferably, herbicide is collected at the lower edge portion of the underside surface by a rope-wick or other absorbent material, and any excess is removed by a drain or a suction line. For applying herbicide to a wide swath of vegetation, a number of rigid panels are hinged together, or a wide semi-flexible panel is drawn by draw bars connected to the panel by a network of flexibly-connected braces.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to devices and methods for the direct application of chemical substances to selected plants at specific locations thereon. 
     2. Background Art 
     The conventional methods of applying chemical substances to vegetation is by spraying, sprinkling, or sowing highly diluted solutions or mixtures of the chemicals on the whole plant area. Such &#34;broadcast&#34; methods reduce the desired concentration on the specific plants to be treated, increase the cost of chemicals, require the handling and distribution of large volumes of diluents, and subject humans, animals, vegetation, and other objects far removed from the treatment area to the chemicals due to &#34;vaporization,&#34; &#34;drift&#34; &#34;translocation,&#34; or &#34;leaching&#34;. 
     To avoid the difficulties associated with the broadcast methods, the individual application of chemicals has been made by hand and by mechanical devices to selected plants. Selective application has permitted the use of highly potent but relatively safe non-selective herbicides for the control of weeds and other undesirable vegetation. A preferred kind of non-selective herbicide is a 41% solution of isopropylamine salt of N-(phosphonomethyl) glicine, as further described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,799,758 and 4,405,531, and sold under the trademark &#34;ROUNDUP&#34; by the Monsanto Agricultural Company, St. Louis, Mo. 63167. 
     As disclosed in Laughlin U.S. Pat. No. 2,988,841, mechanical devices have been proposed for the direct application of chemical substances to selected plants at specific locations thereon. An applicator such as a brush or pad is traversed across the area of vegetation at a pre-selected height, speed and angle, so as to produce a treatment zone without affecting underlying vegetation. Such a mechanical device includes height controlling wheels and a push handle or tractive support, or applicator brushes or pads are adjustably mounted on a rake-like structure. 
     Mechanical devices for the direct application of chemical substances to plants have been manufactured and sold as attachments to tractors, trailers and other vehicles. Hardy et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,187,638 discloses a rope wick applicator in the form of an elongated pipe having a number of exposed portions of wick protruding from the pipe at spaced locations. Similarly, an applicator has been manufactured and sold by Ex-Cell-O Corporation, Century Engineering Division, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401, in the form of an elongated pipe having its lower outer surface covered with a carpet fed with chemical solution. A herbicide wiper consisting of an enclosure containing a series of nozzles that discharges onto a rounded carpeted underside is marketed by the Apple Manufacturing Company, Fort Pierce, Fla. A roller-type applicator covered with a carpet is being sold by Bill D. Wilson, P.O. Box 25, Lutz, Fla. 33549. A variety of other wipers covered with soft materials have been used to apply solutions to vegetation. When &#34;ROUNDUP&#34; is applied with wiping-type applicators, the practice has been to use solutions containing 70-90% water. 
     My U.S. Pat. No. 4,908,981 discloses an applicator pad for the selective application of herbicide to weeds overgrowing the height of turfgrass. The pad is supported by a skid that slides on the turfgrass. The skid can be oriented to uplift horizontally extending weeds into the path of the applicator pad. The skid is also designed to raise the applicator pad above sections of high ground. Also disclosed are forward bars that divert foreign objects from the path of the applicator. 
     My related U.S. Pat. 4,965,960 discloses the use of hard, non-spongy, porous materials to provide uniform distribution and application of liquids to vegetation, rather than the soft materials previously used. In some cases, this porous material is used to distribute the liquid to another material that serves as the applicator. A form of porous plastic is used that is dimensionally-stable, durable, and highly abrasion resistant. This material can be readily cut, sawed and drilled to provide liquid distribution channels and various applicator shapes. The porous plastic can be welded and is easily glued to other materials. 
     Weed control is a problem in a wide variety of locations worldwide. Many millions of dollars and millions of hours are spent annually in controlling weeds. Weed control methods include mechanical mowing, scalping, deep-set vertical mowing, hand removal, hoeing, excavation, turning off irrigation, starvation by eliminating normal fertilization, and spraying or wiping with herbicides and other chemicals. 
     The eradication of weeds growing above valuable vegetation, such as crops, lawns and grazing lands, is particularly difficult to accomplish without damaging the desirable vegetation. Such weed control is especially difficult when the weeds are massive or growing in large clumps or patches. Methods of controlling such weeds include spraying the weed-infested area with selective herbicides. Also, wipers have been used to apply non-selective herbicides onto the portions of the weeds that extended well above underlying desirable vegetation; however, this method has not always proved to be satisfactory, due to the inability to apply sufficient herbicide to the weeds without having the herbicide drip onto and damage the underlying vegetation. 
     A practice often associated with weed control is that of limiting the vertical growth of grasses that are used as ground cover. The common method is to mechanically mow the area when either the weeds or the grasses or both become too tall. Mechanical mowing is carried out in maintaining areas such as lawns, playing fields, parks and airports, and in preventing soil erosion beside highways, in orchards, groves and vineyards, and elsewhere. Another method that is practiced on a limited scale in some locations is to &#34;chemically mow&#34; the vegetation by spraying it with a highly diluted solution of a growth-retarding herbicide. This method usually does not completely eliminate the weeds nor the need for mechanical mowing. 
     Another related practice is to eliminate all vegetation growing under trees, between rows of crops, and in other locations. In some cases, the undesired vegetation is removed by mechanical means such as plowing. Another common method is to spray the area to be treated with potent herbicides. This inefficient method is expensive and usually results in at least some damage to nearby valuable vegetation or its fruit. Herbicide wipers are also used to a limited extent, but these have not been accurate enough, and the wipers tend to become contaminated with dirt, which reacts with and reduces the effectiveness of products such as the &#34;ROUNDUP&#34; brand of herbicide. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a liquid herbicide applicator assembly which can store a large quantity of liquid at the applicator wiping surface, where it is readily available for wiping onto any vegetation contacted by that surface. A related object is to provide means for preventing any excess of such liquid fed to said surface from dripping onto vegetation growing below the elevation at which the applicator is supported. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a broad applicator surface that is oriented so that it can wipe liquid on all vegetation growing within a broad vertical application zone. A related object is to feed liquid to the applicator and to orient its active surface in such a manner that the taller the plants contacted are, the more liquid they receive. Another object is to orient the applicator wiping surfaces so that liquid is applied to unexposed vegetation, such as interior blades of thin-bladed grasses that grow in tall, dense bunches and have multiple root systems. Another specific object is to enable the applicator to be used to simultaneously kill tall plants contacted while only retarding the growth of the lower-growing vegetation contacted. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a herbicide applicator that is capable of wiping herbicide on all plants growing in the area to be treated, while keeping the contact between the herbicide and the ground at the absolute minimum. Related objects are to keep the profile of the applicator as low as practicable to minimize its contact with overhanging, low-growing desirable vegetation, and to fully shield the herbicide-coated wiping surfaces to prevent their contact with the desirable vegetation. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide an application system having a self-contained supply of herbicide sufficient for several hours of operation at a rate of five to ten miles per hour. A related object is to provide a complete application system that can utilize efficiently a very highly concentrated herbicide solution, in order to minimize the quantity of liquid to be handled. 
     Another related object is to provide a precise means of regulating the liquid feed rate to the active surface of the herbicide applicator within a wide range of application rates. Yet another object is to insure uniform transverse distribution of the herbicide to and upon the applicator wiping surface, especially during operation over sloping terrain. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a herbicide assembly that is either flexible or consists of sections that are hinged together and independently supported, so that the wiping surfaces will remain approximately at a uniform height above the ground while the assembly traverses uneven terrain, such as swales, ridges and ditch banks. 
     And still another object of the invention is to provide highly durable herbicide applicator assemblies, which can be used under severe conditions without being damaged, by using standard, commercially-available, structural shapes, such as sheets, angles, and channels of metal and plastic, not only for the structural members but also to provide the applicator surfaces. 
     Briefly, in accordance with a primary aspect of the present invention, a herbicide applicator has an inclined underside surface supported at a selected elevation and slope with respect to the ground. Liquid herbicide is fed at a variably controlled rate to an upper edge portion of the inclined underside surface, and the herbicide flows down the underside surface without dripping before reaching the lower edge portion of the underside surface. 
     For treating clumped or irregularly spaced vegetation, the underside surface preferably is roughened to increase its liquid storage capacity, for example, by grooves, indentations, or pockets, and therefore the underside surface can apply large amounts of herbicide at a variable rate while being fed with herbicide at a constant rate. For sloping terrain, the underside surface may be provided with grooves in a direction perpendicular to the slope of the terrain to ensure more uniform distribution of the herbicide. 
     Preferably, liquid herbicide is uniformly fed to the underside surface by a distributor having a perforated tube and a strip of porous plastic sealed within a channel so that liquid fed to the tube must exit through the pores in the porous plastic strip. 
     When applying herbicide to plants extending above desired vegetation, herbicide is collected at the lower edge portion of the underside surface by a rope-wick or other absorbent material, and any excess is removed by a drain or a suction line. 
     For applying herbicide to a wide swath of vegetation, a number of rigid panels are hinged together, or a wide flexible panel is drawn by draw bars connected to the panel by a network of flexibly-connected braces. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of a light-weight herbicide applicator assembly according to the present invention being supported on the ground and drawn by a utility vehicle; 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of the applicator assembly shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the applicator assembly shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4a and 4b are stop motion views of the herbicide applicator panel shown in FIG. 1, while treating vegetation in two typical modes; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross section view along line 5--5 in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 6 is a portion of FIG. 5 showing details of the liquid distributor for the applicator assembly shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-section view along line 7--7 in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 8 is a detailed view showing a typical portion of the underside wiping surface of the applicator assembly shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 9 is a portion of a plan view similar to FIG. 2 showing a method of connecting two applicator assemblies together by hinges; 
     FIG. 10 is a side view showing additional details of the hinges shown in FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is a cross sectional side view showing a much simplified version of a herbicide applicator assembly equipped to be supported by a utility vehicle; 
     FIG. 12 is an enlarged, detailed view of a distributor shown in FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view showing modifications and additions to the applicator shown in FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 14 is a sketch showing an applicator assembly similar to those shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 being supported by both a utility vehicle and the ground; 
     FIG. 15 is an elevation view of a herbicide applicator that is designed to be used to kill all vegetation growing beneath low-growing branches of trees or other plants; 
     FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view along line 16--16 in FIG. 15; 
     FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view along line 17--17 in FIG. 16 showing details of optional vertical applicator surfaces in the interior portion of the applicator; 
     FIG. 18 is a cross sectional view of an alternative low-profile applicator similar to the applicator shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 but having modifications shown by comparison to the cross-section in FIG. 16; 
     FIG. 19 is an enlarged, detailed cross sectional view of the distributor shown in FIGS. 16 and 17; 
     FIG. 20 is a plan view of a flexible applicator being drawn by a vehicle; 
     FIGS. 21A and 21B are respective side views of the applicator shown in FIG. 20 for two different adjustments of the mounting of a flexible applicator panel; 
     FIG. 22 is a cross sectional view along line 22--22 in FIG. 20 showing details of the applicator; and 
     FIG. 23 is an enlarged view of a distributor shown in FIG. 22. 
     While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Turning now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a very light-weight herbicide applicator assembly generally designated 10 according to an important aspect of the invention. Liquid herbicide is applied to vegetation by an inclined applicator panel 13 supported at a precise angle and height above the ground by a pair of runners generally designated 14, 15 and drawn by a vehicle 29. The herbicide is pumped from a container 5 by a metering pump 6, both of which are carried by the vehicle, then via a feed tube 7, which has an in-line filter 8, to a distributor (42 in FIGS. 5 and 6), which discharges the herbicide along the leading edge 9 of the panel 13. The liquid herbicide then flows down the sloping underside of the panel, which wipes the herbicide onto targeted plants. 
     For drawing the assembly 10, two cables 27, 28 connect the two runners 14 and 15 to the vehicle 29, which could be any kind of vehicle that is suitable for the terrain, as shown in FIG. 1. A number of applicator units, such as the assembly 10 shown, could be drawn simultaneously by the same vehicle 29 in ganged fashion as is common for horizontal reel-type mowers. For example, three assemblies might be connected to the vehicle, one at the rear, and the others to bars extending from the two sides. In any case, the arrangement should provide for complete coverage of the swath to be treated without substantial overlapping. In a second arrangement, two or more assemblies can be connected to one another by hinges and be pulled as a unit. Six skids are required for three sections in the first arrangement, whereas, only four are needed in the second arrangement. 
     The applicator assembly 10 can be used to apply herbicides in at least two modes. In the first mode, which is illustrated in FIG. 4a, undesired vegetation 11, such as weeds, is killed, while the underlying vegetation 12, such as a commercial crop, remains completely untreated. In order to selectively apply the herbicide to weeds 11 growing above crops 12, the inclined panel 13 is set at a safe height above the crop 12, and applicator panel 13 is pulled in a longitudinal direction so that the underside of the panel wipes only the portions of the weeds that extend above the crop. 
     In the second mode (FIG. 4b), the panel operates at a lower elevation than in the first mode, so that both the weeds 11 and the underlying vegetation 12, are treated. Since the liquid is fed along the uppermost, leading edge 9 of the underside of the applicator panel, the taller weeds 11 can receive enough of the herbicide to be killed while the underlying vegetation 12 receives just enough to be retarded (&#34;chemically mowed&#34;). To accomplish this, the panel 13 is set at the optimum degree of inclination and height above the ground to cover the predetermined treatment zone, and the herbicide feed rate and vehicle speed are properly adjusted, all based on the practical experience of the operator. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the applicator assembly 10 includes an inclined panel 13 having a frame 16, two pairs of clamping bars 17, 18, 19, 20, two pairs of supporting legs 21, 22, 23, 24, and two runners 14, 15. The structural members are preferably made of conventional aluminum extrusions. Each runner 14, 15 slides on the ground and preferably is made of highly abrasion-resistant, ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMW PE). Stainless steel fasteners are used throughout, although some of the parts can be welded or riveted together. 
     Turning to FIGS. 5-8, the inclined-panel applicator 13 is shown in further detail. As shown in FIG. 5, the extremely light-weight panel body 31 consists of a twin-wall sheet of polycarbonate or other plastic, having an upper wall 32, a lower wall 33, and a multiplicity of equally-spaced connecting webs 34 that form transverse channels. As further shown in FIG. 7, the frame 16 holding the panel-body 31 is formed by aluminum channels 35, 36, 37, 38, which are bolted to aluminum angles 59, 40. The two pairs of clamps 17, 18 (FIG. 7), and 19, 20 (FIG. 2) are bolted to the front and rear channels 35, 36. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the front channel 30 of the twin-wall sheet 31 houses the liquid distribution cartridge 42 and has a narrow outlet slot 49 cut in the rearmost portion of its lower wall 33. The rearmost channel 53 of the twin-wall sheet has a wide slot 54 cut in its lower wall, and an oversize rope-wick 55 is wedged into the channel so that a portion protrudes from the channel. A perforated sheet 41 of plastic is cut and fitted so that it covers the underside of the twin-wall sheet 31, presses against the rope-wick 55, and has a row of openings 50 directly under the slot 49 in the twin-wall sheet. The two sheets are then glued to one another and clamped together by the frame 16. A minimum of glue is used, so that the pockets 51 formed by the two sheets are not partially filled with glue. Pop rivets (not shown) could also be used to help secure the two sheets to one another. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, the replaceable distributor 42 includes: an aluminum channel 43, which contains a distribution tube 44; a distribution channel 46; a number of hypodermic needles 45, which are inserted through the wall of the tube 44 so as to discharge into the channel 46; a flow restrictor 47 consisting of a thin strip of porous plastic; and a seal 48 of silicone caulk. In some cases, small holes in the sidewall of the distribution tube 44 can be used instead of the needles 45. This use of porous plastic is a subject of my U.S. Pat. No. 4,965,960, incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIG. 8 shows an arrangement of the perforations 51 and the grooves 52 in the underside of the perforated sheet 41. The size, spacing, and arrangement of the pockets 51 formed by the perforated sheet 41 and the sheet 31 to which it is glued, are important with regard to their capabilities of receiving, storing, and retaining liquid when being wiped by the vegetation and during rough handling or operation on steeply sloping terrain. Although the optimum criteria might need to be determined for each intended use, the following have proved to be satisfactory to date: pockets 0.125&#34; diameter and 0.125&#34; deep, spaced on 0.19&#34; staggered centers, providing 33 holes per square inch of surface area and 40% open area. 
     The grooves 52 cut in the underside of the perforated sheet can be oriented vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, as required to help maintain uniform distribution of the liquid as it flows down the underside. This is a particularly important consideration with regard to applicators that are to be operated on sloping terrain or that are to be tilted from time to time. 
     The liquid flow during the operation of the inclined-panel applicator assembly 10 is summarized as follows: The liquid entering the distributor 42 from the feed tube 7 flows consecutively through the distribution tube 44, the hypodermic needles 45, the distribution channel 46, the porous strip 47, the slot 49, the openings 50, and down the underside of the perforated sheet 41, which wipes it onto the targeted plants 11 and/or 12. The plants wiped by the underside of the sheet tend to spread the liquid on the underside of the sheet 41, into and out of the pockets 51 and grooves 52, and onto the rope-wick 55. Longitudinal and/or transverse slots or grooves 52 cut in the lower surface of the perforated sheet 41 help direct the flow down the underside of the sheet 41 and increase the liquid storage capacity of the sheet. The rope-wick 55 serves as a collector of excess liquid which in its absence would have dripped, as a re-distributor of the liquid, and as an applicator. The rope-wick also can serve as an indicator of excess liquid being fed to the assembly, since too much wetness of the rope-wick is an indication that the feed rate is too high. 
     As the inclined panel is drawn over a swath of vegetation, the taller the treated plants are, the more contact they have with the panel. Also, since the liquid is fed to the panel along the leading, upper edge of the underside surface, the incoming liquid comes in contact with the taller plants first. As a result, the taller the plants are, the more liquid they receive. Therefore, it is a relatively simple matter of judgement by the operator to select and control the height of application, the herbicide feed rate, and the speed of travel, so that tall weeds are killed, while the rate of growth of the lower-growing vegetation is only retarded. 
     This method of applying herbicide to vegetation using the inclined panel has proved to be so efficient that the amount of water needed to be added to the &#34;ROUNDUP&#34; brand of herbicide as an aid in its distribution has been drastically reduced. The indications are that undiluted &#34;ROUNDUP&#34; brand of herbicide could be the best concentration to be used with the inclined panel for most applications. When compared with the spraying of a 1% solution, the amount of liquid to be transported, handled, and applied is reduced by 99%; the product can be pumped directly from its original container rather than a large tank; the many problems that are encountered with the use of water are eliminated; and no mixing, storage or disposal of unused solutions is required. Also, in comparison with most other wiping-type applicators, which typically use 10-30% solutions of &#34;ROUNDUP&#34; brand of herbicide, the liquid volume is reduced by 70-90%. 
     Another apparent advantage of using &#34;ROUNDUP&#34; brand herbicide without the addition of water is that it has a viscosity and adhesiveness similar to that of light-weight motor oil, which causes it to flow slowly down the underside of the panel and to cling so tightly to the surface of the panel and the pockets and grooves that it is very difficult to be completely wiped off. Consequently, the panel can retain an effective supply of the concentrated herbicide while the plants continue to receive only enough to be retarded or killed, as intended. If a diluent is desired, then it might be advantageous for the diluent to have a viscosity similar to that of &#34;ROUNDUP&#34; brand herbicide. 
     In weed-killing-chemical-mowing tests of an inclined panel applicator on rank growths of weeds and grasses in citrus groves that were in need of their customary mechanical mowing, an economical 20 ounces of undiluted &#34;ROUNDUP&#34; brand herbicide per acre was applied to 8-foot-wide swaths several miles in length. At the end of each run, the herbicide feed was turned off and swaths measuring half a mile in length were treated with only the liquid remaining on the underside of the panel, after which the underside still retained a coating of herbicide. In subsequent evaluations, the results were satisfactory for all of the tests and apparently undiminished during the periods in which no liquid was fed. 
     Turning to FIGS. 9-10 and also referring to FIGS. 2 and 7, a method is shown for connecting two or more complete applicator assemblies together by a hinge assembly 60. A commercially-available &#34;dogbone-shaped&#34;, UHMW PE strip is cut into two identical pieces to form the two hinge bodies consisting of rounded portions 61, 61&#39; and flat portions 62, 62&#39; which are reinforced by two metal bars 63, 63&#39; and bolted to the frames of two applicator panels 13, 13&#39;. The panels are then connected together by two UHMW PE links 64, 64&#39; which are fitted onto the rounded ends 61, 61&#39; and then secured in place by screws 65, 65&#39;. 
     Turning now to FIGS. 11-14, there are shown two heavy-duty herbicide applicators that are designed to be supported from a utility vehicle by either hangers or skids. Applicators of this type can be fabricated from standard high-strength, structural-grade, aluminum shapes. FIG. 11 shows details of an applicator 70, having a wiping surface twelve inches wide, which is capable of spanning a swath of at least 25 feet without appreciable bending. This applicator 70 includes a standard 12&#34; channel 72 that has two pairs of holes 73, 73&#39; through which supporting rods can be inserted, in a manner shown in FIG. 14. A replaceable distributor cartridge 71 is fastened to the leading edge of the channel 72, so that its lower surface is flush with the underside of the channel. As shown in FIG. 12, the distributor 71 consists of a housing channel 74, a filler bar 75, a distribution tube 76 having a series of discharge openings 77, a porous plastic flow restrictor 78 and silicone caulk 79. In operation, the assembly 70 is tilted so that the liquid from the distributor 71 flows down the underside of the channel 72. 
     Since the underside surface 72 of the applicator shown in FIG. 12 is smooth, it has a limited capacity for storing liquid not promptly wiped off by the vegetation being treated. In some cases this is desirable; however, in most cases, it is preferable for excess liquid to be stored on the underside of the applicator, since the liquid usually is fed at a constant rate while being wiped off at irregular rates by vegetation growing in non-uniform patterns and heights. The liquid holding capacity of the applicator underside can be increased by scarifying, sand blasting, cutting grooves, or punching cavities. However, a preferred method of increasing the liquid holding capacity is to provide a pocketed surface, as shown in FIG. 13. In this case, the pockets are provided by sealing and fastening a perforated metal or plastic sheet 82 to the underside surface, so that the perforated sheet becomes the wiping surface. In this case, the distributor 42&#39; discharges onto the top of the leading portion of the perforated sheet 82, and a clamping bar 88 extends downward to protect the edge. The clamping bar 88 and spacer 89 also protect the distributor from damage. Details of the distributor 42&#39; are shown in FIG. 6. 
     The applicator 80 shown in FIG. 13 also includes a combination drip collector and wiper. This added feature includes an aluminum channel 83 containing a rope-wick 86 and a collection tube 84. Channel 88 is bolted to a bar 87, which in turn is bolted to the side of channel 80. The rope-wick 86 serves as both a wiper and a filter to prevent inlet holes 85 in the tube 84 from becoming plugged. The drip collector is particularly useful when the applicator is used to kill weeds growing above valuable crops. The collector may be equipped with two drains, one at each end of the tube 84, for discharging the liquid collected to the ground between plants. Alternatively, both ends of the tube 84 could be connected to a suction port of a pump (not shown) which could return the used liquid and entrapped air to a collection tank (not shown) on the vehicle (91 in FIG. 14) pulling the applicator 80. The collected liquid could be filtered and recycled. 
     FIG. 14 shows an assembly generally designated 90, in which either of the applicators 70 or 80 is supported by a pair of rods 92 secured at a selected elevation by a respective pin 95 through each of the two rods 92. The upper ends of the two rods 92 are connected to and supported by the vehicle 91 by swivel joints 93, and the rods 92 have curved lower ends 94 are protected by UHMW PE sheaths that slide on the ground. 
     Turning now to FIGS. 15 to 17, there is shown a herbicide applicator 130 especially designed for killing large clumps of vegetation and vegetation including various sizes of plants, such as short and tall plants, and wide and narrow plants. The applicator 130 is fabricated from sheets of aluminum, or other structurally-strong materials, which are bent to form an &#34;A-frame&#34;-shaped structure. 
     As shown in FIG. 16, the applicator 130 is designed to rest on the ground and be pulled by the arms 129, 129&#39; from a vehicle (not shown). The arms 129, 129&#39; are linked to respective eye bolts 127. 127&#39;. A perforated applicator plate 131 of the applicator 130 is cemented directly to the outer covering 133, with a gap allowed at the top for insertion of the distributor 120&#39;. The perforated plate 131 is bent to form two opposed and inclined applicator panels 138, 138&#39;. The portion of the perforated plate 131 not glued to the outer covering 131 can be covered by a thin sheet of porous plastic 132, as described above. The leading edge of the applicator 130 has a UHMW PE skid bar 135 that is fastened to the unit by angle 134. The trailing edge is equipped with a rope-wick collector-wiper 137 that is held in place by channel 136. 
     For wiping plants of all sizes with herbicide, the applicator 130 includes any number of supports or baffles 114, 115 arranged approximately vertically and approximately perpendicular to both of the applicator panels 138, 138&#39;. The baffles are welded or screwed to the perforated plate 131. The baffles have different heights and spacings so as to penetrate unwanted clumps of vegetation. The heights of the individual baffles and the spacings between the individual baffles vary in patterns intended to cause plants of all sizes and shapes of plants, tall and short, wide and narrow, to receive as much herbicide as practicable. Preferably, the baffles are made of perforated metal for storage of an amount of the herbicide, and they are installed in contact with the applicator panels 138, 138&#39; to receive a portion of the liquid herbicide fed from the distributor 120. 
     FIG. 17 shows additional details concerning portions of the applicator 130, including the outer covering 133, the distributor 120&#39;, the perforated plate 131 and its porous plastic covering 132, one of the end supports 112, and two optional perforated baffles 114&#39;, 115 The vertical members 112&#39;, 114&#39;, 115 provide additional applicator surfaces and liquid storage capacity to supplement those provided by the sloping applicator surfaces 131. The spacing and heights of the baffles should be chosen depending on the physical characteristics of the vegetation being treated. With this arrangement, the applicator 130 can wipe the sides, as well as the tops of weeds. Also, the vertical baffles can penetrate unwanted clumps of vegetation and apply herbicide to the tall, narrow, interior blades of bunches of grasses having multiple root systems, such as smuttgrass and guinea grass. 
     Referring now to FIG. 18, there is shown an alternative applicator 110 that is similar to the applicator 130 of FIGS. 15 to 17, but which has a different profile as seen by comparing FIG. 18 to FIG. 16. The applicator 110 has an extremely low profile, and it is designed for killing all vegetation growing beneath low-growing branches of trees. The applicator 110 may also be used to kill and/or retard the growth of vegetation in other locations. The applicator 110, for example, can also be used to kill massive growths of weeds, such as bermuda grass, that extend only slightly above crops, such as peanut forage. 
     The applicator 110 is also designed to be supported from the arms 129, 129&#39; extending from the side of a vehicle (not shown). The applicator 110 has outer covering 118 and a perforated applicator plate 116 that forms opposed applicator panels 113, 113&#39; and that can be made of aluminum, clamped together by aluminum channels 119, 119&#39;, and secured by eye bolts 128, 128&#39;. Because of its slight slope, the perforated plate 116 may be covered with a thin, porous-plastic sheet 117, which can aid in spreading the herbicide fed to it by a replaceable distributor 120&#39;. The applicator assembly can be made more rugged by fastening the perforated sheet 116 to one or more baffles 112&#34;&#34; by welds or screws. 
     FIG. 19 shows details of the distributor 120, which discharges liquid in two directions as required for the applicator 130 of FIGS. 15 to 17. The same construction can be used for the distributor 120&#39; of the applicator 110 in FIG. 18. This replaceable cartridge includes a housing 121, a compressed distribution tube 122 having a series of discharge openings 123, a porous-plastic strip 125, having a series of openings 124 along its center line, and silicone caulk 126 as indicated. When inserted between the apexes of the two bent sheets, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the distributor 120 discharges liquid to the two sloping applicator surfaces at approximately equal rates. 
     Turning finally to FIGS. 20-23, there are shown several views of a light-weight, flexible herbicide applicator assembly 140 being drawn by a utility vehicle 143. The leading portion of the assembly 140 is flexibly attached to the vehicle by a pair of draw bars 142, 142&#39;. The assembly 140 includes a flexible application panel 150, the draw bars 142, 142&#39;; and a network braces 144, 146, 147 and flexible connectors 145. The flexible application panel 150 is bolted to the draw bars 142 and braces 148, with the aid of spacer bars 147. The entire applicator assembly 140 has the flexibility in the transverse direction needed to conform to uneven terrain, and the stiffness in the longitudinal direction required to maintain the applicator at the selected slope. 
     As shown in FIG. 21A, the mounting height of the flexible applicator panel 150 has been chosen so that the trailing portion 151 is raised above the ground and trailing ends of the draw bars 142, 142&#39; and the braces 146, 148 slide on the ground. Alternatively, as shown in FIG., 21B, the mounting height of the flexible applicator panel 150 has been chosen so that the trailing portion 151 slides on the ground. 
     As shown in FIG. 22, the flexible application panel 150 consists of two halves of a standard &#34;dogbone&#34; shape having rounded portions 151, 152 and flat portions 154, 155, a flexible applicator back-up sheet 153, and a porous-plastic applicator sheet 156, all of which are fabricated of UHMW PE and fastened together by welding, gluing, and/or bolting. 
     As shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, the application surface 156 is supplied with liquid via a tube 161, perforated holes 162, and a porous plastic strip 163. A pair of compressed tubes 164 seal the containment groove 165, forcing the liquid to follow the desired restrictive path.