IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR DESTROYING PERNICIOUS WEEDS OR FUNGI, AND INSECTS, FOR THE PRESERVATION OF GARDEN AND FIELD PLANTS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Spence, of 8, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, in
'
the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR DESTROYING PERNICIOUS WEEDS OR
FUNGI, AND INSECTS, FOR THE PRESERVATION OF GARDEN AND FIELD PLANTS."
A communication from abroad by Hermann Henze, of Weichnitz, Prussia.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Spence at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st October 1877.
WILLIAM SPENCE, of 8, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR
DESTROYING PERNICIOUS WEEDS OR FUNGI, AND INSECTS, FOR THE PRESERVATION
OF GARDEN AND FIELD PLANTS." A communication from abroad by Hermann
Henze, of Weichnitz, Prussia.
This Invention has reference to the preservation of the potatoe plant from the
effects of the mushroom fungus known as the "perenospera infestans," and other
field and garden plants from the ravages of insects, and consists in the use for the
purpose of the chemicals and the apparatus herein-after described.
.
The apparatus consists of a cart or vehicle mounted on wheels, so as to be drawn
along as required.. On this vehicle is supported and carried a reservoir for holding
water with suitable chemicals, either in solution or suspension. To the bottom of
this reservoir is fixed a pipe which is furnished with a cock or tap, on the opening of
which; liquid is caused to flow from the reservoir into a pipe fixed horizontally and
transversely, whence it issues through a series of outlets, which are lozenge-shaped
in cross or horizontal section with a slit at the bottom. To the reservoir is fixed a
fan which is set in rotary motion by means of a small wheel on its axis in frictional
gear with a larger wheel on the axle of the running wheels, by the revolution, of
which fan a powerful stream of air is forced through apertures against the liquid as
[Dries G71

page_text: it issues from the said outlets, thereby dividing the liquid minutely, and causing
it to spread and become distributed thoroughly. over the plants to which it is
applied.
By means of the above-described apparatus, greatly increased facility is given for
rapidly clearing plants over an extended surface of ground, and preventing the
growth and multiplication therein of noxious fungi and insects.
The chemicals to be employed and mixed with the water in order to produce a
liquid adapted for the treatment of the potatoe plant, are salicylic acid, carbolic acid,
and dextrine gum; these two acids being used to destroy the fungi, and the gum
to cause the liquid to adhere to the leaves of the plant, and prevent its removal or
neutralisation by dew or rain.
Chemical substances containing arsenic, such as dextrine gum, and carbolic acid,
are suitable as ingredients in the liquid to be used in the above-described apparatus
for destroying insects in plants.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Spence in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th April
1878.
WILLIAM SPENCE, of 8, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR
DESTROYING PERNICIOUS WEEDS OR FUNGI, AND INSECTS, FOR THE PRESERVATION
OF GARDEN AND FIELD-PLANTS.". (A communication from abroad by Herrmann
Henze, of Weichnitz, Prussia.)
This Invention of "Improvements in the Means and Apparatus for Destroying
Pernicious Weeds or Fungi, and Insects, for the Preservation of Garden and Field
plants," has reference to the preservation of the potato plant from the effects of the
mushroom fungus, known as the "perenospera infestans" and other field and garden
plants from the ravages of insects, and consists in the use for that purpose of the
chemicals and the apparatus herein-after described.
The apparatus consists of a cart or vehicle mounted on wheels, so as to be drawn
along as required. On this vehicle is supported and carried a reservoir for holding
water with suitable chemicals either in solution or suspension. To the bottom of
this reservoir is fixed a pipe which is furnished with a cock or tap, on the opening
of which, liquid is caused to flow from the reservoir into a pipe fixed horizontally
and transversely, whence it issues through a series of outlets which are lozenge-
shaped in cross or horizontal section with a slit at the bottom. To the reservoir is
fixed a fan which is set in rotary motion by means of a small wheel on its axis in
frictional gear with a larger wheel on the axle of the running wheels by the revolu-
tion of which fan a powerful stream of air is forced through apertures against the
liquid as it issues from the said outlets, thereby dividing the liquid minutely, and
causing it to spread and become distributed thoroughly over the plants to which. it
is applied.
.
By means of the above-described apparatus, greatly increased facility is given for

page_text: rapidly clearing plants over an extended surface of ground, and preventing the
growth and multiplication therein of noxious fungi or insects.
The chemicals to be employed and mixed with the water in order to produce a
liquid adapted for the treatment of the potato plant are salicylic acid, carbolic acid,
and dextrine gum, these two acids being used to destroy the fungi, and the gum to
cause the liquid to adhere to the leaves of the plant and prevent its removal by
neutralization by dew or rain.
Chemical substances containing arsenic, such as dextrine gum, and carbolic acid,
are suitable as ingredients in the liquid to be used in the above-described apparatus
for destroying insects in plants.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, I will proceed to describe
more particularly in what manner the same is to be performed by the aid of the
accompanying Drawings, in which is represented the apparatus above referred to.
apparatus.
Fig. 3 represents (full size) one of the outlets for the liquid, and Fig. 4 is an under-
neath plan of the same.
In these several Figures the same letters of reference indicate corresponding
parts.
A is a reservoir supported on the axle of a cart or vehicle. This reservoir con-
tains water, mixed with a sufficient quantity of chemical preparations or materials
in solution or suspension, which liquid has to be distributed by means of the
apparatus in order to kill the mushroom fungus and insects as required. B is a
discharge pipe fixed to the bottom of the reservoir A, through which pipe when
the cock C is opened, the liquid can flow into the pipe D which is placed
horizontally and transversely, whence the liquid issues through the series of
outlets E, E.
"
To the reservoir A is fitted a fan or blower F, which on being set in rapid
rotation by the revolution of the friction wheels H and I, a stream of air under
pressure to issue from the apertures G by means of which the liquid discharged at
the outlets E, E, will become minutely divided and distributed as required over the
the several plants required to be treated.
The great rapidity with which pernicious mushroom fungi and insects multiply
has hitherto prevented any adequate remedy for this evil from being found, but by
means of the apparatus above-described, the largest surfaces may be disinfected with
the required celerity.
The treatment of plants herein-before referred to, is especially applicable to the
potato disease which is known to be produced by the mushroom fungus called
perenospera infestans." This fungus first attacks the extremities of the stems of
potatoes, and destroys the upper leaves, then extends downwards; and after
destroying the leaves of the stem, penetrates into the ground and attacks the
tubercles. It then gnaws the epidermis, gets into the inside of the potato, and
makes it rotten.
The treatment should be applied as soon as the extremities of the stems of the
potatoes are attacked, and the leaves are perceived to grow black. The reservoir A
must then be filled with water, which is to have mixed with it the requisite
quantity of salicylic acid, carbolic acid, and dextrine gum, all which materials should
be thoroughly mixed together. The apparatus is then to be drawn along the field
of potatoes, when its action will cause the various stems of the potatoes to be
covered with the finely divided portions of the liquid blown on to them as the
apparatus proceeds, by which means the mushroom fungi will be destroyed by the
acids, and the healthy growth of the potato will be no longer impeded.
The use of the dextrine gum in the mixture is to cause the liquid to adhere

page_text: to the leaves and prevent dew, or rain from interfering with the due action of
the acids.
€
The above-described treatment and apparatus are also applicable to the protection
of corn from mildew, and flax and rape from the noxious insects to the attacks of
which they are liable. These insects may be killed by adding to the water in the
reservoir some ingredient containing, arsenic, such as dextrine gum and carbolic
acid; and the treatment and apparatus may be also applied to other plants, both
in fields and gardens with like effect.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what I claim as of the Invention
communicated to me from abroad as aforesaid, is the preservation and protection of
the potato plant, and other field and garden plants from mushroom fungus and
noxious insects by means of the chemicals named herein applied to the plants in the
manner and by means of the apparatus herein-before described.
1.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Spence, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Twenty-ninth. day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
FRANK REDMAN,
8, Quality Court,
Chancery Lane.
WILLIAM SPENCE: (LS.)