Contributed by Aroostook County Historical and Art Museum
- MMN #10108
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Description
The Watson Sprayer, manufactured in Houlton by the John Watson Company, was used to spray potato plants for the Colorado potato beetle. Farmers sprayed the plants with a solution of water, lime, blue vitriol (copper sulfate) and arsenic. To apply the solution, the two sprayer arms were swung out over the plants. Pairs of nozzles sprayed each row from both sides of the plants spraying eight rows on each pass. The turning of the wagon wheels powered the pump that made the pressure in the tank to spray the pale blue solution on the plants.
Before the development of sprays and sprayers, the entire farm family would have to go into the fields and pick of each beetle by hand.
About This Item
- Title: Watson Sprayer, Houlton, ca. 1915
- Creation Date: circa 1915
- Subject Date: circa 1915
- Location: Houlton, Aroostook County, ME
- Media: Photographic print
- Dimensions: 18 cm x 24 cm
- Object Type: Image
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
People
Other Keywords
- arsenic
- beetle
- blue vitriol
- bugs
- Colorado potato beetle
- copper sulfate
- John Watson Company
- lime
- sprayer
- The Watson Sprayer
For more information about this item, contact:
Aroostook County Historical and Art Museum109 Main Street, Houlton, ME 04730
207-532-4216
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