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.