Drenching apparatus

An improved drench apparatus for drenching fruit with an aqueous chemical solution having a pit for holding a large volume of said solution, drench pump means for drawing solution from the pit and discharging it into manifolds equipped with nozzles for drenching the fruit, recovery means for returning excess solution to the pit;

• the improvement comprising:
• a holding tank for holding a volume of said solution;
• a heater, including a heater pump, connected to said holding tank and arranged to maintain the temperature of the solution therein at a minimum of 130.degree. F.;
• a re-circulation pump connected to draw solution from said pit and direct it to said heater;
• conduit means connecting said holding tank to said pit;
• and
• the volume of said holding tank being sufficient to assure incremental portions of solution in said tank are maintained at a minimum of 130.degree. F. for at least one minute before being discharged into said pit.

An improved drench apparatus for applying fungicide solution to fruit comprising:

• a holding tank for retaining a given volume of said solution;
• a heater for maintaining the temperature of the solution in said tank at a given minimum;
• re-circulation pump means for supplying solution to said heater at a given rate;
• and
• said given volume being sufficiently large so that at said given rate incremental portions of the solution in said tank will be retained for a time sufficient to eradicate pathogens.