STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 87 



" To make a Curculio-catcher we tirst obtain a light wheel, not to exceed three feet 

 in diameter, the axletree of which should be about ten inches long. We next con- 

 struct a pair of handles, similar to those of a wheelbarrow, but much more depressed 

 at the point designed to receive the bearings of the axletree, and extending forward 

 of the wheel just far enough to admit a cross-beam to connect the handles at this 

 point; one-and-a-half inches in the rear of the wheel a second cross-beam is framed 

 into the handles, and eighteen to twenty-four inches further back, a third. The two 

 last named cross-beams have framed to their under sides a fourth piece, centrally, 

 between the liandles, and pointing in the direction of tlie wheel. To the handles and 

 to the three last named pieces, the arms or ribs to support the canvas are to be 

 fastened. To the front part of the beam connecting the handles in front of the wheel, 

 the ram is attached; this should be covered with leather stufled with furniture moss, 

 a dozen or more thicknesses of old hat, leather or other substance, being careful to 

 use no more than necessary to protect tlie tree from bruising. Ascertain the elevation 

 the handles should have in driving, and support them in that position. We now put 

 in place the stretchers or arms, six for each side, which are to receive and support the 

 canvas. ^Ye put the front arms in position. These extend back to near the center ot 

 the wheel on each side, and in front of the wheel (for large machines) say six feet, 

 are far enough apart to receive the largest tree between them on which it is intended 

 to operate. The remaining arms are supported on the handles, and fastened to them 

 and to the two cross and parallel pieces in tlie rear of tlie wlieel. These are so placed 

 as to divide the space at their outer ends equally between them and the first mentioned 

 stretchers and fastened to the ends of the handles. Next we have ready a strip of 

 half-inch board two and a half inches wide. One end of this is secured to the forward 

 end of one of the front arms, and in like manner to all the others on one side of the 

 machine, and fastened to the handles. Both sides are made aUke. The office of these 

 strips is to hold the outside ends of the arms in position; they also hold the front arms 

 from closing. These outside strips also receive the outside edge of the canvas, which 

 is fastened to them as well as the several arm svipports. 



"It will be seen that the wheel is nearly in the center of the machine. To cover 

 the opening at this point, a frame is raised over it, which is also covered with canvas. 

 The arms, or stretchers, are so curved that the motion of the machine, in moving 

 fi-om one tree to another, should bring everything falling on the canvas to depressed 

 points, one on each side of the wheel, where openings are made into funnels emptying 

 into pockets or bags, for the reception of insects and fallen fruit. The whole machine 

 should not exceed ten or eleven feet in breadth, by twelve or thirteen in length. 

 These are for large orchard trees; smaller ones could be protected with a much smaller 

 machine. If the frame work has been properly balanced, the machine will require 

 but little lifting, and will be nearly propelled by its own weight. 



"The Curculio-catcher, or machine, is run against the tree three or four times, 

 with sufficient force to impart a jarring motion to all its parts. The operator then 

 backs far enough to bring the machine to the center of the space between the rows, 

 turns round and in like manner butts the tree in the opposite row. In this way a man 

 may operate on three hundred trees per hour." 



I have noticed that where this Curculio-catcher has been constantly used the trees 

 have suffered serious injury from bruising, and would suggest that, by driving a 

 spike (one with a shoulder to it might be manufactured for this express purpose) into 



