CHAP. XI.J THE CONTR01 OF INSECT PESTS OF CROPS. 



X., 



broods would have followed and considerable damage would have 

 been done, as actually happened in the surrounding district under 

 similar conditions except thai no action was taken. \ measure ol 

 this sort is so simple and inexpensive as to be within the reach of all, 



and every cultivator should make a practice of killing evei 

 pest on sight wherever met with and more especially when found 

 On his crop in small numbers, for it is the prevention of increase 

 that should be aimed at. It is of little use to start killing the puchis 

 after they have attained such numbers that the crop is already 

 spoilt. 



The method of hand-picking' must be adapted to the particular 

 insect concerned, the insects being simply caught anil squashed in 

 the hand (smooth caterpillars, large bugs, many beetles) or crushed 

 underfoot (large caterpillars) or dropped into a pan Ol 

 containing water with a film of oil on the top {kumblihulas, blister 

 beetles). Or the insects may be shaken on to a sheet or cloth or 

 into a vessel of oil and water. For the collection of cotton-bugs 

 use is sometimes made of a tin funnel fitted into a bag in which 

 the bugs tall ami are unable to escape. For collecting insects 

 from moderately tall plants an ordinary umbrella, held upside 

 down, makes an excellent tray if nothing else be available. 



36. -Hand-net. « (riginal.) 



A small hand-net is particularly Useful for catching the more 

 active insects which are difficult to capture with the un- 

 hand. It is simply and cheaply made of a bag of light cloth 

 secured around its mouth to a hoop of cane or bent wood which in 

 its turn is fastened to the two arms of a Y-shaped branch of which 

 the main stem forms the handle of the net. With the help of a net 



