WILLIAM EWING S MACHINE. 



255 



and then by an inner wing, e; once while the apparatus straddles an adjoining ridge, 

 and then again while it straddles the same ridge to which such side pertains. [Patent 

 No. 139062, dated November 16, 1872.] 



The inventor of the other machine for knocking the worms off the 

 cotton plant is Mr. William Ewiug, of Columbia, La. Mr. Ewiug, in his 

 letters patent, says: 



It is well known to planters and cultivators of the cotton-plant, that scarcely a 

 season passes over in which material injury is not done to the crop by the cotton- 

 worm. Generally the loss occurring by this source of damage will amount to one-half, 

 but in many seasons the entire crop is ruined. 



Various efforts have, therefore, been made to destroy the cotton-worm. 



On carefully studying the growth and habits of the cotton-worm, I ascertained that 

 one of its leading instincts is to drop or throw itself off from the plant, upon moderate 

 disturbance of the leaves and branches. It is upon this instinct that my invention is 

 based; and 



FIG. 63. W. Swing's machine. 



My invention consists in the use of a machine or apparatus, so constructed that it 

 may be drawn by hand, or by a horse or mule, between the rows of the plants, and 

 agitating the leaves or stems, disturb the worms, and cause them to carry out their 

 instinct, and drop or throw themselves off from the plants. 



If such disturbance be made by any suitable means, the worms will usually diop to 

 the ground, and where only a few acres are cultivated, reliance may be placed upon 

 the destruction of the worms by the fowls or chickens of the plantation ; but in large 

 fields, some means for securing the worms and removing them will have to be resorted 

 to. Such means are provided under my invention. 



No. 1 of Fig. G3 represents the top of the machine ; ~$o 2, a side view 

 of the same ; and No. 3, a view of one of the arms detached. 



It will be seen, by reference to the cut, that upon a frame, a, constructed of wood,- or 

 other suitable material, is stretched or fastened canvas, 6, or some proper fabric, the 

 frame having wheels c d e and a yoke, /, or drawing device. 



