DESTRUCTION OF GRASSHOPPERS. 55 



THE HOPPER-DOZER. 



See plates vii and vin, figs. 29 and 30. 



It has been shown that methods of soil culture which include the 

 turning of the ground annually will destroy the locusts' eggs placed 

 therein. It is evident, however, that some may escape and others 

 hatch from undisturbed roadsides and pasture lands. To destroy 

 these before the egg-laying time means not only a cessation of the 

 damages caused by these, but also that every female killed causes a 

 reduction of the number of young the following year to the amount 

 of at least 100 individuals. 



The simplest and most effectual machine, the one used by the de- 

 partment in its field-work this year, is commonly known as the hop- 

 per-dozer. The plan of construction, it is believed, can be best 

 set forth by means of a sketch, giving dimensions of material used 

 and showing positions in which each part is placed. Hon. Thos. H. 

 Ford, of Syracuse, kindly sent me the plan of the one made under our 

 direction and successfully used by him this season, and this is here 

 shown. This machine cost Mr. Ford, in complete form ready for use. 

 five dollars. 



The pans are more readily constructed from two sheets of galvan- 

 ized iron, and more easily handled. These pans should be two feet 

 wide, four inches deep in front and eight inches at back. While it 

 cannot be easily shown in the sketch, yet it must be understood 

 that these pans are laid upon 1x4 boards previously nailed to run- 

 ners. The height of the runners is not given, since that depends upon 

 the height of crop to be protected. It is important that there be no 

 timbers in front of pan, so that the front line of the pan may come in 

 contact with the grain passed over. The insects then fall directly 

 into the fluid. 



When the machine is ready for use, place two buckets of water and 

 one-half gallon of coal-oil in each pan, and then drive back and forth 

 across the end of the field where the grasshoppers are entering until 

 you have filled the pans, remove insects, replenish with oil and water, 

 and continue until the field is rid of the pest. 



There will be many grasshoppers strike the sheet-iron back, drop 

 into the pans and immediately jump out again. Those farmers who 

 watched the experiments this year were at first of the opinion that the 

 locusts that jumped out had jumped away "to live another day." The 

 writer asked those interested to watch the insects and note the actions 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE VI. Photograph of the disked alfalfa field in Ford 

 county, showing the alfalfa yield; in swath in foreground, in windrow in back- 

 ground. Sand-hills in the distance. (Photographed by Hunter, July 23, 1898.) 



