BEETLE CLEARING MACHINE. 



IS 



consist in it being so arranged that it is not necessary for it to be 

 drawn by a pony, which might probably cause a good many beetles to 

 be knocked off before the sweeping and catching apparatus reached 

 them, and also, I believe, the shaking-down arrangements were not 

 then as complete. On flat ground, without obstructions, the machine 

 was very readily pushed along rapidly by one man, and where greater 

 power is needed (with the double shafts), it can be ai-ranged for 

 accordingly. On reaching the ends of the Mustard rows, the machine 

 being very light can (as I saw) easily be lifted by two men, moved on 

 to the next width of rows to be dressed, and work recommenced, with- 

 out any need to turn it, as it works similarly either way forward. 



In thus drawing attention in long detail to this new invention, I 

 should perhaps add that I am doing it by desire of some of our leading 

 Mustard growers, and also with the full permission of Mr. Ambrose ; 

 but I should also mention that though giving the principle of action, 

 and enough description to show its usefulness, I have (or at least I 

 hope I have) in no way entered on details which would make this a 

 means of copying the machine to the injury of its inventor and proprietor. 

 Its effectiveness and its safe action on the crop depend on minute adap- 

 tations, causing special movements which I have purposely omitted 

 entering on. 



In this machine I think we have the broadscale application of the 

 plan long ago brought forward in Germany of clearing the beetles by 

 manual labour, which has been acted on here to some degree, but 

 as far as I am aware very rarely, on account of the great expense, and 

 also the tedious delay of the operation. The only difficulty that occurs 

 to me in the general application of the machine, is the necessity that 

 the Mustard should be a drilled, nut a broad-casted, crop. But this 

 would be only an occasional difficulty. 



Also in its working application it is to be remembered that its use 

 is to get rid of the beetles. It will equally well clear the Mustard 

 Beetles, or the Flower Beetles (which are not far behind them in the 

 mischief which they cause), and if this is done in time, the damage 

 going forward by the beetle action will be put a stop to, and also we 

 shall be saved from the next attack, which would have originated from 

 the grubs hatched from the eggs these beetles would have laid. But 

 if the attack should not be taken in time, though we should get rid of 

 beetles, very likely much of their supply of eggs would have been laid, 

 and their results would in due season ravage as usual. 



In this machine I believe, partly from my own inspection of it, 

 partly from the reports sent me by known Mustard growers, and also 

 partly from it working forward on a field-scale-treatment which we 

 knew was good, but could not work forward by hand labour on account 

 of its great expense, that we have a good working remedy. 



