MANIPULATORS, ETC. 311 



broad flappers to strike the sides of the rows. Each of these should have 

 a face of several square feet area, in order not to strike individual 

 branches alone and break them off. An insect machine striking by a 

 broad flapper operated by a ratchet and spriDg was constructed by me 

 and tested on other plants about twenty years ago. This seems to me 

 the safest way to apply the beating principle for removing anything 

 from the plants. With each blow of the flapi^er there is generated a 

 puff* of wiud for the same purpose. 



In all these cases some means of collecting or dispatching the insects is 

 provided. They are collected in a tra^^ combined with the brusher or 

 flapper and carried therewith beneath the row, or a hand-tray of wood, 

 metal, or cloth is applied by one hand while the other is engaged in 

 removing the insects" to it from the idant. An elougated pan with a 

 handle on one side is convenient. A shallow bag of cloth or netting 

 having its mouth expanded on a frame provided with a handle also 

 answers well. In such a net or deep cloth tray I recommend the use 

 of a wad of cotton or a sponge filled with kerosene of the cheapest 

 quality, or with benzine, which works quicker. In metal or wooden 

 trays that are moderately deep the same can be used with advantage. 

 Whatever is used should be wet with these well-known insecticides, 

 benzine or kerosene. In shallow trays a layer of cotton batting or 

 other suitable fibrous or porous matrix can be used to hold more of 

 the hydrocarbons than will adhere on the vessel alone. Falling on 

 this cushion the worms get a good dose, and it is then not necessary to 

 wet the pan so often. Tar and other adhesives are less satisfactory. 



Crushing the larvae upon the ground by the foot, by a pounder, or by 

 a heavy weight dragged along are other means of annihilating the dis- 

 lodged insects, and under some conditions they may be left to be de- 

 voured by insectivorous animals or to die of the excessive cold, wet- 

 ness, or dryness. These topics will have further notice below. 



The Helm Sweeper and Crusher. — This was patented in (No. 139062) 

 1873, by Mr. J. Helm, of Hochheim, Tex. It is a portable frame, hav- 

 ing brushes of split white oak or other material drawn, upon a heavy 

 drag, straddle of a row of cotton plants to sweep off the worms or pu- 

 pae, and crush them beneath upon the ground. In Plate LIX, Fig. 1 

 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the line, c c, of 

 Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a front view of the machine. 



''The letter A represents a frame composed of two bottom "boards, a a, of four or 

 more uprights, & h, aud a suitable series of cross-braces, d d. The boards a a are on a 

 level and parallel to each other, and have wings, e e and //, hinged to their inner and 

 outer edges, respectively. To each of the front parts, &, is pivoted, at g, a lever, B, 

 which carries a wheel, C, at its front end. There are thus two such wheels, C C, that 

 rest on the ground in front of the apparatus. Draft-hooks, h h, are applied to the front 

 ends of the levers, B, for hitching the draft animals to by which the machine is drawn 

 over the field. The levers, B, can be swung on their pivots to raise the frame. A, on 

 the wheels, C, whenever stones, stumps, or other obstructions are to be avoided. In 

 such case the levers, B, are or can be locked to toothed plates, i, which are applied to 

 the rear posts, h, as indicated in Fig. 1. When the machine is to be turned it is also 



