38 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



It may be added that the efficacy of a machine of this char- 

 acter could be materially increased by the adoption of various 

 devices which would tend to lessen the open spaces under the 

 vines and to increase the length of the catching surface. It is 

 interesting in this connection to note that vineyardists in Mis- 

 souri have been resorting to various catching devices for the 

 protection of their vines from this pest. Many of them employ 

 simple sheets and jar the beetles on them, while others are using 

 a wheelbarrow arrangement on the suggestion of Professor 

 Stedman. 



Mr R. S. Blowers, of Portland, after examining the work of 

 our beetle catcher at Westfield, constructed a very effective and 

 cheap device [pi. 13], which is at least worthy of illustration 

 and comment in this connection. 



Its essential features are two long frame troughs covered with 

 oilcloth, which hangs over an eaves trough divided into water- 

 tight compartments, as in the ordinary catcher. These two sec- 

 tions are each 24 feet long, the outer edge about 3 feet high, 

 while the inner edge is approximately 18 inches high, and each 

 is braced so that a man can pick it up at the center and move 

 it toward or away from the vines. The original plan was to 

 carry it through the vineyard and place it between the posts, 

 jarring the vines and continuing in this manner. This was found 

 rather laborious, and the work was made lighter by the con- 

 struction of a pair of low bobsleds, fastened together by wii-es 

 so that each was about 6 feet from the end of the trough, which 

 at this point was provided with a transverse broad base so that 

 it would rest on the bob without tipping. The inner edge of 

 each bob was also provided with a small roll, so that the operator, 

 by tipping the trough slightly toward the row, could roll the 

 entire structure under the vines and, after jarring was completed, 

 could roll it back. A horse was used to draw each half of the 

 collector, and in this way about 3 acres a day could be gone over. 

 This collector has the advantage of being comparatively cheap, 

 since the outside expense for it would not exceed $9 for each half, 

 or a total of |18. Most of the material, except the oilcloth, can 

 usually be found around a farm, and the actual outlay, if the 

 vineyardist made it himself, would be very little. 



