74 



would cover six rows at ODce, and the ^' bug catcher " faithfully used. 

 It is hardly necessary to state that this gentleman is not one of the 

 "discouraged willow growers." Although his pay roll runs into thou- 

 sands of dollars, there yet remain thousands on the profit side of the 

 balance sheet. 



It remains only to speak of the "bug catcher," so called. It was 

 devised by one of the willow growers, and if without knowledge, as it 

 is believed, of our Western "hopiier-dozers/' it certainly is an ingenious 

 contrivance and the originator is entitled to considerable credit, for it 

 is certainly x)roducing, even in its present rude form, excellent results. 



The bottom of the machine (described from recollection merely) is of 

 a single piece of 2-inch plank, 20 inches broad and 4 feet long. The 

 sides and ends are about 8 inches high. At the back are fastened two 

 diverging arms extending forward nearly twice the length of the frame, 

 and at their ends sufficiently far apart to receive two rows of willows 

 as the horse drawing the machine passes between them. To these arms 

 are fastened two cross pieces, and also a longitudinal arm, which may be 

 adjusted in a slot so as to depress or elevate the arms according to the 

 height of the willows at different periods of growth. A pair of bent 

 arms like those of a plow are also attached at the rear for holding and 

 guiding the machine. Its bottom is covered to a moderate depth with 

 kerosene, the too free movement of which is controlled by several trans- 

 verse slats, forming compartments. A series of slats arranged in imirs 

 like a gable roof, with space between pairs to permit the beetles to 

 fall into the kerosene, are fastened in a frame, which may be lifted out 

 whenever the accumulated beetles require removal. The slats prevent 

 the billows from coming in contact with the kerosene as they are pressed 

 downward by the arms. 



As the machine is drawn forward the willows entering the ends of 

 the arms are brought nearer together in such a manner that before they 

 are released from beneath the arms the beetles upon them are shaken 

 ui)Oii the slats and drop into the kerosene. 



A large proportion of the beetles is gathered and killed by this 

 method. It is found, howev^er, as the beetles drop to the ground at a 

 moderate alarm, that the passage of the horse between the rows dis- 

 lodges many of them. To obviate this machines have been made which 

 are propelled by hand, having a wheel in front, after the manner of a 

 wheelbarrow. Their use, however, has been found quite laborious, but 

 there seems to be no good reason why they may not be made much less 

 cumbersome. 



Mr. Marlatt, referring to the extreme strength of the arsenate of lead 

 used by him against the elm leaf-beetle, commented on by Dr. Lintner, 

 said that it was not at all necessary for the destruction of the beetles 

 or larvae, but was emi)loyed merely to make the destruction prompt and 

 doubly sure, on account of the peculiar conditions and the necessity 



