June i, 1882.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
$otitiespon(Umce. 
— ♦ . — — 
To the Editor of the Ceylon Observer. 
INSECT- DESTROYERS. 
Ardallie Estate, Agrapatana, 
27 tli March 1882. 
Dear Sir, — I may now give you a description of 
an "insect-destroying apparatus," one of the latest 
inventions in America, that might he brought to good 
account here, if science is ever to help us in any 
way with the dreaded leaf-disease.. 
The cotton-worm. Colorado beetle and other insects 
injurious to the cotton plant, may be destroyed 
either by .sprinkling solutions of various chemicals, 
such as London purple, over the plant, or by dust- 
ing the foliage with various poisons in the form of 
dry powders. A number of appliances for showering 
the plants with ti e solutions or powders have been 
introduced, hut none have been constructed upon so 
large and complete a scale as some new machines 
shewn at "Atlanta" for the first time. The largest 
of these sprinklers is automate in action, may be 
easily moved by one horse or mulo, and will thoroughly 
drench every plant in twenty rows at the same time. 
It consists of a horizontal triangular form < f wood 
and iron supported on three wheels— one guiding- wheel 
in front and t«o trailing wheels behind —a tank f >r 
Iho liquid, and a sprinkling device of novel form, 
On the top of the frame is erected a wooden tripod, 
or derrick, and from the centre is suspended near 
the top a barrel for holding the solution. 
A rope, pulley, and small windlass are also provided 
for lifting the barrel to its place. A rubber pipe ex- 
tends from the bottom of the barrel to the rear of 
the machine, where it divides into branches ; each 
branch hanging down behind I he machine and between 
every second row of plants. 
Thus, if there are twenty rows of plants to be 
sprinkled, there are ten branch pipes. The elevated 
position to the barrel gives a good head to the streams, 
and the motion of the apparatus over the ground 
keeps the solution agitated and prevents the mixture 
from clogging the pipes. The deli very-pipes that hang 
between the rows of plants at the back of the ap- 
paratus divide just above the ground into two branches. 
Inside the two branches are coiled springs that tend 
to keep the pipes spread apart, and at the end of each 
is a brass nozzle, designed to trail along the ground 
as the machine moves forward. 
The distance between the rows of plants is greater 
than the spread of these branch pipes, and, as they 
aro dragged over the ground, they strike the stem 
of the plants on each side. 
The spring allows them to pass and then spreads 
thorn out again, so that each nozzle must pass close 
under every plant in its row. 
It has been found that to destroy the insects, tho 
spray must be driven upward from below tho plant. 
This arrangement of the delivery-pipes and the laet 
that thd jets are all delivered upward, accomplishes 
the purpose admirably, and is a most ingenious ap- 
plication of means to ends. The jarring of 1 he elastic 
pipes against the plants also tends to scatter the 
shower of spray in every direotion, and every plant 
and leaf is reached by ihe liquid poison. 
Tho nozzles qsed in ibis apparatus ore of new form, 
that may prove of vain-- in o her hydraulic machines. 
They consist of bras* cups fitted with tight Govern, 
hating a small hole in the cent o. The delivery-pipe 
enters this cup at the si<lo next tho bottom, and the 
water is carried round and round 1 he inside of tho 
cup till it is tilled, whonthj excess escapes upward 
iu spiral or reflex jot. Th u machine examined was 
210 
in operation and of a small size, and thoroughly 
drenched i»very plant in twlve rows at one lime. 
In practice, the barrels filled with the poison in 
solution are placed at convenient distances in the 
fields, and when one is empty it is lowered from the 
machine and either refilled and hung on the machine, 
or a frc-h barrel is taken. In moving the machine 
on roads tho horizontal form is shut up by sliding the 
parts of the form one over tho other and clamping 
them in this position. 
The wheels and the upright tripod remain fixed, 
but they aro sufficiently near together to enable the 
apparatus to pass through any ordiua>y farm-gate. 
All the materials are of tho cheapest and m< si. com- 
mon character consistent with strength, and ihe ap- 
paratus can bo readily mado in any wagon-shop for 
a moderate sum of money. 
The apparatus for blowing dry powders over cotton 
plan's consists of a horizontal triangle of wood, 
mount' cl on three wheels and intended to be driwn 
by one horse. * ' 
Over the forward wheel is a hopper for holding the 
dry powder, and closed by a tight-fining cover. 
Under the hopper is a small Ian-blower, that may 
be connected by a co sed-belt with ihe axle of the 
leading wheel. At the top of this blower is an opin- 
ing into the hopper with a second on tbe opposite 
side, so that tbe blast of the blower enters the hopper 
at the bottom on one side and pas -es out at the other. 
The motion of the machine over the ground drives 
the blower, and the blast of air it sends through the 
hopper takes up a portion of the powder and carries 
it to the discharge pipes at the rear of the machine; 
These pipes are ot sheet- iron, and hang down between 
the rows of plants, so that three pipes cover six rows 
of plants. When the mac ine is driven over the field, 
the pipes discharge cloiuls of dry powder that c m- 
pletely cover any plant in reach. In a' strong wind, 
when the machine is moved side to the wind, tbe 
number of rows covered may be much larger, as the 
wind blows the powder over the plants for some dis- 
tance. 
Another and "cheaper form of the same machine, 
and designed to discharge only one jet of powder, em- 
ploys a common hand bellows attached to tbe hopper. 
In this case the machine is fastened to the hai die of 
a plow or cultivator, and the bellows is op.ra: d by 
J dust-blower, are the largest and most complete tools 
7 of their class yet brought out. They are admirably 
designed, and, at the same time, cheap and easily 
I managed — rather unusual merits in large agricul'ural 
implements.— I remain, respected sir, yours faithfully, 
JAMES D. WATSON . 
THE SEASON AND CROPS. 
* Matalo East, April 7lb. 
Dear Sir,— In your issue of the 4th instant, you 
say in effect that tho late superabundant aud long- 
continued rains arc chiefly, if not solely, the cause 
of the failure of blossoms, s > fur as tho season has 
yet gone. And I believe this opinion is held by 
many planters of experience. I think, however, it is 
not altogether the right one. 
Is it not rather to tho increasing tendency of h af- 
disenso to prolong its attacks, fostered, in mine u.'gii-o, 
perhaps, bv a long continuance of rain, that wo 
owo tho present so mt appearauco of blossom ? 
I look upon tho rain as merely a subsidiary cause 
of this most discouraging result. 
Tho accompanying table of figure*, if it dres not 
entirely prove my case, will, I think, go vtry far 
tOWarUS dOU]g HO. 
Assuming that tho coffee is injuriously effooted. 
