Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 July 1877 — Killing Young ’Hoppers. [ARTICLE]

Killing Young ’Hoppers.

Bulletin No. 1 of the United States Entomological Commission is just out: These will be issued from time to time as the occasion may seem to warrant, to meet such exigencies as may occur. The present pamphlet has reference principally to the destruction of the young locusts by artificial means. One is by means of ditches with square sides, in which the young pupae are entangled. A net, which has done good service, made by Major J. G. Thompson, es Garden City, Minn., is made as follows : Two pieces of common batten about sixteen feet long were used as a framework for the mouth of the net, one for the bottom and one for the top. From the end of the bottom piece a wooden shoe of the same material ran back about six feet to steady the trap and serve as a runner. To the rear end of this shoe a similar piece was fastened by a hinge, and ran forward and was fastened to the top of the frame, so that till mouth of the trap would open and shut like a jaw. To hold the mouth open, two short upright posts were fastened to the top piece by a hinge, and rested upright upon the bed-piece. The net itself was made of eotton cloth for the bottom, and the top was made of mosquito-net-ting. The mouth of the net extended sixteen feet from one side of the trap to the other, and the net ran back about six feet to Rr point with a hole at the end to let out the insects collected. A boy of 10 years old can draw one end of this net, and by the use of it Major Thompson saved one piece of wheat. Similar machines have been drawn by horses hitched to each side of the trap; being twelve to sixteen feet apart. The horses serve the purpose of driving the locusts inward toward the mouth of the net. There have been many forms of this machine, but all on the same general principle.