Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-05-19
THE MIDDAY TRAP.

particular instructions the following vii
direct any one:
For short prlne varieties, first The or
orator should be provided with twenty fee
one-fourth-inch iron rod, or an equal lengtl
of heavier wire approximating to this il
size. Cut two pieces seven feet long each
and two pieces three feet long EACH Witt
these two semi-spheres may be made, will
a diameter of about two feet these meas
ures may be increased proportionatelv t,
make large trap. A strip of green wir'
gauze, six feet long and three feet wide
will answer to cover the trap. The gauz,
should be the material commonly used IL
window screens, and worth about two ant
a half to three cents per square feet. d.
not try substituting cloth for gauze, fol-
our experiments proved it inapplicable
Bend the seven-foot length in circle thret
feet IN diameter, turning the ends together
and twisting them outward to serve as
handle. Gross the circle with a second
piece three feet long, which should alsc
bend IN circle outward; this forms g
semi-sphere. Now cover the whole with
gauze, which may be sewed ON like the
parts to cover of a baseball, attached by
means of a string.
Make a second semi-sphere similar in
every respect to the first, and such that the
two when brought together, form a com
plete sphere.
The circle of the first semi-sphere may
be provided with 4 notch to accommodate
the body or trunk of the vine, thereby en-
abling the operator to completely cover the
plant and provide against the escape of the
hoppers:
Care should be taken in forming the notch
to see that it is 80 placed in relation to the
handle as to enable the operator to stand
partly. over the vine when bringing the
trap together.
The gauze Of this trap, if rubbed over
with cloth or swab, saturated with kero-
sene, will retain enough to kill immedi-
ately the hoppers alighting thereon. Expe-
rience has proven, however, that after a
little exposure the kerosene loses its great
est effectiveness, and the hoppers are there
fore enabled to take a second jump and as
sisted by falling, may escape through the
opening or joint below. To obviate this
and avoid the necessity of replenishing the
kerosene SO often, a piece of flannel or sim
liar cloth, should be drawn tightly and
sewn over the bottom Fart of each semi
sphere, the edges turning upward into the
trap as it appears when closed, so that any
of the victims tumbling down will lodge
between it and the gauze where the dem
sity of the oil will end their endeavors to
escape.
ANOTHER AND BETTER FORM OF TRAP.
find that for different vines different
shapes are preferred. The following de-
scribed appliance is the best and most COM
monty used at the time OF this writing.
though somewhat more expensive than the
first named
Frame two semi-cy finders, using for this
purpose iron band one-eighth of an inch
thick and one-half inch wide, which
should be joined with rivets at the cor
ners. These parts should be hinged to-
gether with small butts, which may be riv-
eted to the frame, such that when covered
with green gauze it may be opened and
closed over the vines. This trap needs no
top, but should be provided with bottom
of either heavy cloth, or what is better
still, two semi-circular tin pans about one
and half inches deep, and SO formed that
In coming together to form a circle, a
space is left for the stump of the vine and
stake-say eight inches long and three
inches wide. A cloth or sponge should
project from the edges of the hole to close
completely about the vine when in use.
For vineyards under ten years old, and
some even older, eighteen inches is suffi-
cient diameter for the cylinder, which
should be about two and half feet high
to accommodate long-primed varieties.
The last dimension may, however, be mod
flied to accommodate the shape of particu-
lar vines. A portion of the upper part OF
the frame left free will serve as handles, or
these may be added if desired, in which
case they should be attached near the up
per center of each semi-cylinder.
TO OPERATE.
Smear the gauze over with ordinary kerr
osene oil, to which small amount of
crude petroleum may be added if conve-
nient, as this will serve to thicken it and
render it more lasting. The oil applied
by means of brush or cloth as often as
! seems necessary.
The operator now approaches each vine
cautiously and incosing it in the trap
kicks the stump of the vine below, il using
the spherical trap, or disturbing it above
if the cylinder is employed, which causes
the hoppers to fly of, and, encountering
| the gauze, comes in contact with the kero-
sene, which kills them Immediately, OIL
causes them to drop TO the bottom, where
Il second contact with the oil, leaves them
unable to move. The trap should be re-
| tanned about the vine for moment to in.
sure the destruction Of all the victims be.
! fore again opening it for their escape
In our work, after making the parts, ac
cording to the above description, and oper.
ating on few vines, the green gauze wa.
changed to yellowish hue by the myriad.
| Of insects captured.
Either apparatus is light and easily
handled. They should not weigh over fivt
pounds each.
With one appliance man should ge
over several acres per day, and the tota
cost of treatment, including oil used, should
not exceed much over fifty cents per acre.
To use the trap with best success i
shou Id be employed at the present season
With the increase Of the foliage and en-
largement of the vine, the trap must alsc
be enlarged, becoming more cumbersom,
and more difficult to WELD, though equall,
effective.
Very windy weather should be avoided
for this work, as many retreat into til,
ground at such time, and the few re
naming on the leaves are disturbed will
great difficulty at such times.
When the air is still, or but little win,
is blowing, and when the warm SUNSHINE
has removed the dew from the foliage
then the most favorable period for genera
| success.
A great advantage in early season worl
accrues from the destruction of the insect
previous to the time of laying their eggs
thereby lessening the chance of damage.
Vines laying on the ground, like thos
pruned on the Chaintrs system, or thos
tied to wires, would require semi-cylin
drical screen lined with cloth on the bot
tom, which latter should be turned up t
prevent their tumbGng of, the screen be
| inn f., e,a1 70. 81