IMPROVED MEANS FOR CONTROLLING AND ARRESTING THE INCURSIONS OF LOCUSTS AND OTHER INSECTS, AND PROCESS OF UTILIZING THE SAME FOR AGRICULTURAL AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVED MEANS FOR
CONTROLLING AND ARRESTING THE INCURSIONS OF LOCUSTS AND OTHER
INSECTS, AND PROCESS OF UTILIZING THE SAME FOR AGRICULTURAL AND
OTHER PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Armand Durand and
Charles Hauvel, both of Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th August 1881.
WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent. "IMPROVED MEANS FOR CONTROLLING AND ARRESTING THE INCURSIONS
OF LOCUSTS AND OTHER INSECTS, AND PROCESS OF UTILIZING THE SAME FOR
AGRICULTURAL AND OTHER PURPOSES." [A communication from abroad by
Armand Durand and Charles Hauvel, both of Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to improved means and process for controlling and
arresting the invasions of locusts and other insect plagues, converting them into
manure, and producing sulphate of ammonia.
The invasions of insects, and more particularly of the migratory locust, which
seriously ravage some countries, more especially Algeria, may, by this Invention,
be, if not completely prevented, at least converted into an actual benefit to the
locality, both as regards agriculture and otherwise.
The Invention is based on observations of the habits and physiology of the
migratory locust, as well as of its chemical composition. And the Invention
relates to means for arresting the course of and burying the locusts at the time of
their migration when their ravages are most to be feared. At this age the locust
can run and climb freely, but does not possess the faculty of flying or jumping,
while the hooked terminations to its feet prevents it from taking a bearing on a
vertical polished surface. Thus the progress of these insects in any given direction
may be arrested by erecting a barrier having a smooth vertical face, and of such a
height that they cannot jump over.

page_text: According to this Invention a number of such defences are disposed around a
given locality, and it is possible in this manner to ward off the approach of these
insects, but the defences may also be so arranged as to collect or guide the
migrating columns, so that all the locusts may be conducted to any point desired
by arranging the defences at the boundary, so as to converge towards the point of
concentration. By making a pit at the apex of the angle formed by these defences,
and lining the sides of the pit also with polished surfaces, the locusts are entrapped,
and when the pit becomes filled they may be covered in with the excavated
material and buried. A second pit is dug parallel to the first, but a few yards
beyond, also in connection with the convergent defences, which pit is filled in like
manner; and by forming a number of these pits, according to the size of the insect
column to be intercepted, the localities situated beyond these defences will be
completely protected from these pests. On the termination of the invasion, when
the pits have been all filled, the chemical treatment of their contents, whereby to
obtain the manure and sulphate of ammonia, commences.
The defences having smooth surfaces as above mentioned may be constructed in
various ways, and may be composed, for example, of sheet metal not liable to rust
speedily, but as cost is an important consideration it is preferable to employ brass
rolled out to such an extent as to weigh only about 290 grammes to the square
metre, and cut up into strips of from 4 to 5 centimetres in width, but it will be
understood that the dimensions and thickness of the strips may be varied as desired.
These brass strips are attached by one edge to some suitable material, which is
placed vertically, so that the strip of brass may be turned down towards the
direction from whence the locusts are approaching, and thus form an obstacle which
can only be overcome by climbing up the vertical side of the defence and crawling
along the underside of the metal strip in the manner of flies walking on the ceiling,
and this cannot be effected by the locusts for the reasons above mentioned. The
screen or defence may be composed of some light fabric or material bordered at
each edge with strong webbing, by which it may be stretched upon pegs placed in
the ground at distances of from 3 to 4 yards apart.
The chemical treatment consists, 1st, in the employment of an antiseptic, such as
sulphate of iron for example, which is spread over the insects before filling in the
pits in the proportion of about three kilogrammes of sulphate per cubic metre of
insects. The ammonia which disengages from the nitrogenous matters in this
manner forms sulphate of ammonia, which remains in the mass until treated by
means of apparatus which may be transported from one pit to another in succession.
For this purpose the mass is heated to 100° C. in presence of milk of lime, the
ammonia which disengages being conducted into a vat lined with lead and con-
taining sulphuric acid. In this manner sulphate of ammonia is obtained which
may be at once put into the carboy which contained the sulphuric acid. It is in
this manner unnecessary to set up chemical works or incur the expense of trans-
porting the insect mass away for treatment, as the residue of the operation has a
value equal to that of manures obtained by similar treatment, from which the
ammonia is extracted. The proportion of sulphate of iron and the degree of heat
may be varied.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th
February 1882.
WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent. "IMPROVED MEANS FOR CONTROLLING AND ARRESTING THE INCURSIONS
OF LOCUSTS AND OTHER INSECTS, AND PROCESS OF UTILISING THE SAME FOR
AGRICULTURAL AND OTHER PURPOSES." A communication from abroad' by
Armand Durand and Charles Hauvel, both of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to a method of and apparatus for controlling and
arresting the invasions of locusts and similar migratory insects, converting them
into manure, and producing sulphate of ammonia therefrom. The invasions of
insects, and more particularly of the migratory locust which ravage some countries,
more especially Algeria, with devastating effect, may, by this Invention, be, if not
completely prevented, at least controlled and converted into an actual benefit to
agriculture generally.
The Invention, so far as it relates to the destruction of the migratory locust, is
based on observations of the habits and physiology of the insect, and so far as it
relates to the subsequent treatment upon its chemical composition. For the
purposes of this Invention means are provided for arresting the progress of the
locusts and burying them at the time of their. migration, when their ravages are
most to be feared. At this age the locust can run and climb easily, but does not
possess the power of flying or jumping, while the hooked terminations to its feet
prevent it from getting any foothold on a vertical polished surface. Thus the
progress of these insects in any given direction may be arrested by erecting a
barrier having a smooth vertical face, and of such a height that the locusts cannot
jump over it.
By arranging a number of such barriers around a given locality it is possible to
ward off the approach of these insects, but the barriers may also be so arranged as
to converge towards any desired point towards which the migratory column of
insects is proceeding, so as to guide or conduct the insects to any predetermined
point. This is accordingly done in carrying out this Invention, and a pit is also
made at the point of convergence of these barriers, and the sides of the pit are
furnished with polished surfaces. In this way the locusts fall into the pit and are
entrapped, and when the pit becomes filled they may be covered in with the
excavated material and buried. A second pit is dug parallel to the first, a few
yards behind it, in which the insects (still guided by the convergent barriers,
which need not be moved), are entrapped when the first one is full. This pit is
filled in like manner, and by forming a succession of these pits, according to the
magnitude of the insect column to be intercepted, the localities situated beyond
these defences will be completely protected. On the termination of the invasion,
when the pits have been all filled, their contents are subjected to a chemical
treatment hereafter described in order to obtain manure and sulphate of ammonia
therefrom.
The barriers having smooth surfaces, as above mentioned, for preventing the
insects obtaining foothold, may be constructed in various ways, and may be made
of any sheet metal which does not oxidise quickly, but as cost is an important
consideration it is preferable to employ thin rolled brass weighing only about
1 ounce to the square foot (or 290 grammes to the square metre), and cut up into
strips of from 1 to 2 inches in width, but it will be understood that the
dimensions and thickness of the strips may be varied as desired. These brass
strips are attached by one edge to a band of some suitable fabric or material, so

page_text: that the said fabric being placed vertically the strip of brass can stand at right
angles thereto, and project towards the direction from whence the locusts are
approaching, 'and thus form an obstacle which can only be overcome by the insects
climbing up the vertical side of the defence and crawling along the underside of
the metal strip in an inverted position. This however the locusts cannot do for
the reasons above mentioned. Instead of a stiff strip of fabric may use some
light fabric or material having its edges corded and stretched upon pegs placed in
the ground at distances of from 3 to 4 yards apart.
The chemical treatment of the bodies consists in first treating them with an
antiseptic, such as sulphate of iron for example, which is spread over the insects
before filling in the pits in the proportion of about 3 kilogrammes of sulphate per
cubic metre of insects. The ammonia which disengages from the nitrogenous
matters forms sulphate of ammonia, which remains in the mass until the sub-
sequent treatment in apparatus which may be transported from one pit to another
in succession. The operation consists in heating the mass to 100° C. in presence
of milk of lime, the ammonia which disengages being conducted into a vat lined
with lead and containing sulphuric acid. In this manner sulphate of ammonia is
obtained, which may be carried away in the carboy which contained the sulphuric
acid. It is thus unnecessary to set up chemical works or incur the expense of
transporting the insect mass away for treatment. The residue of the operation is
of equal value to manures obtained by similar treatment from which the ammonia
is extracted. The proportion of sulphate of iron and the degree of heat may be
varied.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The employment of barriers formed of thin smooth sheet metal plates
arranged in converging lines in combination with pits also furnished with barriers,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2nd. The treatment of the insect mass when collected in a pit by a metallic
salt and the subsequent employment of apparatus for disengaging ammonia by the
action of a base, and transforming the ammonia into sulphate, substantially as.
herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of February, A.D. 1882.