THE APPLICATION OF A MEANS OR PROCESS FOR DESTROYING GRUBS AND OTHER INSECTS OR ANIMALCULE OR INFUSORIA INJURIOUS TO PLANTS."
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Henry Cradock Monckton, of the Parthenon
Club, Regent Street, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"THE APPLICATION OF A MEANS OR PROCESS FOR DESTROYING GRUBS AND OTHER
INSECTS OR ANIMALCULE OR INFUSORIA INJURIOUS TO PLANTS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Henry Cradock
Monckton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 11th July 1856.
I, EDWARD HENRY CRADOCK MONCKTON, of the Parthenon Club, Regent
Street, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "THE APPLICATION OF A MEANS OR PROCESS FOR DESTROYING GRUBS
AND OTHER INSECTS, OR ANIMALCULE OR INFUSORIA, INJURIOUS TO PLANTS," to be as
follows:-
I destroy grubs and other insects, animalculæ or infusoria, injurious to
vegetation, by the application of carbonic acid gas or chlorine gas. I generate
either of these gases in suitable vessels, travelling over the ground or near the
position where it is to be applied, or it may be generated elsewhere & carried
in a condensed form for use. As the gas is generated I provide a suitable
escape, whereby it is emitted and poured over the surface of the ground near
the plants. The supply is maintained until a sufficient height of gas is above

page_text: the ground to envelope or cover the insects or animal life; these gases, being
destructive to animal life, will speedily destroy all trace of it. For the purpose
I prefer carbonic acid gas, as it is otherwise beneficial to the growth of plants,
& will therefore be of additional advantage. I prefer a calm day for the appli-
cation of the gas, as less liable to disturb its action. It is also applicable for
the same purpose in greenhouses & other inclosed places containing plants.
Other gases destructive to animal life, & at the same time heavier than common
air, may also be similarly used for the purpose.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Henry Cradock Monckton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 10th January 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
HENRY CRADOCK MONCKTON, of the Parthenon Club, Regent Street, in the
County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Edward Henry Cradock Monckton, Her special licence that I, the said Edward
Henry Cradock Monckton, executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Edward Henry Cradock Monckton, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man,
an Invention for "THE APPLICATION OF A MEANS OR PROCESS FOR DESTROYING
GRUBS AND OTHER INSECTS, OR ANIMALCULÆ OR INFUSORIA, INJURIOUS TO PLANTS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward Henry Cradock
Monckton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
. NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Henry Cradock Monckton,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the

page_text: same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, that is to say :-
My Invention consists in the destruction of grubs and other insects,
animalculæ or infusória, injurious to vegetation, by the application of carbonic.
acid gas or chlorine gas. As the gas is generated I provide a suitable escape,
whereby it is emitted and poured over the surface of the ground around the
plants. The supply is maintained until a sufficient height of gas above the
ground is obtained to envelope or cover the insects or animal life; either of
these gases, being destructive to animal life, speedily destroy all trace of it. For
the purpose I prefer carbonic acid gas, as it is otherwise beneficial to the growth
of plants, and will therefore be of additional advantage; it is at the same time
easily generated by applying sulphuric acid or other suitable cheap acid to
chalk or other suitable substances.
This gas I either produce in a close vessel and convey it into a receiver in
which it is stored at a pressure for subsequent use, or it may be conveyed at
once from the generator (which is otherwise closed) by a suitable pipe to the
surface of the ground and around the plants.
For the purpose I provide a suitable carriage or support for the generating
apparatus which travels over the ground on which the gas is to be applied;
this carriage should be supplied with the supply of chalk and acid, so that fresh
supplies may be introduced into the generator as soon as the previous charge
becomes exhausted. The acid should be introduced gradually amongst the
chalk to keep up a uniform supply of the gas as near as possible; an agitator
may also be used to stir up the chalk, all as well understood in generating this
gas for various other purposes.
The generator and materials may be wheeled from place to place, and the
gas distributed over the field or garden by a flexible pipe; or the travelling of
the carriage may be continuous, and have a suitable pipe depending from it to
conduct the gas to the ground during the travelling of the carriage.
When the gas is made at a station and stored in a receiver for use, it may
be conducted thence by a suitable pipe or pipes, or the receiver may be placed
on the carriage and carried over the ground, the escape of the gas in either
case being regulated by suitable stop-cocks to limit the escape and supply it in
proper quantity for the purpose. The gas may be similarly applied in a green-
house or other enclosed space, distributing and supplying it where most
required for the destruction of grubs, insects, or infusoria. In applying the
gas in a garden or field I prefer to do so on a calm day, as less disturbing
action is likely to arise from the atmosphere.
Other gases destructive to animal life may be adopted for the purpose, which

page_text: are at the same time heavier than common air, and afford other facilities for
their application.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same may be performed, I desire it to be understood that what I claim
as my Invention, to be secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent, is, the application of carbonic acid gas and other suitable gases
for the purposes and in the manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Henry Cradock Monckton, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
TT 2
MONOKTAV