AN IMPROVED TRAP FOR BEETLES AND OTHER INSECTS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Morris, of Bunney, in the County of
Nottingham, Farmer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED TRAP FOR
BEETLES AND OTHER INSECTS."
Sealed the 21st November 1856, and dated the 4th June 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Morris at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th
June 1856.
I, THOMAS MORRIS, of Bunney, in the County of Nottingham, Farmer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED TRAP FOR
BEETLES AND OTHER INSECTS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in the employment of a frame made of tubular iron,
having two ends and two sides of any required length or depth, which frame
may be elevated or depressed, so as to work in fields sown with turnips or other
plants either upon ridges or upon the surface. The frame is mounted on four
wheels, so constructed, that by reversing them the frame will work for the two
purposes above named. To this frame are attached at the centre of one side
two bars and a cross piece, which form a handle. There are also two. moveable
or sliding bars on the frame, for the purpose of regulating the wheels so that
they may run between the rows or ridges of the turnips or other plants. Thero
are also two bars connected to the handle, to the lower bar of which is attached
a shallow piece of sacking or other light material, and a bar is placed across

page_text: the centre, to which, and at each end, are suspended pieces of sacking or other
light material, which act as curtains. The top of the frame is covered with
sacking or other light material, the under side of which I smear over with an
adhesive chemical preparation, having for its object the removal or destruction
of beetles or other insects. This implement can be used as effectually in wet
as in dry weather. By an early application of this Invention, that is to say,
when the beetles or other insects first attack the plants, it preserves the plants
from their ravages.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Morris, in the Great Seal Patent Oflice on the
3rd December 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
MORRIS, of Bunney, in the County of Nottingham, Farmier, send greeting.
WHEREAS ITer most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Пer reign,
did, for Ierself, IIer heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Thomas Morris, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas Morris, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas
Morris, my executors, administrators, 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 "AN IMPROVED TRAP FOR BEETLES
AND OTHER INSECTS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Thomas Morris, 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 Thomas Morris, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the Drawings annexed, that is to say:―
My Invention consists of a frame made wholly or partially of tubular iron,

page_text: having two ends and two sides of any required length or depth, which frame
may be elevated or depressed, so as to work in fields sown with turnips or other
plants either upon ridges or upon the surface. The frame is mounted on
wheels, which may be so constructed that by reversing them the frame will
work for the two purposes above named. To this frame are attached at the
centre of one side two bars and a cross piece, which form a handle. There
may be also two moveable or sliding bars on the frame, for the purpose of
regulating the wheels in order that they may run between the rows or ridges
of the turnips or other plants, or these two moveable bars may be dispensed
with. There are also two bars connected to the handle, to the lower. bar of
which is attached a shallow piece of sacking, canvas, or other light material,
and a bar is placed across the centre, to which and at each end are suspended
pieces of sacking or other light material, which act as curtains. The top of
the frame is covered with sacking or other light material, the under side of
which I smear over with an adhesive chemical preparation, having for its
object the removal or destruction of beetles or other insects. I..prefer to
employ, for the purpose of my Invention, canvas, or other material of a light
color.
:
By an early application of this Invention, that is to say, when the beetles
or other insects first attack the plants, it preserves the plants from their
ravages. The implement may be used as effectually in wet as in dry weather.
The Drawings annexed represent an apparatus constructed according to my
Invention. Figure 1 is a side view of the apparatus, and Figure 2 a front
view of the same. a, a, is a light iron frame, made chiefly of iron tubing, and
supported on two wheels b,b; c is a piece of canvas (or other light material
may be substituted) secured to rods c', c", which canvas is kept tightly stretched
by means of a nut and screw d at each end of the rod c", which lie in slots in
the end of the framing a, a. Three other pieces of canvas are attached to
the rods c", forming curtains for the whole width of the machine, if necessary.
The upper portions of these curtains are coated in front with a mixture of
resin, horse turpentine, and oil, of the consistence of treacle, or with other
adhesive chemical preparation, with which the under side of the stretched
canvas is also covered. The height of the under side of the framing from
the ground may be regulated by depressing. the handle e, and passing a pin
through the rack f and handle e, the height of the framing being in proportion
to the lowness of the handle e, the nut g being unscrewed at the same time,
and when the height is set, it is screwed up again.
The machine shewn in the Drawing is intended for passing over three
ridges, but I do not confine myself to a machine for covering three ridges

page_text: only; and my machines may be made of various sizes to cover a greater or
less number of ridges of various widths, and my machines are equally appli-
cable to crops sown upon flat ground as to those sown in ridges. The machine
may be moved by hand, as that shewn in the Drawing; or if of larger size,
they may have light shafts behind, and an additional wheel in front, having its
bearing free to move round horizontally, so that they may be pushed or drawn
by a pony, horse, or other animal; the wheel in front is to assist in turning
the machine round. I do not confine myself to the use of three curtains, but
I use a greater or less number, as requisite.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim the improved trap
for beetles and other insects constructed in the manner herein-before described
with reference to the Drawings annexed, consisting of a framework travelling
on wheels, and provided with a stretched piece and curtains of canvas or other
light material covered with a coating or composition, all as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Morris, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Second day of December, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
GEO. JON. ROBINSON,
Middle Pavement, Nottingham.
THOMAS MORRIS. (L.S.)