The Mechanical Murderer.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3256, 15 July 1889, Page 3

The Mechanical Murderer.

A machine just invented for destroying insect pests (a Horn* paper calls it " the mechanical murderer") is an invention of Mr Struwsou, of Berkshire, unci is officially known as "The Strawsoniser." Its essential features are a tank which contains the kerosene, powdered lime, or other 1 insecticido to bo used, mid a fan, which is driven at a groat speed by the revolutions of tho wheels of the machine, scatters it over tho plants or land to be covered. Tims koroseno 1 falls in a fino spray, and powdered lime emitted in n whito cloud like emoko, covering ovory thing over which it passes with a h'no film or coat, sufficient to destroy the dreaded fly. A hoiso travelling quickly with ono of these nffMiines can tmvcl over a ten au'e field in an hour, so that rapidity, which is so essential when a crop is attacked, is secured. The smallness of the quantity of the material used is surprising, a pint of knroseuo sufficient to cover an acre, and yet so effectively distributed is it that a single leaf cannot bo picked up without tho smell of the liquid being detected. The French Minister of Agriculture, it is said, is sanguino that this machine will oust tho dreaded phylloxera from the vineyards of France,