Device for picking up peach drops

LIBRARY
STATE PL.%N' 1'APFr
March 1945 E-63c8




UNITED STATES 'EPARTI1.12T OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Research Administration
Bureau of Intomologsy and Plant iuoarantine

DEVICE FOR PICKING UP PEACH DROPS

By Oliver 1. Snapp Hnd Thomas J. Jones,
Division of Fruiit Insect Investigations


The collection and destruction of peach drops is a supplemen-
tary control measure for the plum curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar
(Hbst.)) that is used by mpny peach growers, especially those in areas
where two broods of the insect occur. Nearly every peach grower in
the Fort Valley section of Georgia uses this method to help control
tho curculio. Considerable labor is required for this practice, and
in order to handle the Job with less labor and to accelerAte the oper-
ation, a device (fig. 1) for picking up the drops has been developed.
This device is essentially a 6-inch-square piece of wood contain~na
14 spikes, to which a 36-inch handle is attached. The drops are
picked up by forcing the spikes into them, and they are removed into a
container by merely pressing a metal latch on the handle, which forces
them from the spikes by means of a metal rusher. Inutructions for the
construction of this device follow. See figure 2 for r eptpis of con-
struction.

First cut a 6-inch square (A" from a 1-inch thic-Ik boptrd 1 N.. 1
lumber. Then drill holes in this piece of wood one-hdlf inch apart,
using a bit just a little smaller than a 5-peniLy wire nail. The holes
should be started 1/4 inch from th. edge of the board to avoid a wide
margin. Insert a 5-Penny' wire nail (T) In efc i- n,':` r&r-7e Fl a
spike. Next select a plece of about I(-- :age 8ii. t ,:! -. cut it
into a 6-inch square but leave a 1 by 1 inch -iecn, pr o>" cft irn from
each of two opposite sides (B). Drill holes. In IP rr-tp-'L seurz ,he
same as in the board, using a 3/lb-incr, bit. kLhc. J:-:l1 a 1/ -lacr.
hole in each projection for bolts. Fit the P !crF -: -etaLP sheet
over the spikes on the bosrd.

For a handle use the top 36 inrhes of P brocm lri.- 3). Drill
two holes in the same side of tI.E- 1,-.*tI --nr-* 1 tin tli.e c-
frdBB from the top. Opposite the hole 1b in-hes 'rLTrL. t.LF- tC l a
slot lr inches long. Cut a piece of sheet metal 4 inches Irlr ann
one-half inch wide (D),.drill A holes in It- 'ne at each end and one
in the middle, push the metsl through the slot in the handle, and bolt
in place. Out two pieces of metal traps (E) 20 inches long and drill
a hole in each end. Bolt one end of each to the projections on the
metal pusher (B), and the other ends to one end of the :ross bar (D)







- 2 -


in the.handle. Then make 1-inch loops in each end. of a piece of heavy
wire 14 inches long (F), and. hook one end to the other end of the
-cross bar. Bolt a 4-inch metal latch (G) on the handle at the hole 4
inches from the top, and hook the other end of the wire into it. Hook
one end of a 2-inch coil spring (H) to the cross bar where the wire is
fastened, and the other end to the handle (C), giving it sufficient
tension to be tight.

This device is of simple construction, inexpensive, easy to han-
dle, practical, and efficient. It has proved to be entirely satis-
factory for picking up peach drops in tests in commercial orchards
(fig. 3). It could also be used for picking up plum, cherry, and
apple drops, green pecans, pecan shucks, and cotton squares and bolls.


Figure 1.--Device fo
up peach drops.


















Figure 3.--A, Picking up peach drops with
drops into bucket.


r picking


device; B, releasing peach


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Figure 2.--Diagram showing construction of device for picking
up peach drops. See pages 1 and 2 for names of the parts

th&ot are lettered.


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UNIVERSITY OF FLORDA

3 1262 09230 4160





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