Hilda's diary of a Cape housekeeper

“ The flail I found most serviceable was made from No. 12 wire, one yard long, with about thirty strands, fixed on a good strong handle, and is in appearance like the ‘ cat ’ used in prisons. Each flail will kill thousands, and will not distress the man who uses it.” (e) Use of locust fungus. Attention is again drawn to the fact that supplies of fungus may be obtained free of charge on application to the resident magistrate of the division. The method of infecting a swarm is very simple, and involves but little trouble. Like other fungi, it thrives best in damp weather, hencd it is advisable to use it in moist or hot weather, and to make the infection of the swarms just before sunset. The instructions for using the fungus . . . are as under — App. (1) Method of application for Voetgangers. Take about one pound of white bread j dry it, and then grate it down into coarse powder. Put a cupful into a bowl and add enough water to make a watery paste. Add to this the contents of one tube of fungus, and keep it in a warm place until the fungus is seen to be growing over it. Now place small portions where the Voetgangers are appearing, and take care to see that where not eaten up the small portions are kept moist from day to day until they have been eaten. (2) Method of application for Flying Locusts. Directions for Preparing the Fungus previous TO USE. Open a tube and take out the contents entire ; add it to two teaspoonfuls of sugar, and rub the whole together with a spoon or flat knife so as to break up the material and mix it thoroughly. Then dissolve this in three-quarters of a tumblerful of water, \fhich has previously been boiled and allowed to cool. Float in this a few pieces of cork, which have been previously steeped in boiling water and cooled. Now cover the tumbler with a piece of paper, and let it stand during the day in a warm corner of the house or until the fungus is seen to be growing around the pieces of cork. Method of Distribution. (1) Catch some locusts, and, after dipping them into the fungus, let them go into the swarm again. (2) Smear patches of damp ground, where the locusts alight to feed, with the fungus. (3) Confine some locusts in a box which contains some App. favourite food moistened with the fungus, and, after the food has been eaten, return the locusts to the swarm. (4) Collect a large number of locusts which have died from the fungus. Dig a hole in the ground about eighteen inches deep and one foot wide. Strew some locusts over the bottom, then sprinkle some water over them. Repeat with locusts and again sprinkle until the hole is full. Do not press the locusts into the hole, but leave them lightly packed. Then cover over with a piece of tin or board and keep the whole thus carefully covered for four or five days. If very warm weather, four days will be sufficient, but if colder a longer time will be required. At the end of this time remove the locusts, and spread them out in the sun for an hour or two, or until thoroughly dry. Now grind them into a meal.