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Details Of Innovation
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The problem with field cricket and "field cricket" is that both have buzz. After a while this buzz could be quite nagging. In field cricket some may style themselves as "Haryana hurricane", "Thommo," or "Pace Quartet" and by other buzzwords. But there is a way to take the wind out of their sails. That is the hook. So is the case with "field cricket," the male of which makes all the buzz by batting and battling with a part of its forewings. The result is not only the characteristic chirping sound from sundown to daybreak but also nuisance to the farmer in that the insects feast on his crop. Gandubhai Bamania may not know much about batting, bowling, fielding or ball-tampering. But he knows the trick of taking the wind out of crickets. The farmer simply makes good use of windkiller (Clerodendrum phlomidis) ("arni" in Gujarati). The leaves of "arni" are pounded in an iron mortar and then the mass is sieved through a strong cloth. The juice obtained is collected and mixed thoroughly with grains before sowing. Traces of the "arni" juice or "bodyline" for crickets and these steer clear of the farm. Crickets do not consume the seeds so treated, and if they dare the "juicy bodyline" they die in the attempt. This way pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides) and sorghum (Sorghum vulgare) and other grain crops are saved. Windkillers are highly recommended in both the fields at least to reduce the buzz of both crickets.
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