isa-normaladvance-1909-00249

Description:	THE NORMAL ADVANCE249stomachs of great numbers of toads taken atdifferent times during the spring and summerand from many different localities.From these observations it has been estimatedthat during May, June, and July a single toadwould destroy 360 beneficial insects, mostlyground beetles, and 9,720 injurious insects orlarvae. Of these 2,160 would be cut worms.Assuming that the beetles, if spared, wouldhave captured 10 per cent of the cutworms, westill have left to the toads credit 1,944 cutworms. Counting the damage done by a cutworm at one cent, a very low estimate, the valueof the services of a single toad during thesethree months would be $19.44. But this is notall to this list must be added 1,800 myriopods,2,160 sowbugs, 3,240 ants, 360 weevils, and hundreds, or even thousands, of injurious beetles,plant lice, caterpillers, army worms, gypsymoths, grasshoppers and snails. It is said thatEnglish gardeners often pay as high as $25.00per hundred for toads. These they turn loosein their gardens and thus keep them free frominsect pests.The natural enemies of the toad are snakes,skunks and owls. Other animals rarely molestit.It is difficult to introduce toads to a farm orgarden unless they are brought from a distance,as instinct will cause them to wander away insearch of their old hiding places. A better planis to provide a shallow pool and carry the toadsto it at mating time then many of the youngtoads will establish themselves in the locality.Late in July, after the young toads have leftthe water, the pool should be drained in orderthat it may not become a breeding place formosquitoes.A mass of toads eggs in a small aquariummakes an interesting study in the school room.Water plants, such as may be obtained fromany pond, should be introduced. These willkeep the water fresh and furnish food for thetadpoles. Small bits of meat may ba added but care should be taken not to put in morethan the tadpoles will eat, or the water will become fouled. Such an aquarium will be ofgreat interest to the pupils, and will furnishmany small toads which may be turned loosefor the benefit of the community.REFERENCES.The Frog Book Mary DickersonU. S. Dept. Agriculture, Farmers BulletinNo. 196 A. H. Kirkland, M. S.Ind. Geological Rept. 1891, Batrachians andReptiles of Ind O. P. Hay, Ph. D.Batrachians of N. America. .E. D. Cope, Ph. D.LANGUAGE DEPARTMENTWitt t a ^ttttifd).@g lebte einmal ein auerliebfteg ©rofmtutterdjen mititjrer lebigen SEocfyter in ber uralten §etmat im 3Rhein=tijal obrcobl biefe gemittlicfje, alte ®ame ein ©roJ3mut=terpen roar, Ijatte fie trjre @nfel in Stmerifa nod) nie ge=fefjen, ba ibre dinner ®eutfcf)Ianb fe&r fritfj oerlaffenfatten.Gsineg 3>aljre3 entfcrjfrjfs fie fid), nad Slmerifa %u reifen,nm ibre Steben roenigftenS einmal gu feben, ebe ifjr bergarte £eben§faben bredjen roiirbe. 3ur grofsen §reubetljrer Hinber fam fie etntge Sage oor Dftern glucflid) tn%exxe §aute an. Ttan fann fid) ba§ ©IM ber jroblffleinen ©nfelftnber faum benfen, al§ fie um bag frbfjlidje©rofsmuttercfjen fafjen, roafjrenb eg bte foftlicbften 9Jiar=d)en „aug SDeutfdjlanb ergatjfte. Sfber bie grbfjte tlber=rafdjung, bte ©rofmtutterdjen je oorberettet batte, tearbag grittjftucf am Dfterfonntag. ©egen fieben Ubr oer=fammelten fid) bte ©Item mit ben etfrtgen 5!tnbern betSCante 3lnnette, bet ber ©rofjmittterdjen bie 3ett ^u.bradjte. 2fl§ fie anfamen, roar bag grofie ©petfejtmmerfeft jugefdjlofjen, baf? bte Dfterfjafen tfyre Slrbett tn 9tul)e
Source:	http://indstate.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/isuarchive/id/34279
Collection:	Indiana State University Archives

Further information on this record can be found at its source.