Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-09-13

Carlboo, informs US that they are very
plentiful in that neighborhood: that in
corntields where chinch bugs are al
work these toads congregate, and every
bug that dares to expose itself to the
gaze of toad is immediately dispensed
with. A toad will sit and watch corn
stalk with eager intentness. occasionally
bounding at the stalk, striking it with a
force that one would think sufficient to
cause conclusion of the brain, but al
ways takes the insect, nor does he evince
any inconvenience from the bump.
They are so thick that the question
naturally arises as to their source. Over
on the Arkansas it rained toads a short
time ago, and ii is not improbable that
the same thing might have happened
unnoticed in this country. At all
events it appears that Nature has pro-
t1ded a consumer Of chinch bugs.-EI
dorado Press.
FENCING FIGURED. to Uni
ted States statistics, worm or Virginia
fence costs % cents, post-and-rail S1.35
board fence S1.26, and stone wall s.. 81
per rod, III Massachusetts,. This esti-
mate Is based upon boards at SIG pei
thousand, and rails at $50. From the
same source it would seem that of our
fences slXty-Seven per cent. are of the
KIND known as worm or snake fence
seventeen per cent. of post-and-rail
twelve per cent. of board, and only fou1
per cent. of permanent stone wall. The
returns embrace 1851, S21 rods OF
fence, inclosing 16,374,641 acres, at a
cost Of $179, 1884, 494, or at the rate OF
$50 rods to each 100 acres. The an
nual expense of repairs and interest
upon the investment is 1913, SOC, 1S2
| The Understanding National debt, the
cost of our fences and the value of the
live stock of the nation, all figure up tC
about the same amount Each dollars
worth Of live stock requires 81 worth
of fence to keep it in order. That TWEEN
ty-five per cent. of the fencing is need
less and may be best dispensed with, is
undoubted. How much of the remain
der would be rendered needless by a
properly connected system of pasturine
and soiling, it is hard to say.
BRAINS IN FARMING.-Mind must be
made the emancipation of the farmer
Science, Intelligence, machinery-these
must liberate the white bondmen of the
soil from their long slavery. When
look back and see what has been done
for the farmers in my brief memory,
am full of hope for the future. The
pillow under the hand of science is be
come a new instrument. The horse
now hoes the corn, digs the potatoes
mows the grass, rakes the hay, reap
the wheat, and thrashes and winnow.
it, and every day adds new machinery
to the farmers stock, to supersede the
clumsy implements which once bound
him to his hard and never-ending toll
When farmer begins to use machinery
and study the process of other men, anC
to apply his mind to farming, so far as
he can make it take the place of mus
Gle, then he Eliminates his calling with
new light, and lifts himself into the
dignity of a man. If mind once get.
the upper hand it will serve itself an(
see that the body is properly cared for
Intelligent farming is dignified living
For a farmer who reads and thinks anC
studies and applies, nature will open th'
storehOuse Of her secrets, and point the
way to a life full of dignity and beau
ty, and grateful and improbable leis
ure-J. G. Holland