The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-11-22
Florida Harvesting An,

large colony Of these ants fror.
the hills, including the worke,e
and minor and soldiers. and est
them In a jar, which / placei
study. They very soon com.
work, tunneling tire earth and a.
forInicary as neatly as tb.r
after the psttern of their borns
barrens. The mining was dom
ly by the small workers. Ats,
refused all animal food. but .,o
ily fruit and sugar. and all kina
which j gave them wele immos.9.
taken below, out of sight
visited the mounds on the barrans
found abundant indications ~
food supplies. At the base -
mound was a heap of char -,
shells of various kinds of seeds .
On excavating a nest / found ol..
bers OF store-rooms filled with vs,i
kinds of seeds. But, 50 farasTL
obsei we'd, the seeds are not eaten :
they are swollen or sprouted. wbon
outer covering bursts ofitself A..
stage the starch is being eonys,
into sugar, snd this seems To H.
the ants are after. They also seen
to be very fond of the yellow ~.
dust of the pine The catkins -
Iongleaved pine (Pinus au,rsr
commenced falling in February an
noticed ants congregated on ,bem b.
L took those just ready to discbs
the pollium and shook the dpst ~
mound in little heaps, which were 8,
surrounded by ants. crowding sn4;...
ling each other in their eagernas.
obtain a share.
The colony in the glass lar ssr..
perfectly contented, not trv.Hg
make their escape at all. Tie g.
was Originally a little more than
inches in depth, but by the frs,
February these wonderful ar,l,i,
had reared their domiuile to the hai
of six inches. They raised tier n.
tier Of chambers in 50 sulstarti-
manner that they fell in. One Of
store rooms in which they dep9s
the seeds ! gave them was st the f..-
tom of the jar, aid the seed were
ed against the glass with no iDIpr
ing earth between; il contained al
a teaspoenfRl of millet. ] gave
chamber the right degree Of heat
moisture TO sprOut the seed. by d.
ing little water down the side of
jar until 1t penetrated the chamber
then setting it near the FIRE.
ants soon appreciated the condf,
OF tins store-IoOm, and manv cong
gated there and seemed to be eri.
ing a feast; The next day the SET
we're all brought to the surface Al
deposited in a little heap on one 81,
OF the jar, where many Of them srer
making n pretty little green fores
which the ants cut down and destro,
ed. The chamber remained empty q,
two OI three days, ami was then agaf
refilled with fresh millet and ample az
cotton seeds.
kept small shell. which bel.
about tablespoonful Of water stand
ing in the jar for the ants to drink from
For more than a month the water
was allowed to remain clear the ants
often coming to the edge to drink. bu.
one day one was walking on the edge
oil the shell and carrying an apple seed
when she lost her footing ana rolled
into the water She fi0undered about
Tor a few moments, still holding on 10
the seed 4; at last she let it drop and
crawle1 out. As soon as she had IL
vested herself of the surplus water size
consulted several Of her companions
and they Immediately went to work
and filed up the shell; first throwing in
Tour or five apple seeds. and then filing
IN with earth, and ever after. as often
as | cleaned out the shell ard put in
fresh water, it would be filled with
earth, sticks and seeds. and they Dog
serve all sweet liquids which | gave
them in the same wav, slipping the
syrup from the moistened earth-Mqy
Treat an Ltppincott's Haqazias