The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-01-25
Usefulness OF the M0Ie.

In its Unsuitable hunger lies the
value of the mole. Though it feeds
largely on earthworms, it does not con-
fine itself to such prey, but devours
many subterranean larvae which are in
furious to the crops. Especially does it
| wage war against the terrible larvae of
the cockchafer, called, par excellence,
the Grub, and sometimes known as the
white worm.
This creature passes three years below
the ground, devouring the roots of the
| vegetation; and when it attains its per-
feet state, eats the leaves of trees. The
mole also eats the wireworm, name
ct fear to the wheat-grOwer. Besides,
the greater part of the buried pupe
which it discovers and eats are injurious
to the crops, and the mole, instead of an
enemy, is distinct benefactOr to man.
lately met with an unexpected con-
tirmation of this statement. In the
course of my lecturing tours, | some
times find myself at Hull, and on one
occasion met several large. landowners
at dinner. The conversation turned on
moles and their iniquitous depredations.
OF course l took up the cudgel for the
mole, and with fair amount of success.
Some one mentioned that within few
miles there was a well-known field
which had once swarmed with moles,
and was notable for the steady crops
which it produced annually. 1t has
passed into the hands of another pro-
prietor, who had the moles destroyed,
and the field was ever afterward as
barren as it had been prolific.
need not say that at the first oppor-
tunity | visited the field in question,
and more hopelessly ragged and for
lorn piece of ground can hardly be
imagined. Finding that there was a
resident farmer who knew all the cir
cumstances, and who never allowed
moles to be killed on his own land, l
lost no time in making his acquaintance.
He was very kind in giving the requisite
information, which was so valuable that
L asked him to put it on paper for the
benefit of the British farmer. So here
present it to the reader
NORTH FERRIBY, Feb. T, 1882.
DEAR SIR: have much pleasure in writ
ing what know of the use of the mole, and
Of the loss sustained by killing it. To kill
moles is TO leave the corn and turnip crop, es-
pecially upon light soils, such as sand and
deep-soiled void land, to the ravages of the
wireworm, the grub wiz, the cockchafer
laryat and other insects. I have farmed and
still farm from thousand to fifteen hundred
acres or land In different parishes, and have
noticed that when you kill and try to exter-
inmate moles, rocks, sparrows, etc, you have
proportionate destruction from the creatures
which they feed upon
IAN old mole-catcher once came to me and
asked saRsd II would have the moles killed on my
shnn,d baS1 a1a to nd ha% arns Mo- Il had no oes
are the first | have heard say that, but you
are right He then went on TO say: 4 once
killed for gentleman who had field with
large hill in it. The soil was sandy and full of
moles and yet 1t used to grow nice crops. l
killed the moles, and it never grew anything
to speak OF afterward. The wireworm, grub
etc, etc, used to eat the roots of everything
that was sown. and the young plants died Off.
The old man then told me the name of the
gentleman and his farm. knew both.
Il have friend living in North Lincoln
shire who farms three thousand acres of
various kinds of land, and never allows the
moles to be destroyed.
Il remain,
Yours very truly,
JOHN 2. CLARK"
My correspondent, however, omits TO
mention three more benefits conferred
on man by the mole. One is, that it es-
tablishes a most elaborate system of
subsol drainage. How admirable a
scheme it is | never realized until had
seen Ieald's diagrams.
The second benefit is that of ventilat-
ing the soil. 1t must be remembered
that the roots of trees and plants need
air, and all cultiyators know how necas-
sary it is to loosen the earth round a
plant should it be caked.
The third use is, that in its search
after prey, it is perpetually bringing
fresh and fertile earth from below pull
verizing it, and throwing it on the sur
face, where it acts as an invaluable top
dressing.
1t is only in accordance with human
nature that agriculturists pay to have
the grub and wireworm Killed, and to
have the fields drained, to have the soil
loosened, and to put a top-dressing on
the surface, and then pay men to kill
the moles, who do all this work for
nothing g.-Rer. J. G. Wood, IN Long
mans Magdziale.