Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1898-04-15

Industry aud ingenuity 0oln sun.
slstence in IN Almost Bar
rem Land.
Recently Prof. w. J. MCGEE, Of the
government scientific corps, paid visit
20 some very remarkable farmers in
sonora, Mexico. These are the so
allied agricultural ants, which plant
ields of grain and regularly harvest
heir crops. Upon the latter they de-
,end wholly for food. In fact, If the
,rops should fail they would perish OF
famine.
The fields Of the farmer ant cover
scores of square miles in Sonora. The
home of colony is marked ordinarily
by circular clearing from five to thir-
y-five feet in diameter, on which moth
ng is permitted to grow. This serves
IS sort of parade and exercise ground.
around the clearing is ring OF luxuri-
mt grass from three to twenty feet
vide. On the seeds of this grass the
insects subsist, planting it every spring
md garnering the crop in the autumn.
iurnpilses few inches wide connect
tarm with farm for many furlongs.
In the region described, says the New
York World, there is practically no
vegetation except the grasses cultivated
by these ants. The latter appear to
keep down and exterminate all other
plants, such as cacti, greasewood and
mesquite. In short, these insects have
developed an art of agriculture pecul-
lar to themselves, have made conquest
Of the land for their needs, and have
artificialized certain cereals as thor
oughly as maize and barley have been
artificialized by man.
"Thus," said Prof. McGee, "the rig
orous environment of the desert has de-
vcloped one of the most remarkable in
telligences, and, incidentally, an ami
NAL and a plant have come to be mu-
tually dependent upon each other for
existence"
The agriculture Of these ants seems
to be far more extensive in Sonora than
in Texas, where their farming opera
tions have been exhaustively described
by Henry c. McCook. On the fat table,
lands Of the Lone Star state. their
farms are plentifully scattered. These,
like those of Mexico, are mostly fiat
and circular clearings, from which COM
| uuHlCdtloA 10 hueA Wy AOoNAc VAoAA WIZ
surrounding cultivated heritage. In
the center of each such clearing is q
hole which serves as q gateway, OPEN
| ng into the subterranean formicary.
So widely distributed are the farms
that they are found in the very streets
and gardens Of Austin, Tex.
At the time Of the harvest one or
more of the roads leading to the formi-
airy may be seen on any fine day to be
hronged with workers marching toand
FRO in double column, one going and
me coming. The pathway is trodden
lard by their feet. Those coming are
leavily laden, each carrying q seed.
They do not gather the seeds from the
grass tops, but pick up those which
have ripened and fallen. For these they
search on the ground in the forest Of
rrass stalks, feeling for them with their
tntenne. Having secured one, work.
er ant lifts it, adjusts the burden so as
to be carried most easily, and finds her
way back to the road, along which she
trots homeward, finally disappearing
through the gateway.
Within the gate is vestibule, from
which a passageway leads downward
at slant to the room beneath. Some
| of these rooms are nurseries for the
rearing of the young of the colony,
while others are granaries in which the
seeds are stored. Usually the rooms
are shaped somewhat like horseshoes,
the walls and floors being neatly and
smoothly finished with plaster, for
which suitable earth is brought from
above and made adhesive with the
saliva Of the insects. There is apt to be
one grand storeroom two inches or SO
in height and three or four inches long.
the other apartments being somewhat
smaller. All of them are formed with
domes.
The seeds before being stored in the
granaries are husked. All refuse, in
eluding husks and imperfect seeds, is
carried out and thrown outside the
limits Of the formicary. Nothing is
permitted to remain on the clearing.
Anything that falls upon it is cut to
pieces and taken away If luckless
tnmblebug rolls its ball into the for
hidden territory it is driven away, or If
1t refuses to retreat it is promptly
killed.
The workers possess very formidable
stings, which are used with effect upon
too inquisitive human beings The
poison seems to be quite powerful,
causing Inflammation and sometimes
nausea. However, the insects are quite
peaceful unless outrageously disturbed.
After they have harvested thor grain
in the autumn they carefully cut away
all the dry stubble, SO that their fields
may be ready for planting in the
spring. Respecting the methods of
planting adopted by the insects, no re-
liable observations have been made up
to date. All of the labor of whatever
description is performed by the work
ers, who are undevcloped females. The
males do nothing, the sole purpose OF
their existence being to pcrpetuate the
species. The developed females are
destined to become the mothers of fu.
turc colonies.
These ants always establish their
colonies in places where there is unob-
structed sunlight -doubtless beca use
shade would interfere with their farm.
ing operations. If tree grows I'D
near them they will cut Off every
one Of its leaves in early spring. They
work only in the cool of the day
Beauty In blood Deep.
Clean blood means a clean skin. No
hoautv xvtthout IL Cascareta CANDY N l., -