Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-04-18

ing the season may he sold to this fruit
grower at the uniform price of cent
each.
The gentleman who purchases these
reptiles Is Judge John p. Fort of
Demorest, Ga. who uses them for the
purpose of destroying injurious insects
which from time to time gather upon
his fruit trees. The idea Is a novel
one and originated in the mind of
Judge Fort.
Some years ago Judge Fort set out
trees for small fruit farm, four miles
from Mount Airy, upon which he plant
ed peaches, cherries, apples and
grapes, For long time he was
sorely troubled with insects which de
stroyed his trees and their fruit. He
never obtained complete relief until
about two years ago. when he called
in the assistance Of the neighboring
lizards. One day few Of these rep
tiles found their way into the judges
orchard. and he noticed they were hav-
ing feast upon the insects lodged in
one of his cherry trees. 1t was then
and there that to the fruit grower oc-
Cured the happy idea which has since
proved so valuable to him. Since then
he has spent over 500 for lizards and
at this time has In the nelghborhood of
10000 of the little guardians patrol
ling his orchards. This number makes
about one lizard to each tree, the fruit
farm having latterly grown to greater
proportions. Judge Fort now has In the
neighborhood of 10000 trees bearing
fine fruit,
Judge Forts first purcl ase Of lizards
amounted to about 100 In number, cost
ing him the small amount of S1,50.
They were brought TO him by small
boys from all directions. the news hnv-
ing quickly spread that the fruit grow
er was In the market for these little
animals. Some of them naturally stray
ed away, and Of those remaining many
died. 1t was In dry season and 1t
did not take the observing farmer long
to discover that 1t was from lack of
water that the lizards were suffering.
| lie quickly overcame this difficulty by
securing n large number of tin cans,
| sinking them In the ground near the
roots OF trees here and there and keep
Ing them filled with water. There are
now sunk in the ground of these or
chards about $500 tin cans, which are
for the sole and exclusive use of the
lizards. To see the lizards visit these
receptacles for drink OF water during
the day Is an odd sight. 1t has never
been found necessary to feed the liz
ards. but II is matter of much labor
and attention to keep them supplied
with water at times. During rainy
spells nature keeps these miniature
wells well supplied, but when the
clouds for long interval withhold
their refreshing huid the lizards cans
have to be filled by hand, which Is by
no means small undertaking.
Judge Fort Is greatly interested II
the study of lizards, but he Is reticent
In divulging the result of his reptile
studies, He, however, says that h'
has no trouble In managing his large
army of lizards. They require no train
ing or drilling in order to perform theli
duties, Upon purchasing them, he putt
them TO work on vacant trees, and the!
seem contented 10 stay In their new
, found home, living on insects an,
drinking from tile tin cans, In pur
chasing lizards there Is only one stip
ulntion the Judge makes, and that Is th'
little reptiles must be those Of srbora