The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1902-06-27
wHATToADs sAREGOOD FOR.

a few days ago we noticed couple
of boys Juggling, between couple OF
boards, good-szed toad which they
had captured at some point where they
had been playing, says the Tpentieth
Century Farmer. The average boy
does not know really what toads are
good for, unless it may he to cause
boys who handle them to have warts
on their hands. Our agricultural pa
pers do not print very much in regard
to the usefulness of toads to the agri-
culturist. and especially the gardener.
How many flies, bugs and cutworms
do you suppose that a good-sized toad
will destroy during single day! "A
toad has an appetite which would put
the average hoy to shame, and MIR.
Toad will ravenously eat every creep
ing, crawling, flying thing that is small
enough for him to swallow. Two or
three o0od-siz"d toads located in the
garden are of untold value to the gar
denrr, and are often HE means of his
success over his nrighbor. who con-
sider~ them a nuisance and turns them
over to he small boy to make warts
with or puts little salt upon their
back JUS 10 see thrm jump around and
die
The toad usually sp. nds the day
time under some convenient board or
clcl which flies frequent. To all ap-
pcarances Mr.. Toad is sound asleep,
but when the fly or bug comes around
within reach, out GOES his long and
plant tongue. the insect vanshes from
view ans: tn" toad resumes his sleepy
aspect until another insect comes with
IN reach. During the night they move
a',nt in quest of their prey. The
toad vii! not eat dead or mOtionlesS
TODD, and 1t is tor this reason that they
are so valuable to tie aoriculturist and
horticul,urist They are often accused
Of sitting under the ali2htng board OF
the bee hive and sw iping in the work
ers as they come in loaded with honey
or pollen. Toads, like boys, will eat
an extremely hard or unpalatable ap-
pie when they are hungry, but we
never quarrel with Mr.. Toad Oh this
account, and if we do not desire him
to catch the flies That swarm around
the entrance to the hive and poster the
bees in their cndeavors to get into the
hive, we remove him to the garden,
where he can do Il great deal more
good. If you were to place Il toad on
the window sill in 4 rO IN where house
flies were plentiful, and at the same
time 4 small piece Of hread covered
with sweetened water in close proxim-
ity to attract the flies, you would be
surprised at how swiftly the flies would
disappear. One writer asserts that,
in trying this experiment, in ten min
utes eighty-six house flies hal been
converted into one toad. They are
also Of value in riddiny panlries OF ants
and other insects that are difficult to
get rid Of If the average small boy
would study the habits of the toad and
his usefulness more, there would he
less of them destroyed, but premium
would be offered to place them in the
garden.
Tie frog is said to be the toad's first
cousin, but he does not venture out on
land in quest of prey as does the toad,
but he feeds on ins cts nearly. in the
same manner as does tue toad. The
toad spends his earl y days in the sha!-
low water of ponds, hut later on in life
emlgrates to dry land where the feed
is more plentiful and the climate more
healthful.