The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-05
FROGS PAY OFF
FARM MORTGAGE
California Girl Finds Croaking
Crop One Of Profit and Of
Pleasure, Too. ~ u

Berkeley, CAL, Jan. 5.-The frogs Of
Contra Costa county are for several
months in winter quarters-that is to
say, are deep in Contra Cssta's mud.
-Four miles north of Berkeley is Califor-
MAS greatest summer resort for the
bullfrog and the infantile tadpole. This
is on the farm of Miss Edith Siege. Here
the croaking amphibian is entertained
in manner worthy of a beast that
brings from $3.50 to So a dozen.
Three ponds have been constructed. In
the rear of the grounds, the largest be-
ing 200 feet long. Each oblong Of wa
ter is the center of a bit Of landscape
that at this time Of year is tinctured
with all the green's and browns and Sc
cret shadows that autumn brings to
earth. Lilies, oleanders and weeping
willows, tapestried with vine and moss,
and ponderous with gloom, surround the
temples of this frogland and filter the
sunlight that falls upon it.
Here in the twilight of springtime the
frog bulges his cheeks and grunts his
throaty melody across the pond An
other takes up the chant, and then an
other, until the precinct sounds as if
the earth 9 axis were out Of gear and
pleasure he takes in eating and singing,
the frogs serious occupation is to be
caught and eaten. This duty he shirks
as long as possible. He will squat, seem
lngly absent-minded with springtime
fancies and blinking at the moon, but at
the suspicion OF a football looks not be.
fore he leaps. but drops into the water
and goes down like q lost hope.
Frogs Avert Financial Calamity.
Thousands Of these croakers assemble
IN Miss Stege's ponds every year. They
have more than paid for their board
and lodging. When Miss Siege fell heir
to the place there was a mortgage on
the farm; the frogs helped pay It off.
Multltudes of the soft-fanked batra.
chians gave their lives and legs in the
from the profits of which the farm,
with it's cows and chickens and lone
green parrot, was saved to the owners
Last season was not run to great
profit at the froggery. The ponds had
been overstocked; too many had been
left to breed. The frogs eggs were
ate the little frogs, thereby becoming
too stout for food purposes. and the
small ones becoming too scarce to bt
troubled.
- The The, size 4, of the frogs 2 at Siege lth{
landowner) is a topic which IS seldom
mentioned without preliminary avowals
of truth and ability to prove the same
However, without taking space for suci
purposes, it may be said that the larger
specimens of bullfrogs at Siege are al
most as big as large dove, and are
wholesaled at So a dozen. What they
appear rated on the bill of fare is ;
matter of conscience with the printer
} A frog has been known to swallow /
wages Of gluttony, albeit, with his life
Gives Her Crop Personal Attention.
Miss Edith Siege, groprietress of tn
has given it the favor of her daily cul
tivation. The ranch is not a mere but
! ter ana egg, place. It is the owner
nance. It is beautiful, deep freed an,
romantic.
There are no storks at: Siege; tn
frogs have no other king than the pro
; prietress,. who received them and thei
domain from her. foster-father:: Whe7
population Miss Siege gives them tn
J care Of a scientist. At the time that tn
/ amphibian loses his gills and when hi
heart s two compartments became
, three-chambered organ, as with reptiles
he is subject to many dangers Of hi
, constitution. ut is then,' said tn
wn they Hh tn are abss tS p wh
MIA, so L put mustard plasters on thei
, chests until this crisis of their lives i
! past and they are we'll developed. fro1
froggies and entitled .tobe eaten. A
soon as the alternating season receive
the touch of warm weather one earl
frog bubbles his way to the surface Q
, the pond and sings shrill ditty t
| his old college chum on the opposit
l bank. Others arrive, and the puddle
are not long in becoming populous. III
frogs are dull-skinned then, but 500
l become corpulent and bright. In
: month the new generation is likely t
: be at an age of majority. He is the
, caught =. as he croaks by his nativ
: waters, is sent to the restaurant, wher
he croaks again, then Is prepared for hi
destination, and croaks no more.