Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1916-04-21
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/ will acknowledge At the out
vet that I met my friend. the
toad, by accident. That is, he
came into my rock garden OF
prospecting tour, NO donbt. and
while resting OH a log in shady
hook, introduced himself by a
peculiar sound. It was just at
dusk. so seating myself on rus.
tic bridge | made up my mind
would study his movements. \
One couldn't brag of his beau
ty, unless the squareness of his
figure should be considered. He
was big fellow and when he
lu nbered off the log he landed
on his head. Surely, thought |.
he hasn't much in the way OIL
brains. Picking himself togeth-
err, he cautiously moved toward
the carnation bed.
For a period of five minutes or
more he remained motionless.
Suddenly, out shot his tongue
with ightning-like rapidly and
4 juicy cutworm bid goodbye to
friends and earthly scenes.
Fine boy" / said, under my
breath.
l had tried in every manner
o ossible to rid this bed of cut
worms. Almost as fast as ]
Itransplanted the carnations from
the propagating boxes they now
led them down. It vas now my
pleasure to see four of these
worms pass into the world be-
lyond. before darkness covered the
TOAD movements.
| Next evening / looked long and
lizard before / discovered him
tsquatting under the cucumber
leaves. Two years in succession
1.-THE bugs had ruined my vines.
my love for this edible was the
only thing that encouraged ne
to try it again this year. 1t
Twas, therefore, some satisfaction
when / noticed the old fellow
lpicking off the pests.
| Coming over a meadow bog a
flew evenings later, l found
another good sized toad which
conveyed to my garden.
In order to encourage the toads
to remain, / built a cement basin
wo feet wide by three in length.
lat the sides l set out a few
lshade-giving plants. In the CEN
ter few rocks were arranged.
This, when filled with water,
jmade a very attractive spot for
the toads.
| Before many days there were
at least a dozen toads in the bog
Where they came from no one
could say.
/ My garden, which has been
loverrun with insects for two
wears, now became healthy. 1t
was a JOY to see leaves for once
free of the usual insect perfora-
tions. Slug and bug extermina.
tors were no longer brought into
service. The toads attended to
THAT part of the work.
/ One evening a neighber acct.
identity killed one will, his lawn
mower. Here's cur chance"
Suggested, to prove how great a
|serviee the toad renders"
] 1t had a ravenous appetite
that much | knew, but of its real
worth l was in doubt.
| We soon had the contents OF
1.-THE stomach spread out on a
board. Such an array of pests
seldom seen.
| There were cutworms, beetles,
lcockroaches. sow-bugs, cabbage
worms, moths and cucumber
beetles. A snail, and slug an
finch and a half long. All told
we counted forty-six noxious in
Isects, besides flies and a few
lsmall bugs.
| That settled the question as to
whether the toad was a friend TO
mankind. Henceforth, he de-
Served our protection and would
receive it.
| Taking with another man a
Ishort time later, he stated that
he had counted under the micro.
|scope, in his laboratory, twelve
lcutworms, six caterpillars. four
sow-bugs, nine cabbage worms.
with few mosquitoes, in the
stomach of a toad.