, 1935-08-11


Il thought the dredge had come to
Brownsville the other night" he
said. 1T sounded like a steam boat
whistle. deep and long. Wonder
what it'll be like when they all be-
gin TO hum"
One frog whose hum Is loud
enough TO resemble a dredge
whistle. one whose legs will make a
good portion when cooked and
served. whose weight averages be-
tween one and three pounds, and
whose length, with outstretched
legs, measures from is to Is inches
that Is the Nufond Giant, the
breed the three boys have purchased
for the beginning Of their frog farm.
Twelve Of these giant frogs. six
males and an equal number Of
females, were purchased by the
trio and shipped here from Louis
lana. The monstrous amphibians
came In an ordinary light crate
with the two sexes In different
compartments, bedded down In
moist straw and grass, with the top
covering Of the box so arranged as
To hold q block OF ice. The boys
explained that the chill Of the ice
kept the frogs dormant. and nre-
vented them from becoming exS.ed
and tnjuring themselves In the mar
row confines Of the box.
The arrival Of the dozen frogs
several weeks ago was an incident
Of moment for the three farmers"
who up till this time had had only
the drugery Of preparing the pool
for the newcomers. Plans for and
work on the enterprise were started
sometime in May. The three boys,
ranging In age from 16 to "a years,
dug the shallow pool, incloSed 1t and
a small space around IL with a
board fence three or four feet high
fitted with a barbed-w wire guard of
a couple more feet, and planted the
whole thing with grasses. weeds,
lilies and water plants Of all de-
scriptions.
In addition to the large pool, they
have dug a smaller one, IL or is
feet long, and only six or so wide.
with the greater part Of it shallow
and n end very deep. This will
be the Matching pool. The eggs
uaid at the rate Of several thou
sand a day during the spawning
season. and with a promised eighty
per cent Matching proportion are
removed from the larger pool soon
after they r laid. and remain In
the Matching pool during the tad
pole period and until they become
young frogs. At this time they are
moved again. and placed in q pool
covering ar acre Of ground until
they become OF marketable size.
Life has not been, however. sole
ly the hard labor Of digging the
pools or securing the countryside
for the various plants and shrubs
specified for the pool, nor Of beg
ging a water lily o. a plant from
a neighbours lily pond or garden
The three have been making an in
tensive study Of frog culture, and
can astonish the questioner with
facts and figures on frog culture
i'm the world at large, the feeding
and every day care Of frogs, and
| the nature and temperament OF
this most temperamental Of crit
tiers.
Frogs will not eat when they
are being observed, and since the
chances r ten to one that q
sickly frog is a hungry one, it Ii
rather important that they not b
observed. These giant toadfrog:
don't welcome strangers. They be-
come used to the persons who are
| around and about them at regular
intervals, but become excited anc
frightened when confronted with Q
strange individual. They demand
and get, a wide variety Of food, anc
think nothing Of eating their owr
young in the tadpole or young froe
STAGE II other food Is not forth
coming. A shortage In variety re-
| suits In q sick frog, and forced
/ feeding methods, with the amphi'
/ bian being held while tempted with
q choice morsel Of crawfish. are re-
/ sorted to.
So far, the three boys have had
/ one casualty. n OF the ma
apparently injured on the trip here
/ died several days. after her arrival
| The other eleven are hale and hearty
\ and the boys are eagerly awaiting
the time. six months hence with
/ excellent luck, and q year with
average good fortune. when fros
legs will be a delicacy often seer
on Brownsville and Valley dinner
\ tables.
I'VE Just have to make good. not
only to get back our original in
vestment, but to show these fellows
| that have been laughing at u.s.
That Is the sentiment Of the three
expressed by one. II O maximum
OF perseverance, o. good deal Of
hard physical labor. ard not q lit
tie spunk have any hand In the
| success of frog farming, those fel-
lows viii be showni