XI 

 THE MOLE QUESTION 



As to whether the mole is injurious or not, the 

 farmer appears not yet to have made up his mind. 

 Mole clubs nourish throughout the country, which 

 fact may be taken by some as proof that the 

 creature is regarded as an enemy. Is it so? There 

 are many farmers who subscribe to the local mole 

 club, and occasionally have their grounds cleared, 

 yet they say that they do not know that they are 

 doing themselves any good, some are even inclined 

 to think that it would perhaps be better to leave 

 the moles alone. They go on subscribing to clubs 

 in the same way that so many of us give our crowns 

 or half-quineas year by year for objects we care 

 nothing about, and do not know whether they 

 are good or bad. All the other farmers in the 

 place have paid their subscriptions, and Jones 

 gives his so as not to be set down as a mean or 

 singular person, and because it would be a bother 

 to have any controversy over the subject. The 

 others have probably subscribed for the same poor 

 reason. 



Occasionally we meet a farmer who is quite 



113 



