306 LESSONS IN AGRICULTURE 



2. If there were three birds on every acre, how many 

 birds would there be in this state? 



3. If each bird eats 25 insects a day (a very low esti- 

 mate), how many insects would be destroyed in this 

 state during the months of June, July, and August t 



4. If 120,000 insects fill a bushel basket, how many 

 bushels of insects would the birds eat during the summer 

 from the above estimate? 



5. Suppose that one-fourth of the birds in this state, 

 as calculated above, would eat one-fourth of an ounce 

 of seed daily, how many pounds of weed seeds would 

 our birds destroy in three months? 



The forces that work against the increase of bird life 

 are : man ; the climatic elements ; accidents ; cats ; other 

 animals; birds of prey, and snakes. How can we help 

 the birds in their struggle against these enemies ? Each 

 one of us can do something, and every time we save the 

 life of one bird, we have not only done a kindness to the 

 creatures we should love, but we have rendered service 

 to the cause of agriculture. Have you read Longfel- 

 low's poem entitled, "The Birds of Killingworth " ? 



Reference: Farmers' Bulletin, No. 54. 



LESSON LXXXVI 



THE TOAD, THE FARMER'S FRIEND 



The toad and insects. In addition to the birds, 

 about which we studied in the last lesson, the farmer has 

 another valued friend in the common toad. All through 

 the summer the toad is eating the harmful insects from 

 our yards, gardens, truck-patches, and fields. The toad 



