;}08 LESSONS IN AGRlfTI.Tri;K 



ness, so-called, becomes transformed into real beauty, 

 when we see its great service in the economy of nature. 

 The fact that the toad sometimes gets into wells, re- 

 flects on the thriftless methods of the man who leaves 

 his wells open, rather than upon the thirst of the 

 poor toad, which falls in, in its search for the water that 

 the man should provide for it. In these days of increas- 

 ing insect pests, it behooves us to encourage and protect 

 all of the natural enemies of our plant destroyers, and 

 a few toads in a garden will go far toward controlling 

 the cut worms, caterpillars, and the leaf-eating beetles. 



A plea for the toad. The toad is an animal full of 

 vital interest from its egg stage, through the tad-pole de- 

 velopment, to the adult, and the horror and disgust witli 

 which this harmless beneficial friend is viewed by many 

 boys and girls should be changed to intelligent sympathy 

 and active appreciation in its behalf. 

 Practical Exercises 

 1. Watching the Toad Eat 



The day before this lesson is to be given, the teacher, 

 with the pupils' assistance, should have a box about a 

 cubic foot in size, screened off on two 1 opposite sides 

 with common door-screening, and a little hinged door of 

 some sort made, through which the toads and insects 

 may be put into the box. 



Place two toads in the box on the evening before the 

 lesson, and they will be hungry enough to "show off" 

 well for the class. Announce the plan beforehand, and 

 ask the pupils to bring in flies, bugs, butterflies, cater- 

 pillars, worms, beetles, etc. 



