266 The Great World's Farm 



sanne to banish them, and the priests were authorized by 

 him to do so. In accordance with the usual custom on 

 these occasions, advocates were appointed for both 

 parties — the grubs and the people. A written summons 

 was issued; the grubs were cited to appear, and some 

 were brought into court ; but they were not fairly treated, 

 as the advocate assigned to them was no longer living, and 

 judgment was given against them in these terms: **We, 

 the archbishop of Lausanne, condemn and excommunicate 

 ye obnoxious worms and grubs, that nothing shall be left 

 of ye except such parts as can be useful to man." 



No steps seem to have been taken, however, to give 

 effect to the sentence, and the grubs obstinately ignored it. 



But if the council could have imported a few hundreds 

 of small birds, they would most likely have been quickly 

 rid of the plague; for these, and these alone, are the 

 natural and most effectual provision for keeping the num- 

 bers of grubs, caterpillars, and the like within their proper 

 limits. 



QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW 



1. Show how different plants have their appropriate 

 enemies. 



2. What advantages have foreign plants? 



3. In what different ways do plants protect themselves? 



4. What peculiarity has the bull's horn acacia? 



5. By what means are ants prevented from injuring various 

 kinds of vegetation? 



6. Describe the habits of the agricultural ant. 



7. What surprising instances can be given of the ravages 

 of insects? 



