AGRICULTURAL ANTS. 391 



with constant care, cutting away all other grasses and weeds that 

 may spring up among it, and all around outside the farm-circle to 

 the extent of one or two feet more. The cultivated grass grows 

 luxuriantly, and produces a heavy crop of small, white, flinty 

 seeds, which, under the microscope, very closely resemble ordina- 

 ry rice. When ripe it is carefully harvested, and carried by the 

 workers, chaff and all, into the granary cells, where it is divested 

 of the chaff and packed away. The chaff is taken out and thrown 

 beyond the limits of the paved area. 



"During protracted wet weather, it sometimes happens that the 

 provision-stores become damp, and are liable to sprout and spoil. 

 In this case, on the first fine day, the ants bring out the damp and 

 damaged grain, and expose it to the sun till it is dry, when they 

 carry it back and pack away all the sound seeds, leaving those 

 that had sprouted to waste. 



" In a peach orchard not far from my house is a considerable 

 elevation, on which is an extensive bed of rock. In the sand- 

 beds overlying portions of this rock are fine cities of the Agricul- 

 tural Ants, evidently very ancient My observations on their 

 manners and customs have been limited to the last twelve years, 

 during which time the inclosure surrounding the orchard has pre- 

 vented the approach of cattle to the ant-farms. The cities which 

 are outside the inclosure, as well as those protected in it, are at 

 the proper season invariably planted with the ant-rice. The crop 

 may accordingly always be seen springing up within the circle 

 about the 1st of November every year. Of late years, however, 

 since the number of farms and cattle has greatly increased, and 

 the latter are eating off the grass much closer than formerly, thus 

 preventing the ripening of the seeds, I notice that the Agricultur- 

 al Ant is placing its cities along the turn-rows in the fields, walks 

 in gardens, inside about the gates, etc., where they can cultivate 

 their farms without molestation from the cattle. 



" There can be no doubt that the particular species of grain- 

 bearing grass mentioned above is intentionally planted. In farm- 

 er-like manner, the ground upon which it stands is carefully di- 

 vested of all other grasses and weeds during the time it is grow- 

 ing. When it is ripe the grain is taken care of, the dry stubble 

 cut away and carried off, the paved area being left unencumbered 

 until the ensuing autumn, when the same ' ant - rice' reappears 

 within the same circle, and receives the same agricultural atten- 

 tion as was bestowed upon the previous crop; and so on, year 



