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NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



For the New E?iffland Farmer. 

 INSECTS AND TOADS. 



Mr. Editor: We suppose it to be a fact, well 

 established by the experience of the horticulturists 

 of England, that the higher and more extended the 

 state of cultivation, the greater will be the number 

 of insects and Avceds, -with ■which we shall have to 

 contend. And it will probably be found, as we con- 

 tinue to increase, in number and variety, our trees, 

 shrubs, and plants, brought, as they are, from distant 

 parts of the globe, that we have also introduced with 

 them new weeds and new insects. 



And, if we add to those brought from abroad our 

 own native species, which leave our fields and woods, 

 to foUow the trees, shrubs, and plants, brought from 

 thence, and transplanted in our extensive gardens, 

 it must at once be seen, that the cultivator has an 

 increasing host of weeds and insects, disputing with 

 him, day by day, his right to the productions of the 

 soil, and even the right of occupancy of the soil 

 itself. The necessity of this constant warfare upon 

 weeds and insects compels us to look around for aid 

 and assistance. And where shall we find it ? I 

 think we may find some aid by the protecting of our 

 birds, particularly our insectivorous ones, and by 

 never permitting a lubberlj' boy to enter our grounds, 

 to shoot them or disturb their nests. In regard to 

 the keejiing of hens in a garden, to destroy insects, 

 we would not recommend it, as we have, after many 

 trials, with the single exception of the Bantam breed, 

 found them to be very troublesome. I think much 

 aid may be found by giving protection to, and in- 

 creasing the number of, such reptiles as are known to 

 be harmless, and feed upon insects. And, in this 

 connection, permit me to mention, and introduce to 

 your notice, regard, and kind care, such innocent 

 creatures as green snakes, striped snakes, and our 

 common toad, which spend their best days and 

 nights in ridding our fields and gardens of our 

 greatest pests, and harming no one. But, O ! the 

 cruel prejudice against them, by those ignorant per- 

 sons who suppose that all snakes have fangs to bite 

 them, and because the toad, in their opinion, is ugly 

 in its appearance, it must consequently be venomous ; 

 forgetting that its eyes are proverbially beautiful, 

 having a brilliant, reddish, gold-colored iris sur- 

 rounding the dark pupil. Hence Shakspeare, in 

 Romeo and Juliet, remarks, — 



" Some say the lark and loathed toad change eyes." 



We know of a skilful cultivator of the soil, in the 

 old county of Essex, who thinks it worth his while, 

 in view of the large number of insects destroyed by 

 toads, to pay boys half a cent apiece, for all they 

 will put into his garden. It is astonishing what a 

 number of insects toads in a garden Avill destroy, 

 and how excessively fat and corpulent they will be- 

 come from this excess of food. Their love of those 

 great pests, rose-bugs, is very great. 



We have of late been in the habit of shaking our 

 plum-trees, to dislodge these insects, just at night, 

 for the benefit of the toads, as well as of the trees, 

 when they would at once gather around to seek their 

 favorite food. We have generally found them, early 

 in the morning, under the trees infested with rose- 

 bugs, watching and Availing for the fall of their prey, 

 when, by giving the trees a good shake, they were 

 plentifully supplied. When thus shaken from the 

 trees early in the morning, or late in the afternoon, 

 they never take wing, but remain upon the ground, 

 to be devoured by these reptiles. Now, Mr. Editor, 

 you and I have lived long enough in this world to 

 know that the value of any thing depends very 

 much upon its permanency, not even excepting the 

 services rendered by toads. And now, having learned 

 their value to us as cultivators of the soil, how can 

 we best secure them for our permanent benefit ? 



Owing to habits and instincts peculiar to the race, 

 the same toad, that is so useful to me this summer 

 in my garden, may, another season, be located afar 

 off in a wet meadow, or low marsh, where his services 

 are not so much needed. So the question resolves 

 itself into this — When we get a toad that is steady 

 and useful in our garden, how can we keep him 

 there ? To answer this question, I suppose we must 

 first learn his habits and mode of life. These rep- i 

 tiles, in common with many others, upon the ap- ■ 

 proach of cold weather in autumn, usually seek 

 winter quarters in the muddy bottoms of ponds, 

 unless they can find, to their liking, protection from 

 the cold and frost of winter, near at hand. This 

 they frequently do by crawling into and burrowing 

 in some old hotbed, or loose, dry soil under the 

 roots of trees. We have noticed, that they are fond 

 of hibernating in old rotten hemlock tan, sometimes 

 used in gardens to form walks. Late in the autumn 

 of 1847, in removing a tree, whose roots ran into one 

 of those tan walks, we disturbed, in a partially torpid 

 state, large numbers of toads, which were counted by 

 my man and carefully put back again, and found to 

 number seventy-nine. They appeared to extend 

 through the entire walk of several rods in length. 

 This circumstance has led me to believe, that we 

 might not only fill our gardens with this — may I not 

 say useful ? (certainly so to the gardener) — reptile, but 

 retain him for years. Toads, in the summer season, 

 should be afforded protection in our gardens, by 

 placing boards for them on the ground, raised an 

 inch from the surface, under which to hide, and 

 screen themselves from the sun. 



S. J. FOWLER. 

 Danters, New Mills, July 14, 1849. 



Editorial Remarks. — The value of toads has 

 not generally been duly considered by cultivators. 

 They feed on insects, are very voracious, and re- 

 markably adroit in catching their prey. They eat 

 no fruit, and destroy no vegetables. Being thus 

 harmless, and admirably adapted to the destruction 

 of insects, they should be classed among the most 

 useful of animals. • 



The great increase of insects, particularly on old 

 lands, and the immense destruction of crops by their 

 depredations, require every possible exertion by the 

 farmer to lessen their number ; and more attention 

 must be given to this subject, or some tender plants 

 and fruits must be abandoned as unprofitable. 



For the New Englmid Farmer. 

 INSECTS ON POTATOES. 



Mr. Editor : I venture a brief contribution to 

 your pages, which may add some information, per- 

 haps, as to facts which I have observed in the growth 

 of potatoes, and which probably have not attracted 

 much attention. The healthful growth of the stalks 

 and leaves of this vegetable must be necessary to the 

 healthful setting and growth of its tubers, according 

 to a common law of vegetation. Consequently what- 

 ever impedes the growth of the fonner, renders 

 them diseased, or prevents their arriving at maturity, 

 must be injurious to the latter. If large, spreading, 

 vigorous tops form full blows, followed by the 

 growth of potato balls, and the stalks and leaves 

 continue their growth unimpeded sufficiently long 

 to attain full expansion and maturity, then sound, 

 healthy, full-grown tubers will be the result. 



I have therefore diligently watched for every 

 symptom of decay and disease in the potato vine. 

 This plant is the favorite food of various insects. 

 First comes the small black flea, in multitudes, and 



