114 ANTS AND ANT LIFE. 



crop in a circle around, and two or three feet from the 

 centre of the mound, the insect tends and cultivates it 

 with constant care, cutting away all other grasses and weeds 

 that may spring up amongst it and all around outside of 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 micro- 

 scope very closely resemble ordinary 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 consider- 

 able elevation, on which is an extensive bed of rock. la 

 the sand-beds overlying portions of this rock are fine castles 

 of the Agricultural Ants, evidently very ancient. My 

 observations on their manners and customs have been 

 limited to the last twelve years, during which time the 

 enclosure surrounding the orchard has prevented the 

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

 outside of the enclosure 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 first 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 ' Agricultural 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 of the fact, that the particular 

 species of grain-bearing grass mentioned above is inten- 

 tionally planted. In farmer-like manner the ground upon, 

 which it stands is carfully divested of all other grasses and 

 weeds during the time it is growing. When it is ripe the 





