XI 
THE MOLE QUESTION 
‘As to whether the mole is injurious or not, the 
farmer appears not yet to have made up his mind. 
Mole clubs flourish throughout the country, which 
fact may be taken by some as proof that the 
creature is regarded as an enemy. Is it so? There 
are many farmers who subscribe to the local mole 
club, and occasionally have their grounds cleared, 
yet they say that they do not know that they are 
doing themselves any good, some are even inclined 
to think that it would perhaps be better to leave 
the moles alone. They go on subscribing to clubs 
in the same way that so many of us give our crowns 
or half-quineas year by year for objects we care 
nothing about, and do not know whether they 
are good or bad. All the other farmers in the 
place have paid their subscriptions, and Jones 
gives his so as not to be set down as a mean or 
singular person, and because it would be a bother 
to have any controversy over the subject. The 
others have probably subscribed for the same poor 
reason. 
Occasionally we meet a farmer who is quite 
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