AGRICULTURAL A

From the New-England Farmer.

 THE TOAD.
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This animal, Sc odious in it's general appearance, is nevertheless most faith fuI and devoted servant tolhe gardener. have had occasion to remark, while opening and preparing the earth tor seed, the activity of the toad in appro- priaiing to it's own use the great variety of insects which lmest our grounds From observations which l have made, I have been led to the conclusion that 1t can distinguish its object at consider able distance, upon which 1t fixes its piercing eye and towards which it rap idly advances; and when near enough for its purpose, assumes stooping pos. lure, which it preserves for moment, then, with the quiekness of thought. ii darts out it's long fiery tongue, transtix. ing its prey, which fl immediately con vey to it's eapacious mouth. Espying some of those worms used in angling, | occasionally threw them to one of these animals near by, whose length compel led il to use it's feet for the better dispo- sing of the worm, inorder that ii might De more easily swallowed.

 On another occasion, observed upon the side of an out-building one of the largest species oi red ants, six or eight inches from the ground, which was no- ticed likewise by my friend, the toad, who generally casts its eyes downwards in search of sustenance, but when self interest requires, caniook up, and Jump too, which it actually did with complete guccess.

 have never discovered, neither beer able to learn, that they are injurious to vegetables, although they frequently burrow into and disfigure our beds. l presume to say, that one-half of the la- Dor of the gardener employed in the destruction of bugs and worms, might be saved, if numher of toads were placed in the vicinity of our vines, with a shelter near, under which they could secrete themselves, from which tue, would issue forth at the approach of evening, when our enemies are oaf committing their depredations, and de- your them at their leisure.

 PIONEER.