| Show ANTS THAT GROW MUSHROOM insects insect make excellent gardeners 16 south america prof J T R ainsworth davis davia gives latest proofs ot of the anta right to our applause sas the philadelphia record he in tropical america the traveler la in their native region oft en sees thousands of ants marching in a column of route each holding in its powerful laws jews a piece ot of green lest leaf about the size ot of a 21 sixpence Dence these they take to their bests the material Is used its as an elaborate sort son of 0 mushroom culture requiring much mom skill and intelligence than that I 1 Is which human belies engage the mushroom grower sets spawn in the beds he ha prepares but the ant does not need ta do this the desired spawn toon don makes its appearance in th chewed leaf but in its natural state r i it Is Inedible and must undergo careful treatment trent ment before it yields the mushroom which the act desires tho the nece DB cestary seary work la is flona done by a special caste casle ot of gardener auts ants these weed out the obnoxious germs etc end and pruning off the tips ot of the threads preventing them from growing tato into the air and producing useless toad tools stools As a result ot of this the threads swoll idoll lato into innumerable liale rounded roun deil white thicken thickenings ings each of 0 which IS about one fiftieth ot of an inch across it I 1 a heie which are the mushrooms mus broome these curious bodies constitute th tola food of the ant or at any rate rat the chief food |
