Milford News | 1928-08-17 | Page 2 | Humble Toad Classed as Friend of Farmer

Humble Toad Classed as Friend of Farmer The lowly toad Is of great value to the farmer, according to the Department Depart-ment of Agriculture. The eating habits of toads give them an important impor-tant place in nature, says a statement by Remington Kellogg, of the bureau of biological survey. Although they are indiscriminate In their appetites, the obnoxious Insects eaten by the toads more than compensate for the harm done by preying on those that are beneficial. Toads are great gourmands, and In the course, of a season eat untold numbers num-bers of insects, many of which are highly destructive to plant life. Large numbers of crop pests are destroyed by1 the toads. Meal time with toads often begins before sunset and continues con-tinues throughout the greater part of the night ; hence the food contains a mixture of diurnal and nocturnal organisms. In their night warfare on Insects the toads take the place of the ground-fed Insectivorous birds afier these have ceased their activities activ-ities for the day.