,libraries47       ,,the ,,ranidae      
,,how ,,to ,,breed1 ,,feed ,,and ,,raise
  ,,the ,,edible ,,frog    ,,published  
,,by ,,the ,,meadow ,,brook ,,farm      
,,allendale1 ,n4 ,j4     ,,the ,,edible 
,,frog4  ,illustration3 ,,rana          
,,esculenta4     ,,how ,,to ,,breed1    
,,feed ,,and ,,raise ,,the ,,edible     
,,frog4   ,a ,book of ,great ,value to  
,beginners1 ,covering ,every ,detail    
,thoroughly4   ,,what ,,to ,,do ,,and   
,,how ,,to ,,do ,,it4   ,,price #a4jj4  
,,published ,,and ,,edited ,,by ,,the   
,,meadow ,,brook ,,farm1 ,,allendale1   
,,new ,,jersey4  7,copyright #aije1 ,f4 
,e4 ,bierbrier7     ,,contents          
,information for ,beginners1            
,page #c  ,those ,desirous of ,light    
,work1                      #g  ,for the
 ,country ,home1                        
#g  ,as a ,business1                    
#h  ,when to ,begin1                    
#h  ,how ,much to ,invest1              
#i  ,the ,ponds and ,how to ,construct  
,them1              #aj  ,care of       

,ponds1                                 
#ab  ,great ,profit in ,swamp ,lands1   
#ac  ,the ,edible ,frog1 7,rana         
,esculenta71              #ae  ,nests   
and ,nest ,building1                    
#bj  ,enemies of ,spawn1 ,tadpoles and  
,small ,frogs1       #ba  ,hatching and 
,progress of the ,young ,frog1          
#bb  ,food for ,tadpoles1               
#bc  ,food for ,frogs1                  
#be  ,catching the ,frogs1              
#bf  ,some ,things about ,frogs         
,repeated1                 #bg          
,,list ,,of ,,illustrations   ,the      
,edible ,frog1                          
,page  #a  ,watching and ,waiting1      
#h  ,the ,female ,frog1                 
#ae  ,the ,male ,frog1                  
#ai  ,hatching and ,progress of ,the    
,young ,frog1          #bb  ,action of  
,frog's ,tongue in ,catching a ,fly1    
#be  ,skeleton of a ,frog1              
#bg  ,patience ,rewarded1               
#bi     ,,preface4  ,think of it6 ,one  
,dollar a ,pound4   ,the ,editor of this

 book was brought face to face with the 
true possibilities in ,frog raising by  
his love for this delicate meat and his 
inability to get it4 ,as ,i had visited 
all the principal markets in ,new ,york 
,city1 a market where it is known the   
world over that if there is anything in 
the eatable line to be found it can be  
found there4 ,this was not so of frog   
meat4 ,after making several attempts and
 failing1 finally one day ,i found about
 twenty pounds1 which had been shipped  
from a distant point1 and when ,i       
inquired the price8 ,one dollar a pound1
 it set me to thinking1 as it will you1 
now that ,i have brought the subject to 
your notice4 ,at prices like this and   
the demand far in excess of the supply1 
as ,i had inquired of the market man if 
he had many calls for frog meat1 and his
 reply was1 ,more than we can get to    
supply4 ,now what more inducement does  
anyone want8 ,this information should   
make you ambitious to go into the       
business of ,frog ,raising4 ,you hear on

 all sides of you to-day that there is  
no opportunity to go in business and    
make money1 as all the branches of      
industry are overproduced4 ,here surely 
is one line of business that is not     
overproduced4 ,and a business that is   
not necessary to large capital to start1
 and one that bids fair to bring him who
 ventures good profitable results4      
,,frog ,,raising4     ,information for  
,beginners4   ,we are constantly in     
receipt of inquiries from parties who   
want information regarding the raising  
of ,frogs4 ,so we have compiled the     
following pages to answer more fully    
such inquiries than we can by letter4   
,if you do not find the information you 
want contained herein1 let us hear from 
you1 and we will take pleasure in       
advising you to the best of our         
knowledge4  ,the author of this book    
conceived the idea that there was a     
large amount of money to be made in     
,raising ,frogs4  ,the object in        
publishing this book is to get persons  

who are so situated that they can make a
 business of raising ,frogs interested  
so as to supply the growing demand that 
is year by year increasing1 and with a  
price ranging from seventy-five cents to
 one dollar and fifty cents a pound4    
,this should be an incentive to anyone  
to start in the business1 when the work 
of ,raising ,frogs is so simple1 and    
with such large returns to repay one for
 their efforts4  ,the principal thing is
 to study the nature of the ,frog in    
habit and breeding4 ,what knowledge we  
have in the breeding and raising is     
given herein1 and with the experience   
gained from observation in ,raising     
,frogs it soon becomes an interesting   
and profitable business4 ,frog ,raising 
will bring in more profit for the same  
amount of time and money invested than  
any other industry that we know of4     
,every farmer1 or farmer's boy1 should  
have a ,frog pond and ,raise ,frogs4    
,it is one of the lines of business that
 we have heard about1 ,that makes money 

for you while you sleep4  ,many farmers 
already have ,frog ponds1 and at a      
greater profit than any other investment
 they have on their farm of a like      
amount4 ,poultry keepers should have a  
small ,frog pond1 especially if they    
market their product in some city near  
their ,plant and have individual        
customers1 and sell their product       
direct4 ,they would always have a steady
 market for more ,frog meat than they   
could supply1 and at large profitable   
prices1 as it's a luxury that most      
people indulge in and would do so more  
often if they knew where to get ,frog   
meat4  ,try yourself to buy ,frog meat1 
and you will soon find that it's not to 
be had at any price in most places1 and 
when it once becomes known that you are 
,raising ,frogs you will soon find that 
your demand for ,frog meat is much      
greater than you can supply4 ,it works  
in very well with poultry raising if you
 can construct your ponds at not too    
great an expense1 and is much more      

profitable considering the investment   
and work4     ,those ,desirous of ,light
 ,work4   ,many who are unable to do    
heavy work will find ,frog ,raising a   
very desirable occupation4 ,being in the
 open air it tends to health1 which is  
beneficial to those who are sickly and  
to whom it becomes necessary to take up 
one of the lighter occupations4 ,the    
work is light and with care and study   
can be made a source of a substantial   
income1 and carried on intelligently    
,frog ,raising is as certain a business 
and as profitable if not more than many 
undertakings1 and you will always find a
 ready market for all the ,frogs you can
 raise4 ,any one of the large ,hotels or
 ,restaurants in ,new ,york ,city will  
use more ,frog meat in a year than one  
,frog ,raiser can supply1 and you can   
get a standing order for shipments of a 
certain number of pounds each week4     
,make inquiries along this line and you 
will soon be convinced of the           
opportunity this business offers4       

,for the ,country ,home4   ,if you are  
living in the city the greater part of  
the year1 and so fortunate as to have a 
country home1 you by all means should   
put in a pond and ,raise ,frogs1 as they
 will be a delicacy for yourself and    
also your friends when they come from   
the city to see you4 ,and they will be  
one of the natural products of the      
country1 which one comes from the city  
to the country to enjoy1 and to many    
they will be an interesting and novel   
sight4 ,and in winter1 when you are     
away1 they will be dormant and need no  
care4     ,as a ,business4   ,if you are
 going into ,frog ,raising as a         
business1 we recommend that you make a  
small beginning1 for nothing is more    
discouraging1 after having gone into a  
business exclusively1 than to have      
reverses in the start and lose a large  
portion of your investment for want of a
 little practical experience4 ,many     
persons have met failure by starting on 
a large scale at first1 and without     

practical experience1 where had they    
started small might to-day be a grand   
success4 ,this caution applies in all   
business ventures1 and it's the mistake 
that is made and cause of most failures4
     ,when to ,begin4   ,we recommend   
the active work to begin in the early   
spring4 ,get your ponds ready as soon as
 possible4 ,get your stock and place it 
early1 so it becomes familiar with its  
new quarters before the breeding season 
sets in4  ,illustration3 ,,watching     
,,and ,,waiting     ,how ,much to       
,invest4   ,this1 of course1 depends    
largely on the circumstances4 ,if you   
have abundant means and delight in some 
hobby and want to make a fancy          
proposition out of it1 why you can make 
your ponds as expensive and picturesque 
as you wish4 ,but for those who wish to 
make a business for the benefit of the  
income to be derived1 should start with 
a small pond and about six pairs of     
,frogs4 ,then gradually increase your   
breeding pond as your stock and ability 

to handle it demands4 ,don't start with 
,frogs under four years of age4 ,they   
will be the cheapest in the end4        
,the ,ponds and ,how to ,construct      
,them4   ,if you have a running stream  
of water on your place1 the work of     
building the ponds is much easier than  
where you have to depend on filling them
 from pumped water4  ,it is necessary to
 have several ponds1 one large pond is  
not satisfactory4 ,the reason for this  
is explained later4 ,a plant for        
business should have at least four      
ponds4 ,the depth of the ponds need not 
be very great1 three feet is ample1 and 
they could be less if you can have a    
good loam bottom that will hold water4  
,but three feet is very satisfactory1   
and this graduating off to two feet1 and
 one foot deep at the bank is plenty4 ,a
 good shape and cheap way to build the  
ponds is like the cut shown4 ,if the    
ground you have won't allow of this     
arrangement why make to best arrangement
 your ground will permit for            

convenience1 carrying out the plan      
advisable for ,raising ,frogs4 ,you must
 have a breeding pond1 a hatching pond1 
a raising and a stock pond1 four ponds  
in all4 ,the stock pond should be the   
largest1 permitting of plenty of room   
for growing and opportunity to get food4
 ,the size of your ponds depends largely
 on the amount of land available1 its   
topography and the water supply4 ,ponds 
not less than one-half acre in area1    
with the inlet at one end and the outlet
 at the other1 in a line of its longest 
axis1 generally produce the best        
results1 though smaller ponds can be    
successfully used4  ,at least one-fourth
 of each of the ponds should not be over
 one foot in depth1 and this portion    
should be planted with pond weed        
7,potamogeton7 and water weed 7,elodea1 
or ,anacharis7 to facilitate the        
production and growth of the minute     
animals which furnish so large a part of
 the food for the ,frogs at all stages  
of growth4 ,the rest of the pond should 

have a gradually sloping bottom1 and    
consequent increase depth to the outlet 
7or drawoff71 where the water should be 
at least five feet deep1 so that in     
drawing off the ponds the stock can be  
assembled in a small area for sorting1  
etc4 ,the bottom of the ponds1          
preferable1 soft muck1 in which the     
,frogs can bury themselves in cold      
weather and avoid against danger of     
freezing4 ,in the middle of all the     
ponds1 except the spawn hatching pond1  
water lilies should be planted1 the     
large pods1 such as 7,nymphea alba74    
,these plants furnish hiding places from
 fish hawks1 also serve as a sun shade  
and stool for sunning during summer4 ,it
 is not advisable to place large        
bowlders in the pond1 as they are in the
 way of seining or netting1 and furnish 
an acceptable resort for crawfish1 which
 are enemies when large4 ,nursery ponds 
should be constructed to afford young   
protection from enemies and to produce  
the greatest quantity of insect life    

suited for their sustenance1 and this is
 better accomplished with a number of   
small ponds than with one large one4 ,a 
good working size for spawn breeding is 
from #dj to #ej feet long1 by #ab to #ae
 feet wide1 with a depth of from #ah to 
#cf inches deep to the outlet4 ,where   
the topography of the ground will permit
 it is better to have the nurseries     
immediately adjoining the spawning pond4
 ,with water supply from same source1 so
 that there will be but slight          
difference between the temperature of   
the shallowest part of nursery pond and 
surface of water of spawning pond4 ,if  
the location is infested with crawfish  
or snakes the nurseries should be       
protected by wire screens4 ,the spawning
 nursery ponds may be combined by       
constructing one comparatively long     
pond1 narrow near the middle1 so that   
the general shape would be like an      
hour-glass4 ,across the narrow part is  
to be stretched a screen of one-quarter 
inch wire cloth1 which will confine the 

spawners to the deeper end of the pond1 
while the fry or hatching spawn will be 
kept separate4 ,this form of pond is    
advantageous where for any reason only a
 few ponds can be built4 ,between all   
ponds that are connected they should be 
screened where water runs from one pond 
to the other1 that is1 at the inlet and 
outlets4  ,each pond should be          
surrounded by one-half inch wire mesh   
two feet high4 ,this makes a protection 
to the ponds from enemies1 and also     
keeps the ,frogs confined to the ponds  
they are intended4     ,care of ,ponds4 
,the accumulated decayed matter ought to
 be occasionally removed4 ,the frequency
 of this depends on character of the    
water supply1 the amount of silt it     
brings into the ponds1 the character of 
the soil1 and on the thoroughness of the
 yearly removal of the surplus          
vegetation4 ,care should be taken that  
the ponds do not become offensive with  
stagnant water and rotten vegetation4   
,this condition is detrimental to large 

production2 while abundant pond         
vegetation is favorable to a large      
production of fry it must not become    
decayed4 ,it is sometimes so luxuriant  
that it settles down in a blanket-like  
mass and smothers and pens in many of   
the young ,frogs4 ,under such conditions
 it should be removed frequently4 ,this 
can be done by lowering the ponds1 if   
they are built so they can be drawn off1
 which is a very desirable and          
convenient way if the topography of the 
land will permit4 ,a strong flat-bottom 
boat should be made1 in which can be    
taken the surplus matted vegetation and 
carried off4 ,at each end of the boat a 
ring should be fastened1 through which  
stakes can be driven to hold the boat at
 points in the pond to be worked4 ,the  
vegetation is raked from the water in   
small lots4 ,care should be taken not to
 bring up any of the small ,frogs and   
,tadpoles with the vegetation4 ,it      
should be removed from the banks of the 
ponds at once1 as it will rot very fast1

 and its presence is objectionable4  ,if
 a boat is not used the vegetation can  
be drawn near the shore with            
long-handled rakes and taken out with   
long-handled pitchforks made especially4
  ,this method is simple and much more  
economical4 ,two men can accomplish more
 than five men by the other method4 ,the
 advantage in favor of the boat is that 
you do not need to disturb the whole    
mass1 but pick it out here and there as 
you think best1 and have it more uniform
 and not destroy the roots so much4     
,great ,profit in ,swamp ,lands4        
,swamp lands1 on a farm1 converted into 
,froggeries1 bring in large profits4 ,if
 you have a piece of ground which is    
swampy1 which can be found on most any  
farm1 and you do not convert this into  
,raising ,frogs1 you are losing one of  
the most profitable products of your    
farm1 as more money can be made from an 
acre of swamp land in a ,froggery than  
ten acres in wheat1 if properly managed1
 and with little expense4 ,you first    

want to excavate a portion of it where  
you can have water1 #ej x #ae feet1 and 
another part of it #ae x #bj feet1 and  
fence it in1 as explained above with a  
#b-;foot one-half mesh wire4 ,in the    
larger pond place the breeding ,frogs1  
and in the smaller one hatch out the    
spawn1 and when they are developed into 
,frogs turn them loose on the swamp to  
grow until they maintain marketable     
size4 ,if there is a small stream or    
ditch running through the swamp1 which  
very often is the case1 then it is an   
easy task4 ,and here is where the old   
saying can be applied1 ,makes money for 
you while you sleep4 ,and good1 big     
money it makes1 too4 ,don't put off     
turning your swamp into a money-maker4  
,,do ,,it ,,now4     ,the ,edible ,frog 
7,rana ,esculenta47   ,illustration3    
,,the ,,female ,,frog4  ,two species of 
,rana are common in ,america and        
,europe1 viz41 ,rana esculenta and ,rana
 temporaria4 ,the latter alone is       
indigenous to ,great ,britain1 and      

varieties of it extend throughout       
temperate ,europe and ,asia to ,japan1  
and one variety 7pretiosa7 exists in the
 ,united ,states4 ,the edible ,frog     
7,rana esculenta71 however1 has been    
introduced into ,england4 ,an ,indian   
species 7,rana breviceps7 and several   
,south ,african species burrow in the   
ground4  ,,ecology ,,and ,,habits4 ,the 
skin of ,frogs is usually smooth and    
free from warts or horny excrescences4  
,it is invested with a colorless        
epidermis1 which is shed from time to   
time as the creature grows2 this splits 
along the back and thighs1 is worked    
over the head like the taking off of a  
shirt1 and usually eaten by the wearer4 
,the deeper layers contain much pigment1
 in cells which are more or less under  
muscular control1 enabling ,frogs to    
change their hue to conform to the      
background4  ,frogs are carnivorous1 and
 in the season of activity are likely to
 be very voracious4 ,the terrestrial and
 arboreal forms feed mainly on insects1 

worms1 etc4 ,the aquatic kinds also     
catch insects1 but subsist more on      
aquatic animals--worms1 tadpoles1 small 
fishes1 and other ,frogs4 ,these are    
seized and slowly swallowed1 often1     
where before the remainder1 perhaps     
still alive1 has been got within the    
mouth4  ,extremes of cold or drought in 
climate must be avoided by ,frogs4      
,moisture of the skin is necessary to   
their health1 and in very dry places or 
seasons they survive only by going      
deeply under ground4 ,thus some tropical
 species get through the dry season4    
,the frogs of northern climates endure  
the winter by clustering about          
spring-holes and other places where the 
water is comparatively warm and free of 
ice2 or else by hibernating in the mud4 
,terrestrial species bury themselves for
 the winter in the loam1 or burrow into 
the dry dust of rotting logs and stumps4
 ,their vitality is strong1 and their   
power of regeneration from partial      
congelation is very great4  ,though most

 species live always in or near water1  
many spend the greater part of their    
time away from it1 and often in bushes  
or trees4 ,these1 however1 go to the    
water to breed2 and as this function is 
likely to demand attention early in the 
spring1 it is then that these animals   
make themselves most conspicuous by the 
incessantly uttered croaking or rattling
 calls of the males1 which are almost as
 varied as the songs of the birds1 and  
more ventriloquistic4 ,these are wholly 
the cries of the male ,frogs1 and cease 
when the mates have been found and have 
spawned2 and to assist in producing them
 many species have gular air-sacs1 which
 are connected with the vocal organs and
 furnish the power required for the loud
 and insistent utterances4 ,the great   
ear-drums correlated with this vocal    
power are conspicuous in many species4  
,the reproductive habits of ,frogs are  
various4 ,all of our common species lay 
their eggs in water1 the eggs being     
fertilized as they are laid4 ,as the    

eggs are laid they are inclosed in a    
gelatinous envelope secreted by the     
female4 ,this swells and protects the   
eggs from injury1 from being fed upon1  
from the direct rays of the sun1 and in 
some species it serves to float the eggs
 at the surface of the water1 where     
oxygen is most abundant2 finally1 the   
envelope serves as food for the young   
frogs4 ,the mouth of the tadpole is     
small and provided with a horny beak1   
which takes the place of the teeth which
 are not yet developed4 ,the tadpole    
feeds on algae that cover stones1 and on
 the flesh of dead animals4 ,the long1  
spirally coiled intestine1 which can be 
seen on the under side of the animal1 is
 an adaptation to its prevailingly      
herbivorous diet1 which requires a      
prolonged digestion4  ,the tadpole      
usually lives in the water for two or   
three months before it takes to land4   
,in the ,bullfrog1 however1 the         
transformation 7see ,,toad7 does not    
take place until the second summer4  ,in

 many tropical ,frogs the reproductive  
habits are much modified4 ,one species  
7,phyllobates trinitatis7 of ,venezuela 
and ,trinidad carries its tadpoles on   
its back1 to which the young attach     
themselves by means of their suckers4 ,a
 frog of the ,seychelles ,islands lives 
in the tree-ferns far from water1 and   
carries its young about on its back1 to 
which they are attached by their        
bellies4 ,in the ,kameruns lives a ,frog
 that lays its eggs in a foamy mass on  
the leaves of a tree4 ,when the larvae  
are developed the mass becomes slimy and
 the tadpoles swim about it1 and when a 
heavy rain falls they are washed into   
pools of water lying at the bases of the
 trees4 ,the foam is probably produced  
as it is in culinary operations1 by air 
being entangled in it by a beating that 
the ,frog gives the jelly with its feet4
 ,the inclosed air may well serve in    
respiration4 ,compare ,,toad4           
,,utilities4 ,among both civilized and  
savage men ,frogs are a culinary dainty4

 ,the edible ,european ,frog is so much 
prized in ,france that it is bred for   
the market in large preserves4 ,in the  
,united ,states both the ,bullfrog and  
spring ,frog are sold in the markets4   
,in ,france and the ,united ,states the 
hind legs alone are eaten2 they are     
known as saddles to ,american marketmen1
 and are usually served at table fried4 
,in ,germany all the muscular parts are 
served stewed1 often with sauce4 ,frogs 
have enabled man to contribute much to  
his knowledge of physiology4 ,the tail  
of the tadpole1 so frequently fed on by 
dragon-fly larvae and other aquatic     
enemies1 has great capacity of          
regeneration4 ,the study of its         
re-formation has added to our knowledge 
of the regeneration of animal tissue4   
,the circulation of the blood1 so       
readily seen by the aid of the          
microscope in the web of the ,frog's    
foot1 is a classic and painless         
classroom demonstration4 ,observations  
on the response of ,frog-muscle to      

stimuli led the great ,italian          
physiologist ,galvani to the discovery  
of dynamical or current electricity1    
known to us as galvanic or voltaic      
electricity4  ,illustration3 ,,the      
,,male ,,frog4 7,see ,blower47          
,nests and ,nest ,building4   ,whenever 
the spawning period occurs1 ample       
warning will be given1 as the male      
,frogs will begin croaking for their    
mate1 and will be seen near the shore4  
,early in the spring is the breeding    
season1 and the ,frogs will be seen in  
pairs1 working in company1 selecting    
nests1 which are in place where there is
 a vegetation to attach the spawn1 near 
the surface of the water1 as the action 
of the sun has much to do with the      
hatching of the spawn4  ,impregnation   
takes place immediately after the spawn 
is deposited1 as with the spawn of fish4
 ,the spawn of frogs looks like a       
gelatin mass in the shape of a bunch of 
grapes1 and will be found attached to   
some vegetation in the pond4 ,this      

should be immediately taken out with a  
large1 long handle dipper and deposited 
in the hatching pond1 as the spawn will 
be destroyed by the frogs jumping into  
the pond and coming in contact with it1 
for if the spawn is separated or broken 
up and sinks to the bottom of the pond1 
where it cannot get the proper action of
 the sun1 many of the eggs will not     
hatch1 but will be destroyed and eaten4 
,the nursery1 or hatching pond1 should  
be constructed in this way3 ,make some  
skeleton frames that will set on the    
bottom of the pond1 and come within a   
few inches of the top of the water4     
,fasten the frames down1 either by      
weights or stakes driven in the ground4 
,take some fine netting such as used on 
windows to keep out flies2 cotton or    
flax netting preferred to wire4 ,fasten 
this netting to the frame4 ,be sure that
 the netting is always covered with     
water when spawn is on it4 ,on this     
netting1 deposit the eggs or spawn taken
 from the breeding pond4 ,in this way it

 will be undisturbed1 and the sun can do
 its part toward the hatching of the    
eggs4 ,this method will be found        
successful1 and you can watch the       
progress1 and the influence of the sun  
and water on the hatching of the eggs   
and note the change from day to day1 as 
the ,frogs have nothing more to do with 
their development4 ,another reason for  
separating the eggs or spawn from the   
breeding ponds is1 when the spawn is    
hatched into tadpoles1 the ,frogs will  
eat the tadpoles as fast as they wiggle 
out of the egg4 ,in fact1 ,frogs are    
cannibals1 and will eat the young until 
they get large enough to protect        
themselves4  ,this is why ponds should  
be constructed so that ,frogs of        
different sizes can be separated1 and   
all of about a size1 kept in ponds by   
themselves1 and raised together4 ,by    
this arrangement you save many small    
,frogs4     ,enemies of ,spawn1         
,tadpoles and ,small ,frogs4   ,the     
enemies must be guarded against by      

proper fencing with wire netting and    
boards4 ,a board should be sunken into  
the ground at least three inches1 and #b
 foot #b inch mesh wire fastened on it4 
,if a #ab-;inch board is used1 this will
 make a fence about #cd inches high4 ,it
 could be built higher if desired1 but  
this height makes a good appearance4    
,the enemies are rats1 cats1 turtles1   
water centipedes1 water beetles1 coons1 
leeches and snakes4 ,snakes are one of  
the worst enemies1 as they will devour  
the spawn1 of which they are very fond1 
and also the small ,frogs4     ,hatching
 and ,progress of the ,young ,frogs4    
,figure #a represents the embryo as it  
appears several days after the egg is   
deposited4 ,figure #b gives an outline  
of its form2 the arrows at the side of  
the head shows the currents of water1   
which are seen to flow to the branchiae 
by the breathing of the young animal4 ,a
 short period brings it to the form     
represented in ,nos4 #c and #d1 the     
latter representing the head4 ,figure #e

 shows the form of the tadpole when     
first hatched1 which usually takes place
 about four weeks after the depositing  
of the egg4 ,figures #f1 #g and #h shows
 various stages of its development2 the 
latter representing the tadpole1 called 
pollywog sometimes2 this1 for some time1
 now undergoes little change of form1   
but increases in size4 ,at length the   
hinder legs bud1 and are gradually      
developed1 as seen in ,no4 #i2 the fore 
legs are ere long produced in a similar 
manner4  ,,hatchings4 ,the tail begins  
now to diminish1 as seen in ,no4 #aj1   
and is finally absorbed into the body   
and disappears4 ,the tadpole 7which1 for
 a time1 is like a fish and breathing by
 branchiae1 or gills1 and feeding on    
vegetable food of fishes7 is now a frog2
 breathes the air by true lungs1 and    
betakes itself to the land1 where it    
pursues the avocations of its new and   
higher life1 whereas it before swam by  
means of a tail it now leaps1 and as    
before1 it ate only roots and grass1 it 

now becomes a hunter of insects and     
worms4 ,this1 or a very similar process 
of reproduction1 is common to all       
species of the family4 ,the ,rana ,frogs
 form the highest group of the          
,batrachian class4 ,they are active     
creatures1 feeding on insects and worms4
 ,those which live upon the ground in   
the neighborhood of standing water1 and 
pass a considerable portion of their    
lives in the water1 have their toes     
pointed1 and those of the hinder feet   
united1 almost to the tips1 by membrane4
     ,food for ,tadpoles4   ,the spawn  
or egg takes from four to six weeks to  
hatch to the shape of a tadpole1 and the
 tadpole takes about four or five months
 to hatch or change its shape from that 
of a tadpole to a small frog1 which is  
done as stated in previous paragraph4   
,frogs are very prolific4 ,one bunch of 
spawn1 from large1 well developed frogs1
 and of five years of age or over1 will 
produce or hatch over one thousand      
tadpoles4 ,but of course all of these   

will not be raised to become small      
,frogs4 ,but a great proportion of them 
can be if properly cared for and you    
have the proper facilities4  ,the beak  
of the tadpole is adapted to the eating 
of leaves and other vegetable foods1 and
 on which they could entirely subsist4  
,but it is well to give them access to  
small insect food1 much of which they   
can get from surface of water4 ,the food
 changes entirely when the tadpole      
develops into a ,frog4 ,when a frog1 the
 food is entirely insect or live food4  
,it is well1 sometimes1 when you cannot 
get facilities to supply naturally      
plenty of insect food1 to take some of  
the smaller ,frogs and tadpoles and     
place them in the ponds with the growing
 ,frogs1 and allow the ,frogs to live on
 them4 ,they must be fed live food4     
,chopped meats and food of this         
character will do for tadpoles1 but must
 not be used too freely1 as they do not 
eat it readily1 and it only decays and a
 stifling stench follows4 ,if your ponds

 are connected with a running stream1   
much of the insect life for the tadpoles
 and smaller ,frogs is brought into the 
ponds by the stream1 which is very      
desirable1 and saves much extra work4   
,leave the tadpoles in the nursery pond 
until they have developed into ,frogs4  
,the tadpoles are fish in a sense and   
will eat most anything1 either vegetable
 or animal matter4 ,in fact1 he is a    
scavenger1 and will clean out the ponds4
 ,but as soon as he turns into a frog1  
he requires a different class of food1  
as he is an amphibious animal4 ,remember
 this1 as herein1 is one of the secrets 
that have caused so many failures4 ,,the
 ,,food ,,for ,,frogs ,,is ,,animal     
,,food4     ,food for ,frogs4           
,illustration3 ,,action ,,of ,,frog',s  
,,tongue ,,in ,,catching ,a ,,fly4      
,caution1 from this time on1 ,,animal   
,,food ,,only4 ,no chopped meat1 as     
,frogs will not eat it1 and it will     
decay and cause a stench4 ,do not       
attempt to feed it to frogs4 ,this is   

the time that care must be taken to see 
that your ,frogs get plenty of the      
proper kind of animal food4 ,if they are
 not kept supplied1 they will turn to   
and eat each other1 and in this way     
destroy many a pound of good ,frog meat1
 that is worth ,one ,dollar a pound or  
more4 ,as the tadpoles hatch out        
prolifically1 it's wise to keep a       
quantity of these and the ,small ,frogs 
on hand to feed the larger ones that are
 being gotten ready for market4 ,by     
having a number of small ponds1 this    
stock can be kept on hand for this      
purpose4 ,a plant that will grow on top 
of the water furnishes many insects1 as 
well as perching places to basque1 in   
the sun1 and catch a passing            
unsuspecting fly4 ,it also affords a    
shady place to get under on a hot day1  
with head above water looking for food4 
,one of the best and easiest ways to    
furnish live food is to soak a number of
 potato or feed bags with molasses1 and 
fasten them up around the ponds1 just   

above the ground4 ,this draws the flies1
 and they will come within reach of the 
,frogs1 and as you will see by the cut  
at top of this paragraph1 the tongue of 
the ,frog is developed to be of service 
in catching them4 ,small tadpoles from  
other species of frogs1 that are not    
eatable1 make good food for them4 ,these
 can be found in large quantities along 
most any stream1 or in any pool of      
water4 ,wood lice or sow-bugs are good4 
,in planting vegetable matter in the    
ponds be sure and always plant from     
seed1 as in transplanting you may bring 
,leeches into your ponds1 which are very
 destructive to the ,frogs1 and act on  
the ,frogs the same as chicken lice do  
on chicken1 and in time will kill the   
,frog1 and at all times retard its      
growth4 ,if your ,frogs do not thrive   
well look for ,leeches4  ,,important4   
,if it is necessary to feed your ,frogs 
on small fry from fishes or on tadpoles 
and small ,frogs1 it might be well to   
have a supply pond1 which can be small1 

and in feeding it is only necessary to  
feed twice a week1 and can be done by   
putting quantities here and there in the
 ponds1 and let the ,frogs catch them as
 they swim about4 ,three gillies1       
tadpole or small ,frogs is considered a 
fair meal for each ,frog4     ,catching 
the ,frogs4   ,there are several ways by
 which to catch the ,frogs when ready to
 market4 ,if they are to be dressed they
 can be speared2 this is done with a    
handle like is found on an ordinary     
house broom with a fish spear fastened  
in the end4 ,one of the best times to   
spear them is at night with a light as  
they come on the bank at night to catch 
bugs4 ,they can also be caught very     
readily with a hand net1 same as used in
 landing trout4 ,this net can be        
purchased at most any hardware store1 or
 where they keep fishing tackle4 ,if the
 ,frogs are to be marketed alive they   
must be caught in this way4 ,in shipping
 them alive always put wet weeds from   
the pond in bottom of box if they are to

 go any distance1 and put instructions  
on the box for agent to keep the weeds  
wet while in transit4 ,this will insure 
safe delivery of live frogs4     ,some  
,things ,about ,frogs4   ,illustration3 
,,skeleton ,,of ,a ,,frog4  ,we here    
repeat many of the principal items we   
have previously mentioned1 because they 
are the questions which are most        
frequently asked4 ,frogs are very       
prolific4 ,one bunch of eggs will hatch 
more than a thousand tadpoles1 and if   
you had the facilities1 they could be   
hatched and reared to marketable size4  
,a good running stream1 which can be    
coursed through all your ponds1 makes   
,frog ,raising very simple and          
profitable4 ,a living can be made from  
,frog ,raising if you are favorably     
located1 and the main qualities needed  
is patience and good common sense1 to   
which observation should be added4 ,it  
takes ,frogs1 to grow to marketable     
size1 from two to three years4  ,the    
eggs take six weeks to hatch out4 ,the  

tadpole takes from five to six months to
 turn into a ,frog4 ,and the ,frog1 to  
grow to marketable size1 about two      
years4  ,here lies the secret of the    
high price of ,frog meat4 ,the time it  
takes before the ,frog can be developed 
to marketable size discourages many from
 entering into the business4 ,but once  
equipped and the first three years gone 
over1 from that time on the revenue is  
continuous and the profit large1 and you
 have a yearly income equalled by no    
other line of business1 as you have     
always got some ,frogs that are coming  
into marketable size4 ,and the income1  
from this product1 depends entirely on  
how large a scale you want to enter it4 
,another source of revenue1 which is    
very profitable1 is selling breeding    
,frogs to beginners1 as it is only the  
,edible ,frog that is profitable to     
raise for market1 and it takes from four
 to five years to get the best breeders4
 ,they bring good prices4 ,the prices   
range according to the age4 ,frogs will 

breed from two years old1 but the best  
results are obtained from the older     
mates1 as the older and larger the      
,frog1 the heavier and larger the spawn1
 and the more eggs will hatch and       
produce stronger and sturdier tadpoles1 
and from these mates the ,frogs grow    
large more quickly4 ,so in starting1 it 
is always better to pay a little more   
for your breeding stock and not use so  
many pairs1 and get good old settlers1  
as the saying is1 when you hear them    
croak1 ,there is a good old settler4    
,and be sure to start right1 not with   
the common meadow green ,frog1 which is 
eatable1 but has a strong taste and does
 not grow to any size4 ,the average size
 of this ,frog at most any age is about 
three inches1 and you will be greatly   
disappointed after you have spent your  
time and find that you have not had the 
profitable breeder4 ,get the ,frog known
 as the ,edible ,frog of ,england4 ,this
 is the 7,rana ,esculenta74  ,the       
subject of ,frog ,raising is a limited  

one4 ,we have1 however1 tried to give as
 briefly as possible all the essential  
details and secrets to success of       
,raising ,frogs4  ,illustration3        
,,patience ,,rewarded4     ,,special    
,,notice4   ,be sure and get the ,edible
 ,frog when you start1 as they are the  
best for table and bring the highest    
prices1 and grow to marketable size more
 rapidly1 which is a big item4 ,we      
always have breeding stock for sale at  
following prices3      #c year old      
,frogs1 per pair      #d4jj      #d year
 old ,frogs1 per pair       #h4jj       
#e year old ,frogs1 per pair      #aj4jj
  ,place your orders early1 so as to be 
sure and get your breeders in time to   
get the advantage of early breeding4    
,send money by registered letter or     
money order to   ,,meadow ,,brook       
,,farm1 ,allendale1 ,new ,jersey4