First, however, let us have the assertion as originally made by Lincecum, which is, that on the summit of the mound of their nests, from which they carefully clear away all other vegetation, the harvesting ants sow the seed of a certain plant called ant-rice for the purpose of subsequently reaping a harvest of the grain. It is sown in time for the autumnal rains to bring up, and at the beginning of November a green row or ring of ant-rice, about four inches wide, is seen springing up round the circumference of the _disk_ (as the circular top of the mound is, for some reason, always called). In the vicinity of this circular ring the ants do not permit a single spire of any other grass or weed to remain a day, but leave the aristida or ant-rice untouched until it ripens, which occurs in June of the next year. After the maturing and harvesting of the seed, the dry stubble is cut away and removed from the disk, which is thus left unencumbered until the ensuing autumn, when the same species of grass again appears as before, and so on.[74] After stating in a letter to Darwin that he has seen all this taking place year after year, Dr. Lincecum adds:—“There can be no doubt of the fact that the particular species of grain-bearing grass mentioned above is intentionally planted. In farmer-like manner the ground upon which it stands is carefully divested of all other grasses and weeds during the time it is growing. When it is ripe the grain is taken care of, the dry stubble cut away and carried off, the paved area being left unencumbered until the ensuing autumn, when the same ant-rice reappears within the same circle and receives the same agricultural attention as was bestowed upon the previous crop, and so on year after year, as I _know_ to be the case in all situations where the ants’ settlements are protected from graminivorous animals.”[75] Lincecum also believed that the ants were able in some way to prevent the seed stored in their nests from germinating. This same fact has been asserted, and apparently proved, by Moggridge, in regard to the harvesting ant of southern Europe, and he also states that, if in spite of the precaution any seeds begin to sprout, the ants by gnawing off the tips of the radicles would prevent the germination from proceeding.