Search Results - The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

Jan 20 1881 Worms from flower pots in study — 2 cases in which anterior pair of glands were large while the posterior [pairs] were invisible. [CUL-DAR63.54

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

as the 1st or 2nd. This wall is covered only by few inches grass mould. The worms are working in yellow clay soil with lumps of oolite in it. Found 3 big ones a few inches deeper than worm 2 but not under wall. Worms seem torpid Worm 3 small 2 feet below level [CUL-DAR64.2.59-62_004

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

Chedworth D in place. Worms at work on grass between stones the hypocaust The hypocaust was hollow from what the woman says Judging from pieces of detached tessarae with the concrete; worms could not get through it. [CUL-DAR64.2.54-57_003

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

Furrowed fields As worms abound as on Lawn Chalk in their layer of mould — it may be that after furrow partially filled up worms there bring up more fine Earth this consequently gets washed away renewed more than that on the convex parts, this wd keep the land long-furrowed — and much old ploughed land many holes have been completely smoothed.— [CUL-DAR63.86

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

Feb 4th 1881 Worms have been crawling about after heavy rain — Feb 5 many worms have crawled about. By specifying the above 7 March I do not wish to [illeg] that I do not crawl about at other times, but no observations were made. [CUL-DAR65.125v

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

Jan 18 1880 Fine rain at first afterwards for worms there cd be more furrows at a a c than elsewhere though more worms consequently Earth brought often to surface contributed (N. B. von Hensen calculation of weight of excrement quantity sections which passes through worms stomach annually all this well triturated) so now from lawn that some particles flow down surface [illeg] ? which wd be called level. Though the slope of basal part of mound wd not be so much loosened as might at first be

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

Worms Aug 21 1877 1) Abinger-Roman Ruins one worm at depth of 23 1/4 inches — another larger worm at a depth of 34 inches, the hole (for the worm has cut through evidently went deeper — In another place in same undisturbed earth many holes lined with fine black earth (so that some humus is certainly carried far down) at the depth of 43 inches with holes going further down here was a fine live worm disinterred. It is certain that fine earth must be brought up by the action of worms, of which

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

p. 28 (a) text — lead on I have been assured by a volunteer that he has often seen many large earth-worms crawling quickly about the grass, a few minutes after his company had fired a volley with blank cartridges. The Peewit (Trigon Vanellus Linn.) seems to know instinctively that worms will emerge if the [line excised] [92b] hear from Mr. Moorhouse) that a young peewit kept in confinement need to stand on one leg beat the turf with the other until the worms crawled out of their burrows, where

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

[Table of observations 4-27 March 1881] Triangles slowest drawn in by worms in Pots Divided into 3 equal parts Narrow Triangles Broad triangles [CUL-DAR65.52-53_003

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

With E. Ray Lankester's sincere regards: Worms in Kerguelen Land [Edwin Ray Lankester (1847-1929). Zoologist and evolutionary biologist, sent his paper on Terrestrial Annelida, CUL-DAR64.2.108_002-006] [CUL-DAR64.2.108_008

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

Dec 13/80 Leith Hill Lower Terrace, on which Lucy observed worms — certainly less favourable for worms judging by number of castings shown at upper Terraces lawns adjoining fields. Terrace found long ago, at least a century — On digging hole, the black vegetable mould, with turf, was exactly 4 inches in thickness, resting on a level surface, formed of small large fragments of sandstone with a little earth, firmly rammed down. [CUL-DAR65.38_001

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

Light times by concentrating light with Bull's-eye on [anterior] extremity of worms they dashed in, but failed once. This is Pot 2. with smaller worms — In Pot 1 with larger worms feeding the bulls-eye seemed to produce no effect. Aug 9th tried several times with the Lens acted over failed for some time, but young worm was eating. Is it necessary that light shd strike worms in some particular direction or must the rings be stretched out thus made translucent? 10th Again last night the worms

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

that worms live almost exclusively in surface — In certain considerable spaces of the valley the castings the mould whitish chiefly formed of C. of Lime. — What can make the worms percolate the chalk in these spaces alone? I buried leaves in Garden 6 weeks ago lately looked at then, all rotted worms abounded; Frank finds bits of bark straw in gizzard so that I believe they certainly select decaying veg. matter swallow so much Earth at least in large part, as means of burrowing. This shown by

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

Down 1872 [7 August] Worms After longish interval, when there were no castings in open places, now Aug 7th worms have begun to work again on open lawn. — Aug 10-20 I observe on open field plenty of fresh castings at Leith Hill. — The height of which Lucy made her square is about 700 ft, on open common land, but not near the Tower. Keep for Habit. [At the start of 1872, Darwin wrote to his niece Lucy Caroline Wedgwood (1846-1919) asking her to have a try with straight blunt knitting needle to

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

The Zoologist, vol. 7. 1849. p. 2576 W. K. Bridgman who watched worms in his garden says the cases of Phlox verna appeared to be a particular favourite of worms — that they selected an old decayed leaf — draw small fragments quite into burrow — also draw a flower of Jasmine, [also taken along] crawled over a fresh leaf which had been placed in its course drew fallen corolla of a Jasmine into burrow. He examined their action by the aid of a light as did C. Newman Lucy [Wedgwood] [Earthworms, p

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

March 7/72 Worms After showing that castings washed down — give evidence from Teg Down Valley [Winchester] with wood-cut — thickness in bottom wd have been much greater had it not been for flow during storms — 2d percolation with Chalk [3d] dissolution of chalk (for mould casting consist largest of carbonate of lime carbon) The dissolution explains thickness of mould on chiller downs These go on the old Ridge Furrows Also old Ruins. Percolation of mould explains worms descending low down — W

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

N.B. As castings I have counted only the earth or mud casts which bear the marks of having been through the worms body. There are often little piles of large grains of sand or small stones round the mouths of the holes. These I have not counted but they are I think less numerous than the castings It is obvious from the great disproportion of castings to holes—that the worms come to the surface for some purpose other than that of merely getting rid of their castings. [CUL-DAR64.2.50-51_003

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

Oct 3d 80 ordinarily worms do not leave altogether holes (except sick ones) but there have been some walk of dry weather yesterday there were torrents of rain, early this morning the walks wherever part allowed of tracks being left, were covered almost everywhere by tracks; so that 5 tracks crossed space of about one inch square — no dead worms about — They sometimes spread stock new places — (I must comment what I have said at Abinger that the now migration to a space where the whole of the

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

Oct 20th 1880 Gizzard of Worms I found to day embedded in castings in sand Pot I 2 of the Black glass — beads (with inside packed with sand) a fragment of blue glass — This proves that worms both hard objects — incredible, considering proved powers of taste, that they mistook them for food. These beads show no signs of abrasion. (N.B. In Ch IV I have discussed pretty fully about the sucking of stones) I have only just alluded to stones in gizzard in Ch I. [CUL-DAR65.9_001

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

Oct 25/80/ It is all nonsense about worms often coming up out of burrows when land disturbed, though they occasionally rarely do so — I know by trial by digging — The number of worms in K. G is surprising — I see that in land where have been dug only a few months ago — no castings, but infinitely many open burrows — with all of the higher anywhere one wd think for breathing — not protected by stones or leaves — but surface was naked so perhaps cd collect nothing Habits [CUL-DAR65.10

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

Jan 8th 1881 — Mem ash-trees in Field surface partly thickly strewn with old petioles; I picked up 47 petioles, where they lay with thick mud a casting; of the 47, 14 had been gnawed at the broad basal end (or a little above the articulation, as is often the case with those drawn into burrows). Thus sufficient to show that worms after drawing in petioles into burrows; reject them as not fitted for protective purpose as cannot easily for draw far down holes, for many of the 47 had partly fallen

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

without least reason — remained much longer uneven. Now nearly equally covered perhaps about 2 1/2 inches. — so worms have been worked rather quicker, I can plainly see by castings, owing perhaps to better drainage, are more numerous. [CUL-DAR64.1.3

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

Worms Oct 23d / 72/ 3) Knole — There is artificial bank, behind Rifle largest in Park, the sides of which slope at angle of about 45° or 50°. One side (N) covered with thick, long coarse grass, but worms bring their castings to surface. There others on opposite side had flowered much down; other older ones were crumbling rolling down. There can be no doubt that a steep turf around trenches wd in the course of several centuries become gully [illeg] slope [illeg] by action of worms. Oct. 24th

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

of soil on ledge — close to side of wall — Went down 2' 6 from soil on ledge found no worms — except 1 or 2 near surface. About 5 in of black mould with few stones in it on top of old undisturbed [CUL-DAR64.2.59-62_005

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

Hensen p. 364 doubt from chemical reasons about worms getting food out of Humus — minute egg microscopical organism — Utricularia in earth [Victor Hensen. 1877. Die Thätigkeit des Regenwürms (Lumbricus terrestris L.) für die Fruchtbarkeit des Erdbodens. Zeitschrift für wissenschaftliche Zoologie, vol. 28: 354-364.] [CUL-DAR65.123

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

May 1 1880 Geolog. Journal Sorby on Bearing on Worms [Henry Clifton Sorby is cited in Earthworms, pp. 257-258: Anniversary Address: 'The Quarterly Journal of the Geological Soc.' May 1880, p. 59. ] Disintegration p 47 48 59 — the most important 65. [CUL-DAR65.3-6,6v_001

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

8) Light out of burrow — 9° 20' P.m other worm gone in Pot a large worm with head out of burrow. 9° 40' 10° P.m all worms in burrows for last fortnight. I have looked many times at pots never saw such a case. — At 10° Lamp removed, but at 10° 50' still all in burrow; yet they came out later in night in both eat up starch dragged 1 leaf to hole. (It is the lowest grade of vision, if it can e so called, which have been observed.) July 23 8° 23' P.m — 3 worms out in the 2 Pots put lamp without

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

Oct 20th 4) Worms (7) Gizzard no stones (8) (8) Two small stones, a bit of cinder a bit of tile or brick in gizzard. No stones in the pharynx — Watch glass ii Edges of brick not at all or very little mould — cinder equally doubtful. [CUL-DAR63.49

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

July 27th [1880] Vision on 2 or 3 occasions out of very numerous trials, when I suddenly illuminated worms with candle they started back, as if they saw light; I am almost positive there was at the last jar they were covered by glass-plates — inexplicable case) [CUL-DAR64.1.24_001

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

July 29 night of Meat In Pot. 2 for many hours 1 worm had almost buried in cut end of raw meat many (20) the substance between outer surfaces seem certainly hollowed out or corroded. The other worms were also all every attacking a bit of fat with any thickness of meat — In Pot I Big worm occasionally with head to raw meat. July 30th all 4 worms at raw meat fat — almost certainly the big worm pulled at raw meat at fat with wonderful force, having drawn large pieces into the hollow retracted

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

These immense white marks covered whole surface of 2 leaves formerly placed on sand, but now worms apparently have found out that the leaves are too stiff to attack whilst fresh, for they visit them much less. [CUL-DAR64.1.26-27_003

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

Aug 27 Ivy leaf (worms) Fig 1 — HK 4 This is a sketch done quickly giving the general appearance, not an absolute copy Fig 2 [sketch] rough sketch done from memory to show kind of appearance [CUL-DAR64.1.28-33_001

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

Sep. 12th. Baveno For the first two hours of our way down here from Macugnaga I looked out for worms but saw none. The fields grass about Zermatt and Macugnaga so far as I have seen, have not that peculiar hummocky appearance, which is seen at home in fields which are habitually grazed by sheep. [CUL-DAR64.1.14

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

Sept 8th [1880] Young Ivy leaf which was 1/2 rotten from having been kept in water now has parenchyma gnawed away on one side — Too hard for worms until rotted Sept 19th I am now certain that they prefer greatly fresh wild cherry-leaves to those fresh of Corylus Lime. (Used) [CUL-DAR65.11_002

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

Sept 25 I think origin of Habit of [2 words illeg] with their digestive fluid was that they oftener drag dried decayed leaves than fresh ones, it wd be absolutely necessary that this shd be softened in order to be gnawed if they were partly digested by the softening process, it wd be a clear advantage to the worms.) [CUL-DAR64.1.47

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

told by doubling the leaves on themselves. When other was any difference the basal end a little narrower than the apical end therefore better fitted for being dragged into the holes. [in margin:] except with coniferæ — It would appear that the worms (3) judge chiefly, but not exclusively by the absence of the footstalk seize the leaves by the apex or near the apex, as aided I have seen the worms doing in confinement say they could not have been guided by shape of leaf, but by presence of base

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

not corroded also some five leaves dragged far down; but not lining holes neatly. Nov. 23d — 3 worms examined — 3 minute with gizzards almost empty atoms of tiles in the gizzards of 2 other empty. — 2 other worms had many grains of sand some small stones in them, but very little vegetable matter or even in one 3 stones of tiles a concretion, which certainly seem worn. These tiles all tiles red — particles do not appear more worn than the standard bits of tiles which had been washed then dried

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

Oct 25 80 Pot IV Habits Leaf-mould red fine sand mixed well pressed down with bits of red verandah tiles on surface — 3 largish worms 1 youngish put in at 4˚P.m., in 35' all but tail of one disappeared. Nov 7th removed leaves — Worms from further end of K. Garden Nov. 25th — a good many fir-leaves drawn far down holes by base — very many bits of tiles carried down — many of holes partially lined with bits of decayed leaves — I can see endless pellets of castings on walls of burrows — no doubt

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

Archiv. Zoolog. Exper 1878. p. 395 digestive fluid of earth worms digestive starch. Quoted [L. Frédéricq, La digestion des matières albuminöides chez quelques invertébrés. Archives de zoologie expérimentale et générale, 1878.] [CUL-DAR64.1.87

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

patches, no or any castings can be seen, but when the track becomes very gently inclined or level casting abound — the whole surface being in parts covered with them. I suppose that sometime fine earth has been washed down on the same level parts then formed a bed in which worms can live. Among some grass heath, on the sides of the tracks in the parts when worms abound some castings could be found for a distance of a few feet, but beyond this it was rare on careful search to find a single casting. It

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

29 1/2 oz ejected on square yard in 40 years I assume the worms work for 1/2 year [calculations] Great Valley Calcareous castings [calculations] Amount ejected on square yard during 6 months (3) Multiply (3) by 4840 sq yards in acre reduce to tons Pounds 40593.08 pounds per acre = 18.12 tons = 18 tons 27 pounds [CUL-DAR64.2.6_001

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

the worms their intestinal canal, as Morren remarks (p. 16) in impleta tenuissimâ terrâ veluti in pulverem redacta ; that which is voided is so well mixed with some secretion that it is rendered viscid when dried gets into hard little mosses. [C. F. Morren, De Lumbrici terrestris, 1829.] [CUL-DAR65.127

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

were much easier when seized by one of basal angles or by narrow base between these angles. It is an almost invariable rule when worms have dragged trash in by base, they are dragged in for very short distance comparable to what occur with the apex. [CUL-DAR65.56-57_001

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

Worms in confinement triangles of Paper in same burrow 2 by apex 2 by near middle {1 by base} {1 by middle} by apex base by apex base (5 cases) Those 10 out of 63 drawn in same manner In 5 of the drawn 2 thought had been drawn in [CUL-DAR65.60-63_001

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

Oct 15/ 80 Worms (not on Heaths) On Keston Common in the triangle between the Hayes Keston-Mark roads, north of the path that runs across from Holwood wicket is a high bit of land covered with heath the ground amongst the heath being quite covered with lichen; I walked carefully over this place also pulled up the heath looked among the roots, saw no trace of worms. The Holwood path divides the lower part of this bit of common into two regions, the S being chiefly gorse fern with grass having

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

Dec 29 71 Had a Trench dug in field near House in middle which has probably been laid down as pasture a century — Here fine earth without stones varied much in thickness with atoms of bricks or tiles red pebbles at bottom in same trench, measured from surface in parts only 6 1/2 in or part 8 1/2; so not thicker than in other field — 7 miles wd be faintest average — If worms threw up in one spot then in another near by, Many lurking process wd begin. Though I found a worm hole live worms at

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

Jan 14/72 When I speak of carbonic acid in soil refer to the quasi-pebbles embedded for 29 years; for according to my experience angular fragments wd not have been nearly so much dissolved, if exposed to air for the period. Mem: no frost in Tropics yet plenty of vegetable mould. Besides worms, moles, Geotropes, the dung-beetles which bring up so much fine Earth from beneath much acid in leeway slopes. The extreme thickness of mould on the Down near Stonehenge is obstacle to belief if much

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

Feb 3d/72/ What can worms live on as they frequent earth under paving stones or Tiles — where very little vegetation (or near as in Roman's case can live between joints, I think I must have erred in regard to Lawn a day or 2 ago is saying that worm live almost eating within 5 inches of surface, for I find in my own field in Red clay worm at some feet depth after long period. Does the casting get mixed with black earth, so not commonly appear red? What can worms feed on in my red clay? Organic

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

Aug 21/77 Abinger [annotated sketch] We must remember that earth brought up by worms with L washed away by heavy rain, as well as rest of upper surface of ploughed Field. It is certain that tiles summit of wall must have been covered by 5 or 6 inches of earth before land ploughed some will have been added afterward by worms some by washing down; it is impossible to judge of proportion — Before cultivation probably poor vegetation, I presume a sort of equilibrium is struck before humus brought

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CUL-DAR63-65 Note: 1870--1882 [Notes on worms for Earthworms, including (1) castings; (2) furrows & ploughed land; (3) experiments at different locales etc.] Text Image

above an inch square I saw worm holes though [illeg] of the tessellated [illeg] one was cut through in its hole. So that earth cd certainly be brought up from below In one place 11 inches over the tile in another place 16 inches. The layer of tiles not quite seen. Aug 23d I have found at least 6 or 8 points in the concrete surface, where worms have tried to come up, but were prevented making their castings by the boards on surface. I have gone counted found 25 holes !!! several of [them] small