RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1872. [Earthworm research notes]. CUL-DAR63.111. Edited by John van Wyhe (The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Prepared and edited by John van Wyhe 7.2025. RN1
NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volumes CUL-DAR63, CUL-DAR64 and CUL-DAR65 contain a diverse array of materials for Darwin's research on earthworms. All of the textual items in these folders, including this one, have been transcribed in a single file: CUL-DAR63-65.
111
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 being washed down; as it can originate very slowly by dissolution of Chalk. — Perhaps wd have been thicker, if not carried down by worms, at a little quick note owing the fineness of turfs average less than 3 1/2 inch
111v
Judging from Lawn it is only larger castings which leave larger residue, covered with grass.
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 7 July, 2025