RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [1870-1871]. Rather fresh castings I see they are generally perched on grass [Earthworm research notes] CUL-DAR63.8-9. 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.
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Nov 28 [1870] Rather fresh castings, I see they are generally perched on grass & do not touch the ground until accumulated in large quantities, impalbably fine. Hence cd hardly fail to be liquefied by rain. Today I again tried mixing chalk & gum water with castings, taking care that they were not thus rendered more liquid, leaving them still perched a little above the earth. I then cleared with scissors every blade of grass &c, but
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not touching the earth itself & watered as before. I distinctly saw chalk 4 or 5 in. below the casting & the water running between the grass a foot below was slightly pale muddy. The slopes on the lawn were 6°, 2°30, & 3°
[insertion:] Nov. 29th when dry I could trace the fine chalk 5 & 6 inches, mould below & of the castings
No doubt the rose caused a shower with drops closer than almost any rain, but drops not so large as in thunder-storm, & not striking the surface with nearly same force as rain.
Slope of Road — inches of Railway
Sand
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 28 July, 2025