81

Knole Oct 22. 1872 Worms

After several wet days & much rain last night, almost all the recent castings have subsided; & those on the steep slopes even where covered with coarse grass, have manifestly flowed a little downwards. This was manifest from the shape of the smooth, flattened, conical heap, & was proved in some cases in which I found the orifice. These castings had a larger diameter down the slope than transversely. Mem. dry pellet during dry seasons, wind, insects, birds &c. There must be some carrying down, the sole question is, whether enough to produce any desirable effect.—

82

Worms

Oct 23d / 72/

3)

Knole — There is artificial bank, behind Rifle largest in Park, the sides of which slope at angle of about 45º or 50º. 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 — Observed innumerable subsided castings, to effect of rain before the 22d, & there exhibited no trace of the external vermiform structure. This last was very conspicuous, as the worms had found through bored & had made first castings on the summit — when a casting has subsided in that more like so much water, no evidence is requisite that when on a slope. even a gentle slope, there must be no flowing down. — nevertheless give evidence.—