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 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 — 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.—