77

Dec 12 1880

Leith Hill -

Worms now extremely active. On common where Heath, gorse, coarse grass & moss grow, on stony-sandy soil — castings very rare — Where carts, or horse or foot-path less common — surface covered with very fine turf — This may be observed on common in all parts of England — hence I suppose the traffic injuring the taller growing plants & the manner dragged by the the travelling animals.

On the grass-covered trench, where inclined where trees are here & there stony or sandy 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 wd appear as if the more fertile part, had been so stocked with worms that some were compelled to live in the adjoining parts covered with the original coarse vegetation