RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1872.03.30. Conclusion / The block of earth which when damp [Earthworm research notes]. CUL-DAR64.2.26. 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 volume CUL-DAR64 contains research materials for Earthworms.
26
March 30. 72
Conclusion
The block of earth which when damp was 211.44 cubic inches & which when dry shrank to 180. g do. was broken up into powder & minute particles, & then measured 130 inches ounces = 225. 2851 cubic inches.
Therefore in measuring dry castings, though they would such when [illeg] becoming 10 per cent, but when measuring in glass & [2 words illeg] they are packed much less closely than in the natural mould, which consist of castings spread out slowly by rain; & George has ascertained the rising of the ground thus calculated must be reduced by 1/16 — so that if by measurement in ground rose 1 inch in 10 years, it could really rise 1/16 of an inch less than the % inch.
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 25 July, 2025