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(a)

Notes — Worms

1880 Jun 18 on shaded walk Sand-walk — a spiraling of leaves irregularly drawn into burrow - [partially] gnawed some leaves of ash gnawed quite green — leaves blown off by gales — very little castings at mouth of the burrows as if worms knew what they intended to do — but no other castings on walk. — very few castings on lawn.

July 15 I see a few castings on lawn.

16th In sand walk found green Elm leaf crushed in hole — upper part out of hole (very damp weather) quite green — part crushed in hole, so dark brown, as to be almost black, with veins reddish — must be due to some secretion — traces of same action in another leaf of a different plant. — at now washed leaves & put under bell glass over water with vessel damp — air very damp to see about decay.

Rotting (Back)

1v

The 2 Lime leaves have been left in water since 5˚ P.m.

July 16th to see about rotting

Aug. 3d 8˚ a.m I think the 2 lime leaves are more rotted when they had been moistened by worms; but I can perceive no other difference in them in damp air.

Aug 29th — I can perceive no difference in the rotting of the Lime leaves; nor in the Oak leaves — If there is any difference it must be quite insignificant —

Sept 9th no difference, threw away.

(My pots covered with glass-Plates, so air beneath damp, before N.E window, so not bright light & for several days covered with black paper & yet came to surface only at night — Inherited habit, but surprising that they shd have retained habit during many days.

To avoid enemies — copulation.

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(B

July 17th examined 2 Lime leaves still green which had been partly drawn into holes in orchard, & this part dark brown. Lines of separation very distinct. Nearer 2 inch object glass, as transparent object, the change of colour depends, in commencing, in the veins (or fibrous where tissue) becoming a dull dark reddish orange. In same parts the cells with chlorophyll, united of appearing as a uniform green sheet or moss are permeated by numerous points of light, due either to contraction of parts protoplasm, or the same cells being emptied. Soon the green colour became paler or duller & ultimately disappear in parts rendered very brown. The surface is, also, covered with little dark brown specks — The action apparently commences in the change of colour in the veins. [See Earthworms, p. 20.]

Then frayed the leaves so as to see cells in interior & veins & all above said is supported.

Get F. [Frank] to make section & see result. —

Apparently the fluid which acts travels along fibro-vascular bundles