RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 03-05.1880. A few days ago 2 larger pots were filled with earth with some gravel [Earthworm research notes] CUL-DAR65.47-48. 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-DAR65 contains materials for Earthworms.


47

March 19 1880

(1)

A few days ago 2 larger pots were filled with earth with some gravel atop, & with porous net tied over, & then left out of door, so as to be cold at nigh through radiation. — Once with 3 or 4 worms from under threes of Pinus austriaca & nigricans. & the other with same no of worms from Potato field far from any sp. of Pinus Leaves of other fir & of P. sylvestris over surface —

Fir-Pot March 19th 1 leaves of Scotch-fir drawn in by base

21st 3 long & 3 short all by base

24h 6 long leaves by base

Ap. 2d 1 long by base

[total] 10

(Used)

Potato-field Pot on March 20th 1 scotch fir drawn in by base

21st 2 long & 2 short all by base

24 3 long leaves by base

25th 1 long by base

6+10=16

47v

Pots out of doors covered with net

Ap. 13 7 long leaves all drawn by vase into same burrow — Potato field

Ap 16 6 long leaves all drawn in by base in Potato field

3 drawn in by Pine-tree Pot

Ap 17 3 drawn in by base Potato Pot

20 5 drawn in by base Pine-tree pot

24th 1 do do Potato Pot

26 9 do do Pine-tree Pot

34 total

Ap. 28 more all by base

Ap. 30 13

56 Total to be ass to my total

Ap. 30 In all 4 Pots I cut off tips of leaves for about 1 inch of apices.

May 1st 24 drawn in by base, none by ant. tips.

2d 15 do do do

6 8 do do do

7 3 do do do

9th 4 do do do

11th 2

12 1

[total] 57

48

March 23 I scattered many long leaves of Pinus austriaca & nigricans near mouths of burrow, having pulled out [stuffing], in place far from where Pine-tree have ever grown.

March 24 — Lawn behind House. 1 drawn in by base

do under Beech tree 11 -do-

Dr. under Horse-chesnut 4 -do-

End of K. Garden under wall 13 do do

[total] 29 by base (Used)

Here one other with coloured needles drawn in very short distance by tip.

March 25th Behind House under Trees 4 Ivy leaves by Base

Sand walk 4 do

K. Garden 1

[total] 5 + 29 = 34 (& 6 in pots) = 40)

April 24th 8 pine-leaves with nothing done to them drawn in by base; only drawn in very little way by apex. (I must add the 2 exceptional coming to total & then say with 2 exceptional as the 2 needle coloured.)

Ap 25th 3 pine leaves drawn in by base

26 1 do do do

27 6 do do do

28th 10 do do

29 21 do do

May 4 1 2

Total 50 + old former numbers intesl + the 2 opposite red line

48v

Leaves of Pinus austriaca & nigricans with extreme tips cemented to paths by shell-lac

April 29 scattered under Beech trees — ground watered


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Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

File last updated 28 July, 2025