T HE E A RT HW O RM

by

Th o m a s J . 8 0 r re t t

hi d d i t i n f t hi p t i l m n u l
A t r e o o s r ac ca a a

b m i m m di t l y n
ec a ery b u f i t e a e e c ess a ec a se o s

t unding d m n d
as o u nd t h w orl d Bu t e a ar o e .

p rh p
e t hi d m nd i n t
a s t u ndi n g s e a s o so as o

wh n w n id r
e t t m n t by D r t h y
e co s e a s a e e o o

C an fi e l d in t he B o ole o f the M on t h C l u b
N ew s : H a r n e s sm g t "
e a E ar t hw o r m 1s a

r e ad i n b k f ith
'

b d
’

g o o o r an
y o y w sen se

en o u g h t o v ry liv d p n d
k n ow t h at ou r e es e e

o n sa v ing
wh t t p il t h g l b t ill h
a o -
so e o e s as ,

a nd d ing
ll th t i p
o i bl t r t
a a n di s o ss e o c ea e c o

ti no i n wh i h m
s n b m d
c nd m d or e ca e a e, a a e

m r r p i d l y t h n by t h h p h z rd l i u r l y
o e a a e a a a e s e

m th d e f n t ur
o s w hi h t k
o a f m fi e, c a es ro ve

h u n d r d t t h u n d y r t o l y d ow n n
e o a o sa ea s a o e

in h f t p
c o o

“R d D g t in t hrilli n g t ry b
’
ea er 5 1 es ou t a s o a
__
l
D r B . tt x p ri m n t
ar r e nd
s e hi v m nt e e s a ac e e e s

a nd b t t hi b k t h u d
a ou ri b t h w rk
s oo , s e sc es e o

o f th l w l y bu t i t l r t u r
e o E rt h v a c ea e:
"
a

w rmo b y t h ir
s, l b ri n g k p t h e c e a se e ss o , ee e

th r u t f i b l ; t h y t r n f rm v g e
’
ea r s c s r a e e a s o e

t bla nd e nim l w
a t i n t ri h h u m u ;
a a as e o c s

th y h ng th th h m i l int lu ’
e c a e e e ar s c e ca s o so

b l p l n t f d ; t h ir
e a unt l
oo t rilli n f e co ess o s o

t i ny t u n n l n bl in w t r nd i t
e s e a e ra a e a a r o

p en t t t h
e ra e il e so .
”

T hi fi r t s m p r h n iv s lum n t h
co e e s e vo e o e

su bj t i ec fi ll d n t n l y wi t h f i n t i n g
s e o o as c a

r d in g bu t l
ea nd m r p r t i
a so , ll y w i
a t h o e ac ca ,

e x t pr
ac du f rt hw m ul t ur nd
o ce r es or ea or c e a

fo u r f rt h w rm i n g n r l f m i n g
se o ea o s e e a ar

a nd r h di n g P t I di u
o c ar . Th ar sc s ses
"
e

( C on t i n ued on ba c k fl p) a

BRUC E HUM PHRIE S ,

INC .
 HARNE S SING
THE E ARTHWO RM

A p ra ctical i nqui ry i nto soil buildi ng s o il

-
,

co nd itioni ng and pl ant nutritio n through

,

t h e a ctio n o f ea rthworm s with i n st ru ctio n s

,

for i nt ensiv e prop agation and use

o f Dom esticat ed E a rthwo rm s
i n biol og ica l soil buildi ng
-
.

T HO M A S J B
. A R RE TT

B OS TO N
B R U CE H U M P HR I E S I NC ,
.

P U B L I S H E RS
E a r t h m a st e r E a ul tu r e B ed OOpy r i gh t

1 942 by Th oma s J . R os c o e, Ca li forni a )

( t h i r d p r i n t i ng )
 CON T E NT S

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Th e E a rthworm
I nt esti nes of t h e E a rth W hy and
Th e New F ro nti er

Th e E ar th wor m i n S ci e nti fic L i ter a tu r e

So il Build er s o f Fo r e st Lan ds
-
M a ss P r o .

du ctio n o f Topsoil o n Fa rm L and T h e E a rth

worm s o f th e of E a rthworm
Its Tran sloca tio n and M ixi ng
by E a rthwo rms S umm a ry

Can I t B e D one ?

PA RT II
Tm: E AR TH W ORM U N DE R CO N T ROL

A N ew Conc ept

My Grand f ath er s E a rthwo r m ’

F a rm as told
by Dr George S h effi eld O liv er
. .

Ch a r act e r i s tics Dom estica t ed E a rthworms

Ve rsu s Nativ e E a rthwor ms

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
 X . E ar th w or m Cul tu r e

Culture B ed

XI . E ar th m as ter E ar thwor m Cul tur e B ed

t ails and of Co ntr o ll e d

P r o ductio n How t o S e r v 1 ce and U s e th e
E a r t h m a st er H a rv esti ng t h e I ncr eas e
D om e sticat e d E a rthworms

X II a r th wor m Ti l l ag e
“
. E
E rthworms
a : to th e A cr e by W illi ams
H aynes .

X III .

Th e Ch e mic a l Compositio n of
rthworm
‘
E a

Ca sts by H . A L u nt
. a nd H G M J acobs on
. . . .

X IV Th e New F r on ti er
Th e G old M i ne i n th e 1000 Po unds of
Dry V eg et atio n
Concl us i on S u m m ar y
I nd ex
 I L LU S T R ATI O NS

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

E rth w o rm Cultur e in L ugb ox es ; A Dou b l e H andful D om e s

a -

t i cated E a rthwo rms fa ci ng

D et ai l Pl an for Lugbox E a rth w o rm Cultu re Q

B as e S upp ort and Divid er s for L ugbox

Utility Cultur e B ed ( I )
U tility Cu l tu r e B ed ( II )
U tility Cultur e B e d ( II I )
T h e E a r th m a st er Cultur e B ed
E a r th m aster Cultur e B ed P l ans ( I ) ,

E ar th ma ster Culture B ed P l an s ( II ) ,

E a r t h m a st e r Cultur e B ed P l an s ( III ) ,

Chri s toph er G a llu p ; S pri ng to o th H a rro w -

Of ea rthworms : It m ay be d oubt ed wh eth e r
th er e ar e m any oth e r anim als
so import ant a pa rt i n th e history of
a s h a v e th es e lowly org an iz ed cr ea tur e s
.

—CH ARLE S
 Pr o l o gue

“
T HE M I L LSGo d gri nd slow ly ye t th ey gri n d exceedi ng
Of ,

”
s m all s ang th e po et L o ng f ellow A s th e mi n d gl an ce s b ack
, .

through geologi ca l age s we s ee t e mills o G d at work wi nd

h f o ,
— ”

and w a t e r fi r e a nd floo d,
frost and sun cosmic co nvulsi on and , ,

—
s eismic uph ea va l al l u niti ng i n pre p a ratio n o f ea rth s surf a c e ’

for th e comi ng o f li f e W e see form t ak e sh ap e fro m subst an c e

.
,

s ee ord e r em e r g e from ch a os T h e prim o rdi a l mists f a d e an d .

li f e sl owly spr eads o v e r t h e low surf a c es o f t h e ea rth —v eg et a ti on ,

an im a l m an
,
T h e s ea so n s i n ord e rly pr o c e ssi on co m e and g o ;
.

l aw rul es T h e et e rna l cycl e o f natur e h a s b een e st ablish e d

.

from ea rth throu g h li f e b a ck to ea rth

, , .

I n co nt emp l a ti v e mood w e hold a h and ful o f ri c h d a rk

ea rth —humus
, ,

It is without fo rm y et withi n it al l f o rms a r e

.
,

pot enti al It is without st ructur e y et withi n it al l t h e wo nd ers

.
,

of civiliz atio n s l eep It app ea r s d ead y et withi n it al l li f e r e

.
,

sid es Negl i gentl y we toss it to th e g rou n d A m ov em ent

. .

focus es our att entio n W h at is th a t s m all livi ng thi ng we h av e

.
,

s o rud ly disturb ed W hy it is an ea rthw o rm j ust a po o r

e ? — , ,

nak ed b li nd wor m w ithout tooth or cl a w no w ea po n o f o ff en s e

, , ,

or d e f ense no f eet to r un aw ay no mi nd to b e a fra id A nd y et

“
‘

.
, , ,

fo r a mom ent we h av e h eld w ithi n ou r h and o ne o f th e mills

”
of God one of th e m aj o r forces w hich h av e w ro u ght mi ghtily
,

upo n th e f a c e o f th e ea rth th a t li f e m ay ex ist and co nti nu e to

10 H ARNE SS I NG THE E AR TH W O R M
B a ck o f th e g ener aliz ati ons O f s ci enc e a r e th e epic st o ri es O f
m a nki n d Wat e r s eeks its o wn l ev el is a g ene r aliz ati on
.
” “ SO .

wh a t ?”
is th e i nst ant qu es t i on th at spri ng s i nto t h e m o d e rn ,

c urious i nquiri ng pr acti cal mi nd T O answ er this qu esti on i n

, , .

d eta il it woul l d b e necess a ry to writ e th e story o f th e d ev el o p

m ent o f pl ant a nd anim al li f e on this pl anet — th e d ev elopm ent
o f a g ri c ultu r e i rri g a ti on a nd pow e r t h e m achi ne a g e n avi g ati o n
, , , ,

t h e j o i ni ng o f o cea n s by c anals t h e c o nqu est o f th e a i r by a i r

,

pl a nes t h e ann ihil ati on o f S p ace by r a di o th e expl o rati o n i nt o th e

, ,

i nfi n it e r each es o f th e u n iv e rs e by a stro nom ers a n d al l t h e ,

am a zi ng ph eno m ena O f pr es ent d ay civiliz atio n whi ch h av e

-

f oll o w e d b e ca us e o f th e simpl e f a ct t h at w at e r s eeks its o w n

l ev el
.

B e ca us e w at e r ru n s dow n hill th e g r eat ca t ch b a si n s o f t h e -

e a rth —o c ean s
,

l ak es d epressio n s th e substra t a O f th e e a rth i t

, , ,

—
s el f a r e fill e d a nd m ai nt a i n ed a s st o ra ge r es e rv o irs o f this b a si c
e ss enti a l o f li f e
“ .

E a rthw o rms e x c r et e humus is a g enera liz ati on whi ch

”

e pitomiz e s t h e imp o rt a nt fi n di ngs o f s c i en ce i n th e stud y o f th e s e

l o wly o rganiz ed an im als “ S O .wh a t ? c om e s a g a i n th e i n st ant

”
.

pr ac ical qu stio
t e n It i s with t e answ er t o this qu esti
. h o n — a littl e

qu esti on with a big answ er—th a t this i nqu i ry de als B ack o f th e

“
gener aliz atio n ea rthw o rm s excr et e humus is anoth er epi c st o ry ”
.

which would r equir e v olum es a d equ at ely to t ell This i nqui ry .

i s co nc e rn ed with th e pra cti cal S ide o f th e st o ry H a rnessi ng .

t h e E a rthworm i s th e th em e O f this bo ok Th e th em e so ng o f
”

“
-
.

t h e b o o k is E a rthw o rms E xcr et e Humus .

I n t h e li ght o f mod e r n d ev el opm en t and utiliz a ti on o f w a t e r

pow e r it is di ffi cult to r ealiz e th at for ages m an w at ch ed th e
,

quick fl owi ng riv e rs ru nn i ng d ow n to th e s ea with th ei r um

-
,

co ntr oll ed d estructiv e a ctio n b e fo r e h e ev en c on ce iv ed o f th e

,

p o ssibility o f h a rnessi ng w at e r p o w er i n a primitiv e w ay f o r his

o wn u se .

W h en w e i nsp ect a m agn ifi cent o c ean li ne r o r study th e ,

mir a cl e of mod er n comm erc e and wa r on th e s ev en s ea s it t ak es ,

 P RO L O GU E l 1
an a lmost impossibl e flight o f t h e im agi nati on to go b ack to th e
p o m t wh e r e t h e first f a i n t id e a o f pow e r n a vig-
a ti o n w a s b o rn i n

th e dim lit b ra i n o f s om e low br o w e d pr ehist o r i c m a n a s h e i n

- -
,

st i nct i v el y clu ng t o a fl o od b o rn e tr e e an d rod e t o s a f e ty o n s om e

-

l ee sh o r e O th e r ag e s p a ss e d b e fore som e p rimitiv e E dis on

.

p roudly pres ent ed th e first dugout cano e t o hi s a m a z ed w o rld

a mir a cl e o f c r ea ti on whi c h h e h a d p a i n st a ki ng l y h a ck e d a nd

holl ow ed out with a c rud e sto ne i m pl em ent F or still oth er ag es .

p rimitiv e m an push ed and p o l ed and p addl ed his u nwi eldy dug

out ab o ut i n t h e s a f e sh all o ws O f t h e S h o r e w at ers u ntil som e ,

v entur esom e Columbus got cau ght o ff sh o r e i n th e t ee th o f a

-

g a l.e A s h e sto o d up i n t h e pr o w o f his c a n o e— pe rh a ps i n a

—
l a st d esp airi g call upon his gods his b ody b e cam e a m a st and
n

a s a il S p e edi ng him t o s a f ety o n t h e wi n s o f t h e wi n d whil e

, g ,

t h e id ea o f pow e r navi ga ti on t ook h o ld O f his g r o pi ng im agi

-

natio n and a w ak eni ng i nt ellig en c e .

Thu s it was i n th e ca s e o f ag ri cultu re T h e obvious p o s s i .

b i l i ty o f tilli ng th e soil and g rowi ng his f o o d did not o c c ur t o

th e mi n d of m an u ntil v e ry l a t e i n t h e hi s tory o f t h e r a c e He
.

w and er ed o v er th e f ac e o f t h e ea rth i n s ea rch o f pr e ca ri ous

s ust enanc e s ubj ect to th e vicissitud es o f th e el em ents and o ft en
,

f aci ng f ami ne O nly with th e comi ng o f ag ricultur e and a sur e

.

supply o f f ood was m an abl e to s ettl e dow n i n one pl ace and

d ev elop f rom a w and eri ng trib e i nto a natio n of peo pl e r oot ed ,

i n th e soil o f pe rm anent h abit atio n .

In e v en a sup e rfici al study o f th e id ea s whi ch h a v e i n flu en c ed

civili z atio n th e i nevit abl e co nclusi on must b e r each e d th at th e
,

birth and d ev el o pm ent O f ag ri c ul tur e is th e g r eat e st o f al l i n

v enti on s th e f ath e r moth e r f o u nd atio n o f li f e a nd pr og r e ss i n
,
-

civiliz ati on a s w e k no w it Food cam e first f ood still com e s

.
,

first and th e productio n o f f ood is still th e u niv e rs al an d prim e

,

occupatio n of m an .

I n spit e o f al l th e i nv enti on s and m ech aniz ati o n th a t h av e

t ak en pl ac e i n t h e d ev elopm e nt O f agri cultur e—t h e v a st i n dustry
fo r th e ch emical f e rtiliz atio n o f th e s oil th e impro v em ent and ,
12 H AR NE S S I N G THE E AR TH W OR M
d iv ersificati on o f f ood pl ant s and an im als t h e pr o cessi ng and ,

pr es e rv atio n o f foods th e gr eat re s ea rch l aborat o ri es exp e rim ent

—
, ,

st ti s a
a o n n d a g ricultur a l coll e g e s a l l th e s e thi n g s y et r em a i n
m e r e su pe rfici al a dj u n cts t o f acilit at e natur e s own m ethods ’
.

L ik e t h e utiliz a tio n of w a t er p ow e r mod e r n ag ricultur e is simply

,

a n e xpl o it a ti o n o f t h e na tu r a l r e s o ur ce s a n d f o r c e s o f n a tur e ,

throu gh th e a d apt atio n and i ng enuity o f m an T h e d am i s not .

t h e riv e r th e shi p is not th e o c ean t h e s a i l is no t th e w i n d A nd

,

i n agri cultur e na tur e y et r em a i ns

,
,

“ M o th er Natur e and t h e ”
.

hum an rac e i s still a br ea st f ed i n f ant drawi ng its s ust enan ce and

-
,

nutritio n from th e g ood ea rth through pr oce ss e s of f ertili ty ,

f e r tiliz atio n and gr o wth which h av e not b een impr ov ed upo n

,
.

S tudyi ng t h e progr e ssiv e d e structio n of th e s o il on thi s co n

t i nent by m e ch aniz e d m eth o ds , ag ricultur a l s o il robb e rs -
an d ,

e r o si o n w e r ea liz e t h e futility o f c h emica l f e rtiliz a ti o n an d tur n

,

to a study o f natur e s p er f ect m ethod W e a r e st ruck by th e

’
.

o utst a n di n c o n tr st b etw n t h t w m e thods : 1

( ) Thr o u g h
g a e e e o

c h emica l f ertiliz a tio n and m e ch aniz a ti on with its pro g r e ssiv e an d

,

i nevit abl e d epl eti o n o f th e natural f e rtility o f th e s o il m an S eeks ,

to f eed th e pl ant to m eet t h e t empo ra ry and imm ed i at e call for

mor e and quick profits ; ( 2 ) natur e through h er m eth o d s eeks to
, ,

build soil i n a conti nuous cycl e which can m eet with abu nd ance
al l pre s ent a nd t empora ry ne e ds for food produ c ti on but at t h e ,

sam e tim e provid e with g ro wi ng f er tility a soil which will

s upport i n abu nd ance t h e co untl ess u nbo rn gene ratio ns o f th e
futur e .

In a study o f th e s o il buildi ng m e thods of natur e w e h av e

-

—
,

fou nd a force at work i n th e ea rth th e ea rthworm which—

app ea rs to h av e b een evolv e d for t h e sp ecific j ob o f r ebuildi n g

the s oil fr o m t h e biol og i ca l end produ ts o f pl ant a d anim al li f e

c n
u n d this f orc e t Work thr oug O t t e e arth f ro m
.

W e h av e f o —
th e f a r north t o th e f ar south fro m ea st to w e st from s ea l ev el
, ,
-

to th e high pl at eaus and hi gh i nt o th e mou nt ai n s qui etly ,

swi ftly effi ci ently lik e a g oo d u nd ert ak e r r estor i n to th e soil i n

, , ,
 ctiviti e s o f th e se
a

o r c e i n na ture comp a r abl e to w a t e r pow e r i n -

—
pot enti aliti es an id ea was b orn th e h a rnes s i ng of th e ea rth
,

r m for t h e i nt en siv e us e O f m an .

F rom ev e ry r egi on o f t h e glob e t h e products o f fi eld and

d g a r d en riv ers l ak es and oc ean s ranch e s and
, , ,

flow i n a nev e r end i ng and ev e r i n cr ea si ng str eam

- -

c ent e rs o f popul atio n Thus by u nt old milli ons o f

.

ea r t h e wid ely d iffus e d f e rtility o f t h e ea rth is

up and c onc entrat ed i n r estrict e d a r ea s f a r r emov ed ,

p o ssibility o f re buildi ng th e so il at th e origi nal sour ce

productio n A prob l em f a ci ng c iviliz a tio n tod ay e v entu ally
.
—
pr obl em o f c onti nu ed exist enc e its el f— i s th e probl em o f r e
ldi ng th e s o il o f r e sto ri ng to th e ea rth i n imm edi a te ly us abl e
,

for pl ant food th e bi ol og ical en d pr o du cts o f civiliz atio n -

,

th e v a st to nnag e o f or g an i c w a st e m at e ri a l i n c id e nt t o t h e
o wi ng a n d proc e ssi n o f f o o d f o r b o th m a n an d a n im a ls
g .

T h e solutio n o f this probl em is t h e next g r ea t st e p i n hum a n

o g r e ss and o nc e mor e i t be com e s a qu esti on o f m an s con ’

, ,

1 e s t ov e r t h e pot enti a l forc e s o f natur e an d th e i r a d apt a tio n

fu rth e r his own d e sti ny This tim e it i s a docil e w illi ng
.
, ,

i end l y,
h a rml ess ea sily co ntroll ed forc e th e ea rthworm
,
—
i mpl em en ti n n d suppl m n ti n l l t h th r o n structiv e
g a e e g a e o e c

1r c es o f na tur e .

T h e f a ct th at ea rthw o rm s e xcr et e hu m us i s j ust a b o ut a s

a o r ta nt i n its r el a ti o n t o m an a s t h e f ac t th a t w a t e r fl o ws d o w n
p
11 . Th a t i ntim at e fi nely divid ed mixt ur e with ch emi cal com
, ,

) un d s— humus ,
—
t o ps o il hom o geniz ed ea rth possibl y th e m o st
,

l
y s t e r i o us subst an c e k now to sci en c e i s th e o ne b a sic s o ur ce o f
,

lant a nd anim a l li f e F rom a stri ctly pr a cti ca l st a ndp o i nt th e

.
,

) d y O f t h e ea rthw o rm is n a tur e s ow n c o mpl et e p e rf e ct f a c t o ry

’

>r m anu f acturi ng this subst an ce quickly and i n su ffici ent

i a nt i ty t o a n sw e r al l th e n utriti on a l n e e ds o f m an I n co n .
 P RO LO G U E l5

th e wr i ti ng o f this book w e e st ablish ed t h e E ar th m ast er F a rm

,

E a rthw o rm r e s ea rch t aki ng a s emi d e s e rt i n f e rtil e hillsid e

,
-
,

turni ng it i nto a hom esit e O f alm o st tr opic al luxuri an ce with ,

t he ai d o f ea rthw o rms i n soil buildi ng S O th at n e i ghb o rs an d

-
,
'

visitor s m a rv el at wh a t w e h av e accom pl i sh ed w i th u n f av o r abl e

In pr es enti ng our fi ndi ngs we w ill u se quot ati on s comm ents

, , ,

p e rso n a l e xp e ri en c e s a n d obs e rv a tio n s i nt e rvi e

,
w s a n d pr ac ti c al

e xp e ri en c e s o f i ndividu a ls w h o h a v e h a r n e s s ed t h e e a rthw o rm
.

and prov e d its v a lu e l ett e rs fr o m ea rthw o rm culturists an d o th e r

, ,

t estim ony It is our Obj ect t o pr es ent j ust enou gh m at e ri a l to

.

S how cl e a rly t h e po s sibiliti e s i nh e r en t i n h a r n e ssi ng t h e e a rth

w o rm for i nt ensiv e hum an u s e In s om e i nst anc e s w e m ay

.

di g r ess but to subj ects which h av e a dir ect b ea ri ng on t h e t ask i n

,

This book is not a tr eatis e but it is i nt end ed a s a n i n spir a ti o n

,

to furth er study and t o pr a cti ca l acti on .

It h as b een s aid th a t t h e first thi ng t o do with a f act is to

r eco gniz e it and th e practic al thi ng to d o with a f ac t is t o u se it .

W e pr es ent th e f a c ts f o r y o ur re co gn iti o n and u s e a nd d edi cat e

this work to al l th o s e w h o lov e th e soil and th e et e rnal cy cl e o f
l i f e which S pri ng s from it .

T H O M A S J B A RRE TT
.

E ar th m as ter F ar ms
R os co e , Cal i f or ni a
 H um us

AL L FL E S H is
i nc ludi ng m an i n i t s d em an d for nutritio n
o n e, ,

to su rviv e but m an a lo ne d em ands i n fin it ely mor e th at m e re n ut ri

,

tio n Th rough his co nqu e s t ov er th e f o rc e s of nature m an h a s

.
,

a d a pt ed hims el f to al l con diti o n s and envi ro nm ents and liv e s

wh e r ev e r th ere is a i r to brea th e—o n th e surf ac e of th e earth i n ,

t h e sky u nd e r th e ea rth o n t h e surf a c e O f t h e w a t e r s u nd e r th e

, , ,

s ea. His fr o z en footpri nts a r e pr e s erve d for future age s i n th e

r eg i on s of th e no rth pol e and th e tra il of th e tra ctor push es
st ea dily i nto th e u nexpl o r e d co nti nen t l o ck ed i n e v e rl a sti ng wi n
te r a ro u n d t h e south pol e His a i r conditio n i ng c r eat es a cool
.
-

sp ot for luxu r i o us co m fort a strid e th e equ ator and h e squ ats no n ,

ch al a ntl y withi n t h e rim o f boili ng volca n ic ca uldr o n s a nd t ak e s

th e t emp e r a tur e of moth e r ea rth and di a gnos e s h e r f ev e rs and

co nvulsi ons .

To s e rv e t h e d em ands o f th e ubiquitous a d apt abili ty o f m an ,

to S p ee d up productio n o f n ecessiti e s an d luxuri e s for his u s e to ,

creat e new a nd use ful thi ng s to s atis fy hi s g rowi ng needs and d e

sire s a r e s om e o f t h e pr acti ca l en ds o f sci entific r e s ea r ch B e
, .

ca us e O f his a d apt ability an d co nqu e st o v e r th e force s o f nature

m an h a s cut l o os e fr om his m ot h e r s a pro n st ri ng s—th e ea rth
,

and w e fi nd t h e popul a ti o n s o f c iviliz a tio n throu gh o ut t h e world ,

i n l a rg e pa rt m a roo ne d o n t h e isl ands o f vill age s tow n s and

, , ,

c iti e s s eg r e a t e d a n d s ep a r a t e d fr o m t h e l and— v a st a gr e a tio n s

, g g g
of r estl ess disco nt ent ed childr en pl ayi ng with th e m a chi nes and
, ,
20 H AR NE S S I N G THE E AR TH WOR M
toys which sci ence and i nv en tio n h av e provid ed and u niti ng i n a
mi ghty cry and cosmi c b awl f o r foo d .

L et t h e flow o f f oo d to t h e citi es st o p for a si ngl e d ay and ,

its ce ss atio n is h eadli ne news L et th e flo w s top fo r t w o d ays

.
,

an d it b e co m es tr ag edy of m a j or pro po rtio ns L et it s top for a

.

w eek an d p ani c s eiz es th e p eo pl e as st arv atio n t a k es hold

, .

In ch ecki ng ov e r th e annu al r equisitio n o f th e h um an f amily

f or f o od a nd suppli e s we a r e st agg er ed by such it em s as th es e :
,

R ush th e h a rv e st o f bush el s o f w heat and pr ep ar e ,

a cr e s o f l an d for r epl anti ng Husk .

bush els o f c o rn and pr ep a r e a cr e s o f l a n d for r e

pl anti ng R ou nd up
. h ead of ca ttl e for be e f and but
t er milk a nd s ho e s
, . S hip b al es o f co tto n to th e f ac
t o ri es with
,
po u nds of wool th at we m ay be cloth ed
,

and k ept w a rm . A nd i n th e U nit e d S t at es wh e r e w e a r e p een

,

l i ar l y p eanut co n scious we fi nd a sm a ll it em o f
-
,

pou n ds o f pe anuts ; a ls o a citrus f ruit it em o f box es .

I n t h e annu a l Yea r Book o f t h e U nit ed S t a t e s D ep a rtm ent

o f A g ri c ultur a l S t a tistics s ev e ra l hu n dr e d p a es o f fi ne pri nt ar e
, g
requir ed to t abul at e and r epo rt on t h e annu al f ood crops o f t h e
U nit e d S t at es and th e w o rld W e h ave m entio ned a f ew o f t h e
.

m aj or it ems th at a r e i nclud ed i n th e annu al d em an ds o f th e h u

m an f amily f o r foo d and clothi ng W e h av e bri efly i ndic at ed th e
.

S iz e of t h e o rd e r t o ca ll a tt en tio n to t h e f a ct th a t th e b a sic sourc e

w
o f al l th e s e m a t eri a ls i s humus t h e imm e di a t e ly us abl e supply o f
,

w hich tr a d n
t i -
ei hte n i n ch sur f c ust of t h
co e e a
ce e

e a rth an d m the more f avo red a n d v e ry limit ed a r ea s o f t e gl ob e .

A nd humus is no t fou n d i n i nexh a ustibl e mi ne s b el ow th e sur

f ac e O f th e ea rth i n t h e be tt e r s o ils it dimi nish es almost to
v anishi ng p o i nt a t a d epth o f thi rty six i nch e s It is th e r e
-
.

t ent i al l y j ust a s f o o d is pot enti ally pre s ent i n th e c ru d e el em ents

,

o f t h e ea rth .

Humus 1 5 th e end pro du ct of pl ant and anim al li f e and must

b e cr eat ed fo r curr en t us e from d ay to d ay an d sea so n to s ea so n .

In th e cycl e o f natur e th e a v a il abl e m at e ri a l must b e us ed ov e r

,
 HUM US 21
and ov e r ; it i s n atur e s m ethod to co nv ert trans mut e disi nt eg rat e
’

, , ,

r ebuil d A l l v eget atio n al l li f e contri b ut es its quot a F rom th e

.
, ,
.

s i ngl e cel l ed yea st pl ant flo ati ng i n th e wi nd to th e m aj estic

-

s eq u oi a gi g a n te a tow e ri ng nea rly thr ee hu n dr e d f ee t i nto t h e a i r

, ,

fro m micro be to m an—al l h av e been couch ed i n th e b eddi ng

grou nd of humus A nd al l eventu ally fi nd th e ir way t o th e com
—
.

m on bu ri a l pl a c e — t h e co m post h ea p o f na tur e ~ to b e co nv e rt ed
i nto hu m us and s e rv e i n th e u nbrok en cycl e O f natur e .

For th e most p a rt t h e p o pul a tio ns o f t h e ea rth dw e ll alo ng

,

sea sho r es and l ak es alo ng riv e rs i n th e v all ey s and i n th e low

, ,

lyi ng foothills and great pl ai ns of t h e torr id and t em pe rat e z one s ,

wh ere th e gr eat humu s f actori e s o f natu re ar e locat ed B ec a us e .

w at e r ru ns d ow n hill thi s i s S O F rom th e dust l ad en w i nds o f

, .
-

th e d es e rt from st a r dust and t h e d ust o f disi nt egrati ng c o m et s

,

and pl anet s from th e w eath er ed f a ce of t h e r ocks and hills and

,

m ou nt ai ns natur e gath e rs h er m at eri als and fr o m th e m oth e r

, ,

w at e rs o f th e s ea sh e cr eat es t h e rai n s a nd w a sh e s t h e atm o s

p h e re . A n d i n t h e e n d fr o m t h e millio n s,
of squ a r e m il e s o f high
g r ou nd th e w at er s fi nd th ei r way i nto al l t h e S ettli ng b a si n s O f
,

th e e a rth to d eposit th e e l em ents o f li f e i n t h e humus f a ctori e s

o f natur e .

T H E H U M U S F A C T O R Y
In h e rva st humus f a ctori e s nature us es m any proce ss e s ,

slow combusti on ch emic al disi nt egr atio n b act e ri al d ecomposi

, ,

tion f erm ent atio n h eat light d a rk ness wi n d and r ai n frost and
,

sun—an d ea rth w orm s ; a l l th e s e u n it e

, , , , ,

fi na lly to fo rm th at thi n ,

s urf ac e l aye r o f d ark ea rth i n which li f e is root ed A s volum es .

h av e b een w ritt en an d ar e cons tantly b ei ng w ritt en on th e s e m any

pr o c es s e s through which natu re a tt a i ns h er end s we will not ,

burden th e s e p ages with d et ail ed dis cu s si on on this subj ect S u f .

fi ce it to s ay th at m any of th e proc ess e s a r e s lo w r equiri ng y ea r s , ,

n ,
—
c e turi es age s yes aeon s o f tim e ; for th e first thi n bl ank et of
,

p a r ent m at e ri al o f humu s w hi ch was S p r ead ov e r th e surf ac e o f

 HUM US 23
ar e i nt e re st ed in th e f unctio n and w o rk of t h e ea rthworms rath er
th an i n a study o f th e anim al from a z oii l ogi cal st an dpoi nt .

W hil e m any hu ndreds o f S pe ci e s i ncludi ng m a ri ne w orm s

, ,

th e o rd e r Ph y l um a nne l id a our i nt e re st ce nt e rs
,

t po rtio n k now n to sci enc e as th e

Th ey a r e distribut ed al l ov e r th e
p l a ne t, i n clu d i ng t h e isl an ds o f t h e s ea fr om th e tropic s to ex
,

t rem e north ern and s outh e rn l atitud es ex c ept i n t h e a rctic a nd

,

s ub a rctic r egio ns and gl aci al and s ub gl aci al r egions w h e re th e

- -

gr ou nd may be froz en to gr eat d epth s o v e r lo ng pe r io d s o f tim e .

I n siz e ear thwo rm s r ange all t h e way from sm al l w orm s o f

,

a lmost m i c r os c0p i c d im ensi on s t o gi ant annelids m ea suri ng fr om

t h ree f eet to el even f eet lo ng T h e l a rge m emb e rs o f th e f am ily

.

ar e fou nd i n c e rt a i n p a rts o f S outh A m e rica A fric a Ce ylo n and , ,

A u s t r ali a . T h e l a rge st o f th e gi ant wo rms M egas c ol i d es Aus tr a

,

l is is fou nd i n A ustrali a wh e r e auth entic m ea sur em ents of w o rms

, ,

up to el ev en f eet i n l engt h h av e be en m ad e .

In th e tor r i d and t empe rat e z o ne s m o re th an one th o us an d

3 2293 2 5 o f e a r thwo rms ( s om e a uthoriti e s s a y mor e th a n 1 800)

liv e and procr eat e W h at ev er th e nam e siz e o r h abit at e a rth
.
, , ,

w orms h av e one impo rt ant ch a ra ct e ri sti c i n c o mmo n th ey swal —

low th e ea rth with all th at it cont ai n s and in th e proc ess o f di
,

gesti on and elimi natio n excre t e pra ctically neutral humus top —
soil rich i n w at e r s o lubl e nutri ents fo r pl ant li f e
-
.

Na rrowi ng th e fi el d d ow n still mor e to t h e pa rti cul a r pur

pos e o f this i nqui r y we ar e i nt er e st ed i n th e g roup o f ea rthworm s
,

commo n to th e U n it e d S t at es and k now n u nd e r v a rious popul a r

” “ “
a nd co lloqui a l n am e s such a s
“ a ngl eworms night
”

crawl e rs ,
” “ ni ght lio n s
,

”
fi sh w or m s ,
d eww or m s
N
r a i nw o r m s
,

et c Th e ,
”
,

l as t nam e regenwurm i s v ery g ene rally us ed i n th e ext en siv e

, ,

Ge rm an lit e ratur e on th e subj ect .

F o r pr a ctic al purpos e s and fo r r ea so n s giv en l a ter w e S h all

‘

elimi na t e from co nsid er a tio n al l w o r ms ex cept t h e

( L u m br i cus ter r es tr i s ) illustra t ed i n F i g l and th e
, .
,
24 NE SS I NG T H E E AR TH W OR M
or s ti nki ng rth w o rm ( Hel od r i l us foetid us ) i l lu s t rat ed i n Fig
ea ,
.

2. The m mo nl y know n as th e m anur e w o rm .

n ativ e o f th e fi el d s and for e st l a wn s gar -

,

and pa s tur e s It commonly liv es i n th e .

u p p er eight een i nch es o f s oi l d evou ri ng cea s el es s l y d ay and, ,

night d ea d r oo t s l eav e s and al l d ea d o rg anic m at er i a ls dig es t

, , , ,

i ng and utilizi ng th em to s e rv e its bod ily need s and fina lly e j ec t

—
i ng hu m u s i n th e fo rm o f ca s ti ngs th e m anu re o f ea rt h w o rms .

But th e r ai nw orm is not entir ely co nce rned w ith th e thi n s u r f ac e

l ayer o f th e ea rth though th at surf ac e l ay er i s it s m ai n f eedi ng
,

and b r eed i ng g r ou nd It quit e gen eral ly b u rro ws to a de pth of

mm
.

d r th w o rm bu rr o ws h av e e v en b een fou nd at
fi
ffi fi h an
m
ea

d epth es o f from ten to fourt een f eet F ro m th es e d eep burro ws .

i nto t h e s ubsoil th e ea rthwo r m r etu r n s to th e surf a c e bri ngi ng ,

new mi ne r a l p a r ent m at e ri a l fo r to p soil and d epo s iti ng it i n th e

form o f ca s ti ngs Th es e ca sti ng s from th e d eep l ayer s o f th e

.

ea rth s urf a c e a r e not j ust s t e ril e mi ner a liz e d ea rth I n th e j our

, .

ney thro u g h t h e a lim ent a ry cana l o f t h e worm th ey h a v e u n d e r

gone che mical ch ang es t ak en on new m at eri al b een grou nd and

, ,

thorou ghly mix ed an d w h en th ey ar e d eposit e d o n and i n th e

,

imm ed i at e surf a ce of th e ea rth thi s new m at eri al h as b ecom e

hu m us l ad en topsoil r ea dy for imm edi at e u se by gro w i ng v egeta
-
,

tio n.

I n th e col d er clim at es th e ra i nwo rm b ur row s d eep b elow t h e

,

fro s t li ne duri ng t h e w i nt e r s eason lyi ng do rm ant whil e th e ,

g r ou nd i s froz en but comi ng to th e s urf ace as soo n as th e spri ng

,

th aw h as w a rm ed th e ea rth Ho w ev er th e rai nworm i s v e ry .

,

h ar dy r em ai ns activ e i n quit e lo w t em pe r a tures and h as ev en

, ,

been ob s erv ed i n slu s hy s no w .

U nd e r p articul a rly f avor abl e co nd itio n s th e ra i nworm o ft en ,

att ai ns a l ength o f t w el v e i n ch e s o r mor e A m or e usu al l engt h .

for a fully m ature ra i nworm i s fi v e or S i x i nch es with an av erage ,

l ength o f eight i nche s .

( H el od r i l us f o e tid u s ) is ,

a s m a l l v e ry a ctiv e v e ry pr olific w or m
, ,
ch a ra ct e ri z ed by a dis ,
 HUM US 25
ag reea bl e o d o r w h en c ru s h ed or i n j ur e d It s f avorit e h abit at is
m anu re pi le s and compo s t h eaps h ence its nam e m anur e worm “ ,
.

.
”

Co nt ra ry to gene ral b el i e f ho w ev er th e m anure wo rm r ea dily

, ,

ad a pt s it s el f to th e sam e env iro nm ent s f a vor e d by th e r a i nworm .

T h e brand li ng gorge s vo ra ciou s ly O n m anure and d e cayi ng v eg e

t at i on dig esti ng d eodo r i z i ng and co nv erti ng al l such m at e ri a l i nt o

, ,

ri ch cl ean humu s with an O d o r simil a r to fr e sh turn e d m ea do w

, ,

ea rth . T h e ca sti ng s of th e m anur e w or m l ik e thos e o f th e r a i n ,

w o rm and th e m any oth e r S pe ci es o f ea rth w o rm s c ont a i n a v e r y ,

high per centag e o f w ater solubl e pl ant nutri ent s -

.

Th e m anu r e w o rm i s not a fl f fi hi i i fifl gg fl g ffl l i k e it s
fi a a

r el ati v e th e ra i nw o rm but pr e f e rs to work i n th e surf a ce a r ea s

,

u nd er r otti ng v eget atio n m anu re and oth er d e cayi ng m at eri als

, ,
.

How ev er a ft e r b e com i ng a d a pt ed to th e soil it is s oo n a go od

, ,

bur ro w e r and w il l t ake ca re o f it s el f i n almost al l clim at e s Th e .

m anu re w o rm i s fou nd wid ely distribut ed th rou ghout th e U nit ed

S t at es and i n E ur op e both i n t h e s outh e rn a s w ell a s i n t h e col d er
,

l atitud es In siz e it m ay att ai n a l ength o f six i n ch es o r mor e

.
, ,

but i n m ea suri ng a l a rge numb e r of m ature m anur e wo r m s we

d et e rmi ned an av e rage l engt h o f about four i nch es I n i nt ensiv e .

propagatio n and use o f earth w o rm s siz e is impo rt ant and th e ,

s m all er var i eti e s ca n b e utiliz ed with b ett er r e sults th an can th e

l arger w orm s Thi s poi nt will b e emph a siz e d l at e r
. .

F i na lly wh en we co m e to t h e subj e ct o f th e i nt ensiv e p r opa

,

g a t i o n a n d u s e o f e a rth w orms i n soil buildi n g for a g ri c ultur

-
e hor ,

t i cul t ur e orch a rdi ng nur s er y and hom e ga rd eni ng w e sh all dis

, , , ,

cus s s om ew h at at l engt h wh at we h av e t e rm ed dom estic at ed

ea rth wo rms Th e t erm d o m estica t ed i s a ppli e d to ea rt hw o rms
”
.

which h av e b een d ev el ope d through s el ecti v e br eed i ng and f eed

i ng m etho ds i n a co ntrolle d enviro nm ent e sp eci ally cr eat ed to f a
vo r i nt ens iv e prop agation as oppos ed to nativ e ea rthworms w hich
,

a r e fou n d i n m o st f e r t il e w ell w a t e r e d soils

,
-
.

F r om thi s b ri e f d i s cu ss io n o f th e ea rthw o rm f amily we p a s s ,

to a co nsid eration o f th e f ee di ng h abits and digestiv e fu n cti on s

o f ea rthworms which m ak e th em possib l y th e most v alu abl e ani
,

m al s on ea rth .
 26 H ARNE S S I N G TH E E AR TH W OR M
I NTE S T I NE S OF T H E E ART H
W e ar e i nd ebt ed to th e anci ent G r eek philosoph e r A ristotl e , ,

m ast er build ers o f top s oil He ca ll ed ea rthworm s i nt esti ne s of

-
.
“
for th e apt phras e w hi ch lit erally d es c r ib e s t h e fu n ctio n o f th e s e

t h e e a rth
“
W L Pow er s S oil S ci enti s t O r ego n A g ricultural
”
. . .
, ,

E xp e rim ent S t ation t erm e d t h e ea rthwo rm a colloi d m ill Th i s

”
.
, ,

t oo is a v e ry good d e scripti v e name to i nd i c

, i ty o f
e a rth w orm s i n s oil buildi ng Th ey lit e rally s er v e a s colloi d mills
-
.

to pr o d uc e th e i ntim at e ch emical and m ech ani ca l homogeniz ed

m i x tu r e o f fi ne organic and i norganic m atte r which form s t h ei r
c asti ng s In t he mixi ng w hich t ak es pl a ce i n th e alim ent a ry canal
.

of th e ea r th w o rm t h e i nges t e d m at e ri a l s u n d e rgo ch emi ca l

,

ch anges d eodo riz atio n and neutral i z atio n s o th at th e re su l tant

, ,

c a sti ng s ( m anu r e ) ar e a pra ctic ally neutral hu m u s ri ch i n w at er ,

s olubl e pl ant food imm edi at ely av a il abl e for pl ant nut ritio n
A s fl exibl e as s ilk as s tro ng a s st eel—th es e s imil es ma y w el l
.
,

d e s c rib e th e body o f an ea rthwo r m Kno w n a s o n e o f th e.

stro ngest anim als i n natur e f or its siz e an ea rthworm W e i ghi ng

M
,

y m o v e a sto ne w e i g hi n g
a s mu ch a s t wo ou n c e s T h e f amily nam e annel id a d e riv e d
.
, ,

from th e L ati n w ord anel l us ( a ri ng ) is g raphica lly d e s c riptive ,

o f th e ea rthworm whos e body i s form e d by a s e ri e s of fr om 20

,
0
to 400 muscul ar; “£1 9n ( mor e or l ess d ependi ng o n th e sp eci es )
,
, ,

c l o s e ly w o v en t o g eth e r t o f o rm a tub e o f g r e a t str eng th str eam ,

li ned to t h e ultim at e for fu n ctio nal p e rform an c e .

Co n si d er ed prim a rily m an hims el f is an o r gan ism o f bo ne

,

a n d muscl e bra i n and ne rvou s syst em organ and tissu e i nt e

, , ,

—
grat ed a r ou nd a di gestive tub e th e alim e t a ry ca l ab out n n a —
thirty f eet lo ng T h e ea r th wor m i s a di
. 10 strip ,

p e d o f a l l ext e r na l i n c u mb r a n c e w h i ch m 1 gt
h its
l i f e fu nctio n o f dige stio n an d e quippe d with j ust enou gh i nst i nc
-

tiv e i nt elli gence to ca rry out its f eedi ng a ctiviti e s with o ut t oo fi ne

d is c rimi nati on .

Thus ev er ythi ng which O ppo s es its el f to th e bli nd att entio n

,

o f th e earthworm b ecome s s om ethi ng to b e d evoured W h en a .

 CALCIFE ROUS

GIZ Z ARD

UPPE R PART OF I NTE S TI NE

D I A GRA M OF AL I M E N TA RY CA N A L OF E AR T H W OR M
28 H AR NE S S I N G THE E AR TH W OR M
s to ne too l a rge to sw allow is encou nt e r ed th e w orm eats its way ,

a rou nd gi v i ng t h e su rf a c e a ch em ic a l tr ea tm ent i n p a s si ng an d
,

po s sib ly s u cki ng off a f ew choice mo r s el s f r om th e w eath er ed

surf ace I f sm all enough th e p a rticl e is sw allo w ed to s e rv e as
.
, ,

a millsto ne i n th e g izz a rd w hil e b e i ng su b j ect ed to th e s olv ent

a ctio n o f a cid s an d a lk al i e s so ab u nd an tly p rovi d e d i n t h e d ig estiv e

se cr etio ns I f a pi ece o f tough c ellulos e such a s d ry l ea f st em

.
, ,

t w ig o r bit o f w ood i s m et w ith it m ay b e co at ed w ith a s aliv a

, , ,

lik e s e c r etio n and l e ft to s o ft en ( p erh aps fo r d ay s o r w eeks ) ,

l ate r to r esum e its j ou rney o f d i s i nt egratio n and digestio n th r ough

“
th e tu b ul a r i nt e sti na l m i ll F igurati v ely S peaki ng th e wo rm s ay s
th e w o rld i s my oy s t e r and
.

p roceed s lit eral ly to s w al l o w

,
,

it with ev er ythi ng it may co nt ai n .

To b e mor e specific i n a ctio n th e ea rth worm em m oy s t h e

mggp w
,

d aul i c dril l s oft en i ng th e ea rth i n fro nt o f it

hehy r
w fl m
, ,

i f nece ss a r y with it s s ecr et1 ons and sucki ng it i nt o its m o uth

,
.

Thus bli ndly th e wo rm e ats its d a rk way th rou g h th e d en s e st

, ,

ea rth , i ncludi ng tough comp a ct adob e and cl ay soil s riddli ng and

,

ho neycombi ng th e soil to a d epth o f ten f eet or mor e with a er at

i ng tu nn els or burrows as it sw a llows th e ea rth w ith al l th a t it
,

co nt a i ns—d ead roots veget abl e and ani m al r em a i ns b a ct e ri a th e

, , ,

mi nut e and m i cr osc0p i c v eg et abl e li f e o f th e s oil and mi ne ral ,

el em ents . B ei ng truly a bli nd dw el le r o f th e d a rk highly sen ,

s i t i v e to li g ht t h e ea rthworm is t u nal anim al, comi ng to

,
a ppgg n g g fl
fi i “

th e s urf a c e at n ight to f eed on o r ga ni c l i tt e r By d ay it push es .

slow tu nneli ng O p e r a tio ns be low th e surf ac e th e s oft ened and ,

almost l i q u i fi e d m at e ri a l fi ndi ng its way i nto t h e stor ag e sp a c e

o f th e w orm s crop ’
.

Pa ul G ris w old Ho w e s Cur a to r o f Na tur al Hi s to r y at th e

,

Bruce M us eu m of Natu ral Hi s to r y giv e s a co nci s e s t at em ent o f ,

t h e f eedi ng h abits o f worm s i n hi s w o nd erfully i nt e r es ti ng book ,

B ac k y ar d E xpl or a ti on a s follo ws : ,

Wo rm s ar e th e m ost num erous at th e surf ace o f th e grou nd

at night . Th ey com e to th e su r f a c e to f eed as th ey a r e t ruly ,

noctur nal ani m al s Th ey d o a ctu ally co nsum e l arge q uant1t1 es

 HU M US 29
of r—
v egetab l e m att e not livi ng l eav e s and gras s b ut th e d ead ,

and d yi ng v eg et abl e m att er t h a t l i es upo n t h e g r ou n d Holdi ng .

f as t i n th e i r burro ws by th e ta il end th e wo r m s r ea ch out i n al l

-
,

dir ectio ns st retchi ng th ems elv es to g rea t l engths an d g ra s pi ng

,

bits o f food w hich th ey p ul l b elo w th e s urf a c e H er e p a rt o f th e

,
.
,

m at e ri al i s eat en whil e v ast qu antiti e s o f it pass i nto v egeta bl e

,

m ould th at h elps to m ak e oth er p l ant s grow [ E ditori al not e .

A l l v eget ab l e r em ai n s not im m ed i a te ly co ns um ed a r e ev entu ally ,

e a t en a nd p a s s through t h e a lim ent a r y cana ls o f worms i n th ei r

fi nal transform atio n i nto humu s o r solubl e pl ant foo d ]

In ad ditio n to th e v e get abl e m att e r w hich th e worms eat gr ea t ,

qu antiti e s o f soi l al s o p a ss through thi s v as t a r my F rom thi s .

s oil th ey a ssimil at e w h at i s us e ful to th em l eavi ng th e r em a i nd e r ,

ea ch n ight upo n th e s urf a c e i n t h e lo b e d and f am i l ar c a sti ngs

w hich ev ery one h as s een S to p for a mi nut e to co nsi de r th e

.

cou ntl e ss i nd ivi d u al w o rm s which i nhibit ev e ry acre o f grou n d .

Thi nk th en o f th e w eight and d epth o f a s i ng l e y ea r s c a sti ngs ’

th at ar e l e ft u po n th e s urf a ce and you w i ll b egi n to realiz e th at

th e w o rm s a r e actu ally r e spo nsi b l e fo r th e p loughi ng an d tu rn i ng
ov e r o f th e ea rth as th e y ea r s go by .

Co nti n ui ngour j ourney throu g h th e ea rthwo r m al l th e i n ,

gest ed m ate ri al v eget ab l e m att er anim al m att e r livi ng and d ead

-
,

b act eri a mi ne ra l ea rth s m all s to ne s etc —p a s s es i nt o t h e cro p

,

, , ,

a nd th enc e i nto th e gizz a r d a s a s emi liquid pl a stic m a ss ca rry

-
, ,

i ng its own g ri nds tone s In th e gi zz ard ev e rythi ng is subj ect ed

.

to th e gr i nd i ng d isi nt egr ati ng and m i x i ng a cti on of thi s effici ent

,

o rgan a s th e ab u nd ant d ige stiv e j uice s ar e pour ed i n to ex ert

,

th eir ch emical and so l v ent a ctio n No form o f organic m at e ri al

.

e sca pe s for th e dig e stiv e s ecr eti o n s of th e ea rthworm ar e simil a r

,

to thos e o f th e high e r anim al s i ncludi ng th e hum an f amily Car

,
.

boh y d r ates f ats p rot e i n s c ellulos e—al l a r e gri s t for t h e m ill o f

, , ,

t h e ea rth w or m ; for anythi ng th a t ca nnot b e di g es t ed is at l ea st

s o fi nely co m mi nut ed th at no st ructur al form rem a i ns .

S pe ci al m entio n should b e m a d e o f th e hi g hly r em a rk abl e

ca lci f erou s gl and s w hich ar e locat ed i n th e w alls o f th e eS Oph agu s
o f th e ear thworm Nothi ng lik e the m is k no w n i n any oth e r ani
.

m al. Th es e ca lcium s ecr eti ng gl ands pou r out abu nd ant qu anti
-
 HUM US 31
cl ean s w eet sm el l i ng subt stance of new tu rned ear th
,
- -
th e b ed
d i ng r ooti ng and g ro w i ng m at e ri al o f li f e it s el f
,
.

W H Y A N D H O W

I n co ns i d er i ng th e s oi l b uil d i ng po ss i b iliti e s i nh e r ent i n h a r

-

nes s i ng t h e ea rth w o rm th e s u b j e ct m att e r na tur ally f a lls u n d e r

,
”
two m a i n h ea d i ng s v iz : Why It Can B e Do ne and Ho w It
,

”
Ca n B e Do ne Th e p r ec edi ng s e ctio n s h a v e be en i ntr oduct o ry
.

s ay,
“
to th es e t w o d i v i s io ns A s a prelimi na ry g ene r ality we m ight
.

Th e r ea s o n it can b e d o ne i s b e ca u s e it h a s be en do ne Th e
,

.
”

r ema i ni ng ch ap t er s o f thi s b ook ar e r eal ly an el abo ratio n of thi s

g ene ral ity .

A t this poi nt we f eel j u s tifi ed i n a b r i e f digr e s sio n to co n

s ide r th e practical p u rp os es o f soil — b uildi ng as we co nceiv e it ,
.

Col l ecti v el y w e thi nk o f m an as th e m a st e r o f t h e e a rth

, ,

th rough hi s u ni v e rs a l ad aptab ility h a rne ssi ng co ntrolli ng and , ,

di recti ng th e forc es o f natur e Through this ad apt ability th e .

,

p res ent d ay enviro nm ent o f m an h as b ecom e th e entir e ea rth

-
.

Th ank s to hi s ab ility to compr eh end di r ect and utiliz e th e forc e s ,

o f nature h e can now liv e i n compa r ativ e com fort wh e r ev er th e re

,

i s ai r to b r ea th e Nev erth el ess tod ay and i n al l th e days to com e

.
, ,

ea ch i n dividu al i s en com p a s s ed by his o wn p a rticul a r e n vi r on

m ent and m u s t w ork out his own s al vatio n i n th at enviro nm ent .

P hilo s ophicall y w e list en to th e full b elli e d po et blith ely si ng

,
-
,

I am th e m as t er o f my f at e th e ca pt ai n o f m y s oul
,
But u ntil .

th e i ndi v idu a l can p a r a ph r a s e th e po e t with a mor e lit er a l and

“
p ractica l s t at em ent I am t h e m ast e r o f th e ea rth t h e capt a i n o f
, ,

”
th e soil h e i s li abl e to liv e i n i nse curity and f ea r o f th e future
, .

S ecurity—w h at a com fo rti ng w or d " S ecurity m eans ad e

a —
qu te foo d a roo f o v e r o ne s h ead cloth es on o ne s b ack a ’
— ’

pl ace i n th e s un—freed om from f ea r—no a ppreh ens io n for th e

futur e To th e i nd i v idu al w ho d e si r es s ur ely to build s ecurity
.

fo r hi ms el f and hi s l o v ed o nes we h 0p e to bri ng a knowle dge of

,
32 H AR NE S S I N G THE E AR TH W OR M
th e m ean s thr o u g h whi ch h e m ay b ecom e th e lit er al m a st e r o f
his o wn ea rth .

A l l t h e nece ssiti es com f o rts s atis f acti o n s a nd luxuri es o f

, , ,

c iviliz a ti on w a it up on t h e pr o ducti o n o f f o o d a nd f o od c o m e s -

from t o psoil A S a m a st e r build e r o f t o psoil throu gh o ut t h e ages

.
-
,

t h e ea rthw o rm i n natur e h a s pl ay e d a l ea di ng rol e U n d e r s ci e n .

t i fi c c o n trol a nd i nt en siv e prop ag ati on t h e ea rthw o rm is d e sti n ed ,

to pl ay a m a j o r p a rt i n t h e futur e d ev elopm ent o f tops o il a nd its

m a i nt enanc e at t h e hi gh est p o i nt O f pro du ctiv e c ap ac ity .

T h e tops o il o f th e futur e b egi nni ng with t h e imm edi at e ,

pr es ent will b e built by m an ex actly to m eet his b al ance d f oo d

,

requir em ents W orki ng i nt elli g ently with th e s am e t o ols m at e

.
,

ri als and f o rce s with which nature h as work ed t hroughout t h e

,

age s ,
but i n hi ghly a c cel e rat ed t emp o each i ndividu al h er e and , ,

n ow m ay b eg i n to build his ow n s o il
, W h eth e r t h e i ndivi d u al .

w o rks with a si ngl e fl ow er p ot o r wi n d ow box a f ew squ a re f eet ,

o f ea rth i n a city y a rd o r i n a r o omy g a rd en on or ch a rd o r f a rm

, , ,

ea c h m a n wom an and child can put th e ea rthw o rm to w o rk with

, , ,

al l t h e a lli e d forc e s O f n atur e a n d ch ea ply a bu nd an t m at e ri a ls at

h and and b eg i n to build s ecurity f o r al l th e t om o rr ow s o f t h e

,

futur e .

T H E N E W F R O N T I E R

Thecr owd i ng popul a tio n s of t h e ea rth st and o n th e l a s t

fro nti er—a n ew fro nti e r Circli ng th e gl ob e th ey h av e m et
.
,
.

Th er e a r e n o mo r e h o rizo ns m arki ng t h e bou nd a ry of a new and

,

b ett e r P romis ed L an d A m ong c on flicti n g id eolo gi e s and ch ang

.

i ng soci al syst e m s a b a sic f a ct st an ds out : W e c annot m ov e ea st

,

or w e st north o r south—h er e w e st an d and must st an d

,
.

At this poi nt th e r ea d e r m ay appro pri a t ely a sk a f ew qu es

,

ti ons : W h at i s this n ew fr onti er U po n whi ch I am app ar ently ,

st andi ng ? W h er e is it ? I am anxious to expl o r e it a d apt m y

s el f and b uild s ecurity f or m e and mi ne A nd 1 n ci d ental l y .
, ,

wh e r e do earthw o rms com e i nto th e pictur e ?

 HUMUS 33
Th e fro nti er is lit erally b enea th our f eet L ay er b y
n ew . .

l ay e r ri ght do w n to t h e be dro ck t h e anci ent r em a i n s O f buri ed

, ,

co nti nents l i e sl eepi ng—th e i nexh austibl e p a r ent m at e ri al of new

an d f e rtil e vir g i n l an ds t o be aw ak ene d an d rous e d to v e rd ant

li f e through t h e k nowl edge and m ast ery of m an This new f r o m.

ti e r is not a fi gu r e o f speech ; it is an actu al physica l f a ct and

,
—
ea ch i n dividu a l c an g o to work a t o nc e u po n hi s o w n p a rti c ul a r

spot o f g r oun d be it s mall o r l a rge an d h a v e th e pl ea sure s atis

, , ,

f action and p r ofit o f enj oyi ng his own new ea rth which h e him
, ,

s el f h as h el ped to cre at e
, .

—
W h en th e struggl e fo r th e m a st e ry of th e ea rth th e actu a l
physica l occup atio n o f th e ea rth —i s ov e r v ast ch anges will t ak e
,

p la c e a r e alr ea dy t aki ng pl a ce A mo ng th e ch anges v e ry d efi

, .

ni t el y i n e vid enc e i s th e mov em ent of city and urb an popul atio n s

to w a r d th e l and S purre d by ne ce ssity and a u niv e rs al aw ak en

.

i ng to th e impo rt an c e o f th e soil millio n s of pe opl e a r e tu rn i ng

,

tow a rds th e e st abli shm ent o f th ems elv es upo n th e l an d eith e r sm all ,

p l o ts or mor e ext en siv e a cr eage a cco rdi ng to th e ir ability t o a c

,

quire Th ey ar e s eeki ng s ecu rity th rou g h th e d ev el o pm ent o f a

.

s ubsist en c e hom e st ea d a s a v oc ati o n o r a v o c a tio n

-
.

T h e wi s e m an or wo ma n will not procr a stin at e but wi l l b e ,

g i n to p l a n ho w to occupy a littl e pi e c e o f ea rth o r a big

,
pi e c e o f
ea rth and l ea rn ho w to utiliz e it to t h e b e st a dv an t a ge
, It is not .

ne c e ss a r y to s eek e xp e n siv e l and hi ghly d ev elope d and f e rtil e

,
.

Through simpl e and ea s ily m a st e r e d m ethod s of soil buildi ng -

,

utilizi ng ea r thwo rm s and alli ed f o rc es o f natur e th e l and dw ell er

,
-

can b uil d his o wn good s oil i n a ny qu antity n e ce ss a ry t o m ee t his

needs .
 The E ar t h wo r m i n N a tur e

IN THE primordi al ga s es O f ch ao s nature i niti at ed h er s oi l buil d i ng -

a ctiviti e s to b e co n ti nu e d u n i nt e rrupt ed d ow n through t h e ag es

,

T h e prim a ry p a re nt m at eri a l O f soil is sto ne So il w rot e “ .

S h al e r
“is rock m at e ri al on its way tow a r d th e deep In th e
,
.

.
,

ag e l o ng w ea th e ri ng an d disi n t egr atio n o f s to ne natu r e u s e s h er

-
,

a —
m y force s m ech anical ch emical and vit al Do w n f ro m t h e
n , , .

h eight s t h e commi nut ed pa rti cl es fi nd th e i r way to be d eposit ed

, ,

a nd mi x e d for a spe ll w ith a v a st a g gr eg at e o f v eget abl e an d ani

m al r e sidu e s i n th e low lyi ng pl a c es o f th e ea rth but i n t h e end

-
,

to fi nd th e i r way on fl ood b o rne w at e rs to t h e s ea-

.

T h e i n ca lcul abl e anim al and v eget abl e li f e o f th e s ea fi n d s

its end i n d ea th to s ettl e i nt o th e d epths with al l th e d ebris f rom
,

ea rth ev en tu ally
, to b e compre ss ed i nto se dim ent ary rock .

Through e ro si on m ou nt a i ns ar e grou nd dow n enti re co nti nents

, ,

l ev el ed Through gr eat s eismic uph eav als and t h e d epositi on of

.

silt co nti nents o nce agai n ris e f rom the w at e rs to to w er i nto

, ,

mou nt a i ns hills and pl ai n s ; ag ai n to b e s lowly wo rn to powd er

,

a n d r e d eposit e d i n th e s ea .

Thus i n a nev e r end i ng cy cl e th e su rf ace of th e ea rth

,
-
,

n —
ch a ge s bre aki ng up b ecomi ng s o il b ecomi ng v ege tabl e and ani
, ,

m a l b ecomi ng soil a ga i n ov e r and ov e r ; and fi nally endi ng i n th e

, ,

d eeps to b e compres s e d i nto s edim ent ar y rock and o nce agai n

, ,

th ro ugh geol og ic al ag es to r is e abo ve th e surf a ce and compl et e

,

th e r ecur r i ng cycl e .
 TH E E AR TH W OR M IN N A U RE T 35
W orki ng through remot e geolo g i ca l ages d ow n to th e pre s ent
i n pra cti ca lly u nc h ange d form th e ea rthworm h as b een and is ,

“
o ne o f t h e gr ea t i nt egra ti ng s o il buildi ng forc es o f natur e I n -
.
,

”
thi s mov em ent o f rock m at eri a l on its way to th e d eep al l li f e , ,

both v egetabl e and anim al h as contri b ut ed t o m ak e th e subsoil

,

a nd topsoil t h e gr ea t r epo s itory of th e p hysic a l e l em ents of li f e

o xygen n itrogen ca lcium phosphoru s pot as sium sodium m ag

, , , , , ,

nesi um sulphu r s ilico n hydrog en ch l ori ne iro n w ith tr a c e s of

, , , , , ,

p ra ctically al l th e k now n el em ent s o f th e u niv e rs e In th e buil d .

i ng o f this r epository th e ea rthwo r m h as co ntribute d a m aj or

,

p art for pra ctica lly al l o f th e f e rtil e topso il o f ea rth s s urf a c e

,
’

h as p a s s e d m any ti m es through th e b o d i es of ea rth w orm s .

In th e b ook M an and th e E ar th th e not ed H a rv a rd g eolog ist , ,

“
Nath ani el S outhgat e S h al er h a s aptly c all e d t h e thi n l ay e r of
,

“
hu m us b ea ri ng tops o il th e pl ac ent a o f li f e Co nti nui ng S h al er
”
-
.
,

w arn s : Man and al l form s o f li f e draw li f e from th e s un clouds , ,

ai r
, and ea rth th rough a t enuous fi lm o f topsoil i ndispens abl e ,

an d i f rud ely h andl e d imp e rm anent

, ,I n th e c o nti nu a l r enew a l .

and m a i nt enanc e of thi s imp o rt ant surf a c e l ay e r upo n whi c h li f e

d epend s th e earth w o rm i s one o f th e great est to o ls o f nature

, .

An im a l l i f e i n al l its form s fr o m microb e to m an is t h e , ,

gr eat t ran s fo rm er o f v eget atio n i nto p erf e ct ea rthwo rm food th e ,

an i m al li f e it s el f i n t h e end b ecomi ng food f o r th e ea rthwo rm

, ,
.

In th e p roc e ss of tr an s fo rm atio n a s m all pe rc ent ag e b ec om e s ani

,

m al tis s u e but most of it b ecom e s food for h umus buildi ng

,
-

w o rm s In th e f eed i ng of 100 pound s o f g r ai n to d om e stic ani

. .

m als such as ca tt l e sh ee p and hogs on th e av e rage 89 % pou n d s

, , ,

b ecom es e xcrem ent w as t e and ga ses with o nly 10% pou nds a c
, ,

cou nt ed fo r by i ncr ea s e i n an im al w ei ght A sid e fro m th e ga s eou s .

w as t e th e 89 % pou nd s r epr esent s ea rth w orm food In a nev er

, .

e nd i ng annu a l cycl e u ntol d m illio n s o f to n s of t h e products of

fores t and f arm orch ard and gard en r iv e rs l ak es and oceans

, , , , ,

a r e h a r v e st ed to b e transform ed i nto ea rth w o rm food a ft er th ey

,

h av e nouri s h ed anim al li f e and s erv ed m an Al l th e biologi cal

end pro d ucts o f li fe —
.

-
kitch en and f a rm w ast e stubbl e d ea d v ege , ,
 a l s o h av e p ra ctica lly i nexh aust
to d raw upo n for purpos e s o f
so il buildi ng sourc es
-
, h av e nev er h e reto for e been ex ploit ed
 T h e E a r th wo r m i n Sc i e n ti fi c Li t er a t ur e

SO T H ORO U G H LY es t ablish ed and a cc ept ed is the pl ac e and fu nc

tio n o f t h e ea rthworm i n natur e th at s o il sci entists and oth e r S CI ,

ent i fi c w rit e rs i n g ene r a l iv it bri e f m n tio n i n p a r a gr a ph

g e e , a ,

o r p o s sibly o ne or tw o p ag es a s t h e m ost im port ant anim al agency

,

i n soil buildi ng and th en r e f e r t h e r ea d e r to Ch a rl es D arwi n s

’
-
,

cl a ssic study a s r ecord ed i n his great book The F or ma ti on of ,

Veg eta bl e M oul d Th r ough the A c ti on f

o E ar th wor ms , wi th O h
s er v a ti ons o n T h ei r Ha bi ts .

B egi nni ng his study o f t h e ea rthworm d uri ng hi s c oll ege

days pri o r to 1 83 7 Ch a rl e s D a rwi n co ll e ct ed his n o t es m ad e his
, ,

obs e r v atio ns and s et th em dow n i n m eti culous and p ai nst aki ng

,

d et a il throughout his lo ng li f e In 188 1 sh o rtly b e f o r e th e d eath

.
,

o f t h e gr ea t natura list t h e first e diti on o f his f amous boo k on

,

ea rthw o rms a pp ea r e d Thus i n this one i nst ance we h av e a com

.

p l et e a n d c o mpr e h en siv e study ov e r a su ffici ent p e riod o f tim e i n

w hich to e st a blish f a cts and form co nclusio n s To appr ec i at e .

a nd compr e h en d fully t h e v a st a ctivity a nd impo rt an c e of ea rth

w orms i n na tur e D a rwi n s bo ok on Th e F or ma ti on of Veg eta bl e

,
’

M oul d should b e rea d It i s a v ail abl e i n pra ctica lly al l public li

.

“
b r a r i es .

V g t bl e m o uld i s th e nam e giv en by D ar w i n to t h e f er

e a e

and o bs erv atio n s h e s t a t e s :

,
“
til e l aye rs o f topsoil In hi s i ntroductio n r e f erri ng to hi s s tudi es
.

I was thu s l ed to co nclu d e th at all

,

t h e v eg et abl e mould ov e r th e w hol e cou ntry h a s p a s s ed ma ny

38
 T HE E AR TH W OR M I N S CI E N T I F I C L I TE RA T U RE 39
ti m es th r ough and w i ll aga i n pass many ti m es th r ough th e i n
, ,

testi nal canal s o f w o rms H ence th e t erm ani mal mou ld w ou ld

.
‘ ’

be i n s om e r espect s m o r e appro p ri a t e th an th at comm o nly u s ed ,

‘
v egetabl e m o uld In a s u mm i ng u p o f D a rw i n s co nc l usio ns
.
’ ’
,

we ca nn ot d o b ett er th an to quot e f r om hi s own s u mm a ry gi v en ,

i n th e la s t ch apter o f hi s b ook W e q uot e i n p a r t : .

Wo rms hav e p l ay ed a m ore i mpo r t ant pa rt i n th e hist ory o f

th e w o rld th an m o s t pe rso ns w oul d a t fi r st s up pos e In a l m ost .

al l hu m i d cou nt r i es th ey a r e ex t rao r d i nar ily num e r ou s and for

the i r s i z e pos s ess g r ea t m u s cu l ar po w e r In m any pa rt s of E ng .

l and a w eight o f m o re th an ten tons kilograms ) o f d r y

ea rth annual l e throught t ei r bo di es and is brought to t h e
y p a

s u r ace on eac l ascsres of l and ; s o th at th e w hol e su pe rfici al b ed o f

v eget ab l e m ou ld p asse s th r o ugh th eir bodi e s i n th e cours e o f
e v e ry f ew y ea r s F r om th e coll aps i ng of th e old burrow s th e
.

moul d i s i n const ant though sl o w m o v em ent and th e p articl e s ,

com po s i ng it ar e thus rubb ed togeth e r By th es e m eans fr esh .

s u r f a ces ar e co nti nu al l y ex po sed to th e a ctio n o f th e c a r bo nic

a cid i n t h e soil and of th e humu s a cid s w hich app ea r to b e still
,
-

m or e effi ci ent i n th e de com po s itio n of rock s T h e genera tio n of .

th e humu s a ci d s is prob ably h a s t ened du r i ng th e dig es tio n o f t h e

-

m any h al f d ecay ed l eav es which wo rms co n sum e Thus th e par

-
.
,

t i cl es o f ea r th fo rm i ng t h e s u pe rfici a l moul d a r e subj e c t ed to con

d i ti ons emi nent l y f avour abl e to th ei r d ecompositio n a nd d isi m
t egr at i on Mo reov e r t h e p a rt icl e s o f th e so ft e r rock s su ff e r s om e
.
,

amou nt of m e ch an ic a l t r itu ratio n i n th e muscul a r gi z a r d s o f t h e

w o r m s i n w hich sm all s to nes s e rv e a s mill sto nes

,
-

W orms pr ep ar e th e grou nd i n an excell ent m anne r for th e

grow th of fi br ous root e d pl ant s and for s eedli ng s o f al l ki nds
-
.

Th ey pe riodica lly e x pos e th e mould to th e a i r and si ft it so th at ,

no sto nes l ar ge r th an th e p a rticl e s w hich th ey can sw a llo w a r e

l e ft in it Th ey m i ngl e th e w hol e i ntim at el y togeth er lik e a gar
.
,

d ener w ho p re pa r es fi ne s oil for hi s choic e st pl a nts In thi s st at e .

it i s w el l fitt ed to ret ai n m oi s tur e and to ab sorb all s olubl e sub

s t ances as w ell as fo r th e p roc ess of nitrificatio n T h e bo nes o f
, .

d ead ani m al s th e h ar d e r p art o f i ns ect s th e sh ell s o f l and mol

, ,

l us cs lea v es t w ig s etc a r e b e fo r e l o ng al l buri ed b enea th t h e

, , , .
,

a ccumul at ed ca sti ngs o f wo rm s an d a r e thu s brought i n a mor e ,

o r l es s d e cay ed s t a t e w ith in r each of th e r oot s o f p l ant s Wo rms .

l ik ew is e d rag an i nfinit e nu mb er o f d ead l eav es and oth er pa rts ,

40 H AR N E S S I N G THE E AR TH W O R M
of pl ant s i nto th eir burrows pa rtly for th e s ak e o f plu gg i ng th em
,

up and pa rtly a s food .

T h e l eav e s whi ch a r e dragg e d i nto th e burrows a s food ,

a ft e r b ei ng t o r n i nto t h e fi n e st shr e ds p a rti a lly dige st e d a n d s a tu, ,

rat e d with th e i nt es t i na l and uri na ry s ecr e tio ns a r e commi ngl ed

with much ea r th This ea rth forms th e da rk colour ed ri c h h u
‘

.
-
,

mus which almost ev e rywh ere cov e rs th e surf ace o f th e l an d with

a f a irly w ell d e fi n ed l ay e r o r m a ntl e
-
.

W h en we b ehold a w id e turf cov er ed exp an s e w e should ,

-
,

r em embe r th a t its smooth ness o n which so mu ch of its b eauty ,

d ep ends is m ai nly d ue to al l th e i nequ a liti es h a vi ng b een sl owly

,

l ev ell ed by worms It i s a m a rv ellous r efl e ctio n th a t th e whol e

.

o f th e supe rfici al mould ov er any s uch ex p ans e h as p ass ed and ,

will aga i n p a ss ev er y f ew yea rs through th e bodi es o f worms

,
.

T h e plough is one o f t h e most an ci ent and most v alu abl e o f m an s

’

i nv enti on s ; but lo ng b e fore h e exist ed th e l and wa s i n f a ct re gu

l ar l y plough ed and still c o nti nu e s to be plou g h e d by ea rthworms
, , .

I t m ay b e d o ubt ed wh eth e r th e r e ar e m any othe r an im als whi ch

h av e pl ayed so impo rt ant a p a rt i n th e hist o ry of th e w o rld a s ,

h av e th es e lowly o rgan iz ed creatur e s .

I n s om e of t h e s oils o f E ngl and D a rwi n fou nd e a rt hwo rm s ,

i n c on c entr a tio n s o f f rom to r acr e pa ssi ng ,

through th eir bodi es and Bn ngi ng to th e surf a c e from ten to

e ight e en to n s of dry ea rth annu ally o n e a ch a cr e of l an d La t e r .

i nv esti gatio ns ca rri ed out by th e British G ov ernm ent i n a m or e

f avorabl e loca tio n th an E ngl and show ed gu nnual volum e of , w

c as t i n s ay
g
m erj gi g n
a
a n
l
fl
or e
h i l
mi " p e r
c
a cr e
"
N o t abl e l n .

ve sti gat o r s from t h e ti ii i e o f D a rw i n d ow n to t h e im m e di a t e

‘ ~ ’

pre s ent h av e co r ro b or ate d his fi ndi ngs and h av e al so s how n th at

D arwi n was extr em ely co ns erv ativ e i n his cl a ims both as to num ,

b e rs o f ea rthworms p e r a cre as w el l as to th e t onnage o f ca sti ng s

throw n up .

D r F i rm an E B ea r form erly pro f e ssor o f S o ils O hio S t at e

. .
, ,

U n ive rsity i n hi s a uthorit a tiv e b ook o n Th eor y a nd P r ac ti c e i n

,

th e Us e of F er ti l i z er s st at e s :
“
In a study o f ea rthw o rm s i n th e
“
,

soil on th e O hio S tat e U niv e r s ity Fa rm it w as f o u nd th at th ey ,

w e re pr es ent i n plot s o f s oil cov e r ed w ith blu egra ss i n num b e rs

a ve r agi ng ov e r o ne millio n p er a cr e Th e s e w er e co ncentr at ed . ,
 T HE E AR TH W OR M I N S CI E N T I F I C L I T E RA T U RE 41
at th e tim e th e nu mbe rs w er e es ti m at ed in Ju ly , i n th e uppe r foo t
”
of so il .

In radio addres s del ivere d o v e r W GY Fa rm Fo ru m P ro f

a ,
.

S v end O H ei be rg of th e Ne w York S ta t e Co l l ege o f F or es t ry

.

s ai d : I f yo ur s o i l i s s uitab l e fo r ea rthwo rms th e r e m ay b e

th an t w o and one h a l f m il l io n per a c re w e ighi ng abo ut
-
,

po u nds T h at m eans th at you m ay h av e mor e pou nds o f

.

ea rt h w o rms i n you r empl oym en t th an al l your d om es tic an im al s

”
p u t tog et h e r .

M r A rth ur J Ma son t es ti fyi ng as an expe rt be fore th e

. .
,

Co mm itt ee on Fl oo d Contro l Hou se o f R epr es ent ativ es S ev en

tiet h Con gr ess s ta t ed :
“ ,

Th e w eigh t o f th e angl ewo rm s i n thi s

,
,

count ry i s at l ea s t ten f ol d th e w e ight of th e entir e hum an p op u

lat i on ”
. Mr Mason e s ti ma t ed th a t th e f a rm l ands of Il inoi s
.
,

hi s h om e s tat e i n no rm al circum s t anc es co nta i n an ea rth w o r m

,

popul atio n o f m o r e th an s i x hundr ed b illion .

H undreds o f quot atio ns from sci entific lit e ratu re coul d be

ci te d co rro bo ra ti v e o f t h e f o r egoi ng but it i s u nne c ess a r y to bu r
, ,

d en th ese pages w ith f ur th er exampl es .

S O I L -
B U I L D E R S OF F O R E S T L A N D S

Curt i s Fl etch er M a rb ut ote d so il s ci enti s t and f o r many

, n

yea rs Chi e f o f th e S oi l S ur vey Divisio n i n th e Unit ed S t ate s De

p a r tm en t o f A gri c u l t ur e exp r e ss e d, th e be li e f th a t i n c ert a i n a rea s

to ea rth w o rm cas ts .
“
th e gr anul a r co n d itio n ch ar a ct er l z m g w hol e l ay ers o f so il i s d ue
W e q uote f rom S oil s and M en U S De ”
, . .

p ar t me n t o f A g ri cu l tu r e Y ea rb o o k f o r 1 9 3 8 p a g e 9 46 ,

Ce rtain m ul l s o r g ranu l a r mi xt ur es o f m i ne ral and o r ganic

,

mat eri al p rod uced by earth w o rms gi ve particul ar ar eas o f th e ,

f ores t fl oo r th ei r w h o l e cha ract er .

Q u o ti n g fu r th e r f r o m th e s am e b oo k i n t h e c h a pt e r o n
”
Fo rm at i on o f S o i l pages 964 96 5 we fi nd
,
-
,

E a rt h w orms f ee d on soi l and o rgani c m att er and t h o ro ugh l y

mix s oil s i n w hi ch th ey l i ve Th ey mov e and en ri ch m any tons o f
.
42 H AR NE S S I N G THE E AR TH W OR M
soil t o th e a cre ea ch y ear and th ey thriv e esp eci ally w ell i n mod er
,

a t e ly a c id t o m o d era t ely a lk a li ne soils O ne o f th e m any i n dic a .

tio n s o f pot enti a lly productiv e soils is t h e pr es ence o f w ell

n ourish e d ea rthw o rms .

F rom th e Jo u r nal quot

f
“ o F or es tr y e t
followi ng from t h e a rticl e on Fo r e st S o il i n R el a ti on to S ilvi
,
h e Vol 3 7, No 1 we. .
,

c ultur e by S ve nd O H eib e rg A sso c i at e P ro f essor o f S i l v i cul

”
, .
,

tur e New York S t at e Coll ege o f For estry T h e quot atio n r e f e rs

,

“ “
to on e m ai n typ e of f o r e st s o il mull or c r um b m ul l : , ,
”
.

In th e mull t h e org anic m att e r i s i ntim at ely mix ed with th e

,

uppe r f ew i n ch es o f t h e mi ne ral soil In its b est f o rm it i s .

crumbly fri abl e and po rous It r es embl es a w ell cultiv at ed ga r

, , .
-

d en . T h e mixi ng i s do ne by th e soil f a u na e sp e ci ally by t h e ,

e a r t hw o rms which c o nti n u a lly d i n d c ultiv a t e a n d ea t b o th t h e

g a

v eg et abl e m att e r and th e mi neral s o il T h e excr et a a r e pl aced .

up on th e s o il surf a ce ; i n f act t h e entir e humus l ay e r o f coars e

,

mull cons t i st s o f ea rthw o rm e x c r et a In goo d f o r est mull b etw een.

o ne a n d t wo millio n ea rthw o r m s a r e f o u n d cr w e ighi ng

p e r a e ,

a b o u t 800 pou n ds ; th e i r ca sti ng s m a y a m o u n t t o 1 5 to n s pe r a c r e

p e r y ea r Th
. e r e is n o d o ubt th a t ea rthw o r m s a r e t h e m o st b en e

fi c i a l a nim als i n f o r e stry T h e c ultiv a tio n o f t h e s o il a nd pl o u gh

.

i ng u nd e r o f m anure whi ch f a rm e rs a nd ga rd ene rs fi nd to b e o f

gr eat import an ce for th e soil productivity is do ne fr ee by th e “
ea rthw o rms i f th ey a r e fur n ish ed with a suit abl e envir o nm e nt .

W ith r e sp ec t to pr o du ct ivity this humus typ e ( coa rs e mull ) is

,

u nd o ubt e dly th e hi gh est a nd its ability to abs o rb m o istur e a n d

t hus pr e v ent surf ace r un O ff a n d e r o sio n is hi g h
-
O ne lit e o f .
r

w at e r p our ed on a 100 squ a r e c entim et e rs surf ace O f coars e mull

whi h orr esp o ds to ab out f our i nch es o f r i m ay b e ab
c c n a n —
s o rb e d i n l e ss th an 1 5 s econ ds whil e O n t h e s am e s oil wh e r e th e
,

co a rs e mull h as not d ev elop ed it m ay r equir e two or thr ee hours

t o s eep i n .

M A S S -
P R O D U C T I O N O F T O P S O I L
O N F A R M L A N D

show j ust wh a t th e ea rth w o rm can accomplish in soil

To
buildi ng wh en giv en a pr ope r ch an ce we must se l ect a S pot i n t h e ,

w o rld wh e re natur e h as provid ed a f av o r abl e enviro nm ent with ,

 T HE E AR TH W OR M I N S CI E N TI F I C L ITE M T U RE 43
an un a f i l ing s upply of ea rth w o rm f oo d i n ex cess i v e ab u ndan ce ,

pr op erl y com po s t ed w ith al l th e ch emica l el em ents and o r gan ic

.

an ex a m pl e i n th e Vall ey o f th e Ni l e anc i ent

,
“
cont ent r equi red to b ui ld rich to ps oil F o rtu nat ely we h av e s u ch
,

”
br ead bas k et o f
-

th e w o r l d and re put e dl y th e m o st f e r ti l e s oi l on th e f a c e o f th e

g lob . e O nly i n th e m ore d en s ely p opul at ed a r ea s o f Chi na an d

J apan do we fi nd s uch a co nc ent ratio n o f hu man b ei ng s d raw i ng

t h ei r nou ri s h m ent f r o m l im it ed a r ea s of so il . F or m or e th an si x
tho us and years o f r eco rded hi s to ry th e V all ey o f th e Nil e h as
b een d ens ely occu p i e d and un d er conti nuou s cu l tiv atio n and this ,

w ithout d et er ioratio n o f th e f ert i l ity o f th e s oi l H e re we h av e

.

a n o b j ect l e ss on i n natu re o n m a ss pr o d uctio n of topsoi l o n a s ca l e

- -

o f s uch m agnitu d e as to enabl e u s to envisio n th e limitl es s p o s

s i b i l i t i e s i nh e rent i n th e i nt ens ive prop a gatio n and utiliz atio n o f

ea rth w o rms i n th e co nt r o l l e d s e rv ic e o f m an . W e s h all m ak e a

bri e f d esc ri p tiv e ex cu rsio n to th e U p p er Vall ey of th e Nil e .

T H E E A R T H W O R M S O F T H E N I LE
In Uni ted S tates D epar tm ent of A gr i cul tur e E xper i m en t

S ta ti on R ecor d , Vol 2 7 No 6 , we fi nd t h e followi ng

.
, . sum m a ry
I nv e stigati ons ca rri ed o n by th e Briti s h Go v ernm ent i n th e
Val l ey o f th e Whit e Nil e i n th e S u d an i nd ica t e th a t t h e gr eat
f ertility of th e s oi l of this v a l l ey i s d ue i n l arge p art to th e work
o f ea rth w o rms O b s erv atio n s a r e r ecor d e d from w hich it is e sti
.

mat ed th a t th e ca s ti ng s of e a rth w or ms on th es e soil s duri ng th e

s i x mo nth s o f activ e gr owi ng s eas on o f th e y ear amou nt s to
po u nds tons ) per acr e .

Th e figu r es gi v en i n th e for egoi ng quot atio n a r e almost nu

b el i ev ab ly am az i ng to anyone w ho h as m a d e no s tu dy of th e
a cti v ity and v o l um e of work a ccomp l i s h e d by ea rth w o rms To .

u nd er stand th em we m ust e xam i ne th e s ource o f th e Blu e Nil e

,

and t h e f act s i n na tur e w hich m ak e s uch r es ults cr edibl e

Th e t w o so urc e r i ve rs o f th e true Nil e —

.

W hit e Ni l e and
t h e B l u e Ni l e — fo rm t h ei r co nflu ence at Kh artoum w hich i n ,
 T HE E AR TH W OR M I N S CI E N T I F I C L I T E R AT U RE 45
B elo w th e f alls th e riv e r i s crow ded i nto an almost i nacce s
s i b l e gorge at pl ac es 5000 f eet d ee p b e tw een whos e p recipitous
, ,

wal l s it p ur s u es it s cou rs e f o r 500 mil e s This gorge is an almost .

un i nv ad e d j u ng l e pa r ad i s e fo r ani m als and birds T h e t emp e ra .

t u re nev er f al l s be l ow 1 00 d eg r ee s T h e a ccum ul at ed dro p pi ng s

.

o f m o nth s f r om m il l io n s o f an im a l s and birds i ncludi ng el e ,

p h a n t,
s hi pp o p ot am i croco d il e
,
s lio n s l e op a r ds
,
a n d a n a ggr
,
eg a ,

t i on o f bea st s gr eat and s m all fi nd th e i r w ay i nto t h e rive r to a dd

'

to it s r i ch s ilt Th e d ow npou r o f r a i n co nti nu e s for nea rly o ne

.

h undr ed d ay s w i th v ery l itt l e l et up

,
T h e rushi ng e rodi ng
-
.
,

w at ers f r om th e highl an ds gath er v as t qu antiti es o f volcanic ash ,

f e r r u gi nou s m i ner al s f el ds p ar ho rnb l ende cry s t al s cl ay et c

, , , ,
.
,

d o w n th e s t eep hi lls i d es i nto th e Blu e Ni l e u ntil th e riv e r ca rri es ,

1 7 pe r c ent o f s ilt of which 9 p e r c en t is organ ic m att e r a nd 8

,

p e r c e nt m i ne ra l m a tt e r .

A pe cu l i a r el em ent which a d ds appr e ci a bly to t h e org an ic

rich nes s of th e silt o f th e Blu e Nil e i s b illio ns o f whit e ants with ,

th e num b e rl ess to ns o f fi ne ear th th ey h av e pil e d up i n th ei r

c ea s el e s s worki ng s d uri ng th e ni ne mo nth s d ry s ea so n ’
.

A ft e r fl owi ng 500 mil es through th e co n fi ne s o f this gr ea t

canyon a boi l i ng m i x i ng cau ld ro n o f raci ng silt l ad en w at ers
, , ,
-
,

th e r iv er b ur s t s f ro m th e go rg e i nto th e low l and of th e G ezir a

and spr ea d s o v e r th e pl ai n a s ov erflo w I n th e G ezi r a mo r e th an
.

9000 m il es o f i rrigatio n d itch es h el p to distri but e th e flood

w at ers u ni fo rml y ov er th e ea rth .

It i s thu s th at th e v a st annu al f ea st of organic and i norgan ic

m at eri al p e rf ectly mix ed and compost ed is spr ead f o r th e worms
, ,

o f th e G ez ir a B eneath th e d ry sur f a c e o f th e ea rth th e i nnu

.

m er abl e e ar thworm popul a tio n h as aw a it e d th e comi ng of th e

ra i ns Th e ea rth h as b een r i d dl ed w ith billio ns of tu nnels to a
.

depth o f se v eral f ee t m aki ng it one v a st ho ney co mb ed sub

,
-

s urf ace r eady to r ece iv e and stor e th e w at er s wh en th ey co m e

, .

A s t h e floo d w at e r sp r ea d s t h e thi r s ty ea rth abso rbs it quickly

-
,

lik e a spo nge l eav i ng its d eposit o f silt T h e ea rthwo rm s b egi n

, .

th e ir w ork and alm o s t ov e r night th e S ilt is ca r ri e d throu g h th e

46 H AR N E S S I N G T HE E AR TH W OR M
w o rms d ige st ed hom ogeniz e d and excret ed as r ich fi ne hu m u s
, , ,

l ad en to ps oil lo ad e d w ith imm edi at ely av ai l ab l e w at er solubl e

, ,
-

pl ant nutri ent s H ere no hu m an cultiv atio n i s requi red T h e

. .

g r ou d i s s eed ed a d
n n t h e n ex t O —
pe ratio n is th e h a rv e st th e earth
wo rms d o th e cultiv ati ng .

Ag e a ft e r age for thou s ands o f y ea rs this proc ess h as b e en

, ,

rep eat ed In this f avor abl e env iro nm ent natu re co m po s t s foo d i n
.

abu nd an c e t h e ea rthwo rm s d ev our it d ige st it and ex cr et e humu s

, , ,

fo r th e grow th o f v eget atio n i n an endl es s cyc l e W e ar e th us .

giv en an out s t and i ng examp l e o f m ass pro d uctio n o f top s oi l i n -

na tur e b y t h e ea rth w o rms o f th e Ni l e V al l ey r ight l y t e rm ed a

,

s oil o f i nexh austibl e f e rtility .

In thi s r e cord e d ob s e rv atio n th e ca s ti ng s w er e es tim at ed fo r

,

a p e riod of s ix m onths o nly tot ali ng for thi s tim e s li g htly l ess
,

th an 120 to n s pe r a cr e B a s ed on co m pr eh ensive knowl ed ge o f

.

th e earth w o r m and his work a co ns e rv a tiv e estim at e for t h e en

,

ti r e y ea r i n th e a r ea u nd e r co nsi d er atio n w ould pl ac e th e total

p rob abl e annu al output o f ca s ti ng s at m o r e th an 200 to ns pe r a cr e .

F E R T I L I TY O F E A R T H W O R M S O I L
W hil e engage d i n re s ea rch and ex pe ri m ent s ov er a num ber
o f yea rs we exami ne d m any r epo rt s c a rri ed i n s ci entific lit e ra
,

tur e cov e ri ng a pe riod of near ly one hu ndred y ea r s f ro m b e fo re

, ,

t h e tim e o f D a rw i n dow n to t h e imm e di at e pr e s en t Th e ev i .

d enc e showi ng v a stly i ncr eas ed p ro d uctivity o f s oil th at is w el l

,

popul at ed with ea rth w o rm s or entirely produce d by earthworms

, ,

is fully co nclu s iv e In f act th e evi d en c e S how s an ov erw h el m

.
,

i ng sup e riority o f e a rthworm soil ov e r oth e r f e rt il e soil s Am o ng .

t h e m any r ea so ns th a t accou nt for t h e f e r tility o f ear th w o rm ca s t

i ngs probably th e most outst and i ng i s th e f a ct th at i n its pa ssage
,

through th e earthwo rm th e s oil u nd ergo es a ch emical ch ange

through w hich th e nutritio nal el eme nts fo r pl ant gr ow th ar e r en
d e re d w at er s olubl e to a m uch mo r e highly m ark e d d egr ee th an
-

i s fou nd i n soil w hich h as not be en s ubj ect ed to th e i nfl u enc e of

ea rthwo rm s .
 T HE E AR TH W O R M I N S CI E N T I F I C L I TE RAT U RE 47
Th e w ell k no w n f e rtility of th e Nil e Vall ey i s an exampl e
-

a two thou s a n d mil e s tr et c h o f l an d w hich i s lit e ra lly one v a st be d

-

of ea rth w o rm s oil id eally co m post ed and l a i d d ow n l ay e r by

, ,

l ay er and s u bj e cte d to th e d igestion o f ea rthwo rm s i n a f avor

,

abl e envi ro nm ent W hil e we h av e giv en th e Val l ey o f th e Nil e

.

a s a n exa mpl e a l l t h e f ertil e riv e r v a ll ey s and b ott o m l and s o f

,

t h e ea rth coul d b e cit ed w ith equ a l t ruth a s i ll ustr atio n s o f t h e

i m port ant work o f ea rthwo rm s i n t h e buildi ng o f topsoil M any .

p l ant g rowth expe rim ent s h av e b een ca r r i ed out i n v e rificatio n o f

th e cl a i ms m a d e f or ea rthwor m ca sti ng s and s oil th a t h as b een
w ork ed ov er b y earth w orm s F u rth er on i n this b ook we sh a l l
.

g 1 v e oth e r r e port s b ut it i s ,a ppropri a t e at this p oi n t i n t h e dis

cus s i on to cit e a f ew .

I n t h e book S oi l s : Th ei r F o r ma ti on P r oper ti es Com pos i ti on

, ,

a nd R el a ti ons to Cl i ma te a nd P l an t Gr ow th b y E W Hilga r d,
. .

o ne tim e P ro f e s sor o f A gricultur e i n t h e U n iv er

s i ty o f Ca li fo rn i a and f o rm e rly Dire ctor of th e Ca li forn i a E x

i m S t tio w fi d i p rt "
p e r ent a n ) e n n a

W ol ney show n by d ir ect ex pe rim ent al cultur es i n bo xe s

h as ,

with and with o ut ea rthwor m s surprisi ng d i ff erenc es b etw een th e

,

cultura l re sult s O bt ai ned and this h as b een fully co nfi rm ed by

,

th e s ubs equ ent r e s ea rch e s o f Dj emil I n W ol ney s exp e rim ents

’
. ,

t h e ratio o f hi g h e r productio n i n t h e pr e s en c e O f worms v a ri e d

al l th e w ay from 2 6 pe r c ent i n th e ca s e of o at s
. p e rc ent i n ,

th at o f r y e p ercent i n th at o f pot a to e s 140 pe rc ent i n

, ,

v etch and 3 00 p e rcent i n th at of th e fi el d p ea to 733 pe rcent i n

, ,

t h e ca s e o f r ap e .

F rommo ng m any r ep orts re c eiv ed from pra ctical ea rth

a

w orm culturists we w ill giv e p a rt of a l ett e r fro m a G eorgi a

,

f arm e r M r R A Ca ld w el l ; we quot e
, . . .

I h a v e p l ant ed M os s R o s e i n ex p erim ent al po ts s am e age and ,

cond itio n o ne pot w ith w orm s one w ithout : i nv a r i ably t h e o ne

, , ,

w ith th e w o rm s w ill t ak e on new z est and l i f e and I h av e h ad ,

‘
Pag es 1 58-1 59
48 H AR NE S S I N G T HE E AR TH W OR M
th em m ak e s uch w o nd erfu l g rowth as 16 to 1 I h av e a l s o gr own .

p etu ni a s i n box es i n such si z e and pro fusion as to be u nbeli ev abl e

,

to one who nev er h ad a d em o ns t ra tio n o f t h e ea rthwo rm s f er t i l i z ’

i ng and cu l tiv ati ng ability Petu ni a s i n so il o f i d entica l f ertility

.
,

w ith th e ai d o f hu ndr eds o f earth w o rm s bu rr owi ng about th eir

root s prod uc ed l eav es 1 % t o 1 94 i nch es w i de by 3 i n ch es l ong
, ,

whil e tho s e i n th e box e s w ith out w o rm s w ere y et V i nch wid e 2

by l to i nch es l o ng ; and th e w o rm f erti l iz ed p l ant s w er e -

s ev e ral time s as t a l l as th e oth er s .

In a full colum n a rt i cl e entitl ed E a rthwo rms i n Rol e of

-

G reat B ene f actors o f th e Hum an R ac e M r W A A nd ers on ,

"
. . .
,

E d ito r of th e S ou th P as ad ena R ev i ew r eport e d a numbe r o f ,

"
g r owth ex p e rim ents b y th e a uthor O ne o f th e ex p e rim ents r e
.

p o rt ed on was this : W e pl ant e d th r ee bo xes o f l aw n gr a ss ( poo

tr i vi al i s )
. O ne bo x o f goo d nativ e soil as control ; o ne b o x of
i d entical soi l b ut w ith e arthworms add ed ; one bo x of pur e earth
,

worm c asti ngs A ft er g e rmi natio n and s i xty days growth th e

.
’
,

g r a s s w as h a rv es t e d a nd t h e r e sults ca r e ful l y co m p a r e d A l l .

boxe s produced goo d crops o f g ra ss T h e box o f nativ e soil with .

,

e a rthworms a dd e d yi eld e d 2 7 1 pe rc ent mor e th an t h e co ntrol bo x

,

w ithout w or ms T h e bo x of ea rthworm ca s ti ngs yi eld ed 46 3 p er

.

c ent mor e th an th e co ntrol bo x w ithout ea rthworm s .

Wh il e we coul d giv e an endl es s ar ray of r eport s s i m il ar to

t h e above we f eel th a t t h e for egoi ng 1 s amp ly s u ffi ci ent to c a ll
,

att entio n to t h e f a ct th a t th e e a rth w orms no t o nly produc e a gr ea t

volum e o f topsoil but th ey produ ce soil o f u n surp a ss ed f ertility

,
.

S U B S O I L Z I T S T R A N S LO CA T I O N A N D

M I X I N G B Y E A R T H WOR M S

O n th e subj ect o f pl ant f o od i n subsoil we quot e from P r o ,

d uc t iv e S oi l s : Th e F u nd a m enta l s of S u cce ss ful S o i l M anag eme nt

and P r ofi ta bl e Cr op M ana g em entT ,
by W ilbu r Wal t e r Weir
‘
1
S outh P asad ena ( Cal i f or ni a) Revi ew A p ri l , 1 2, 1940 .

TP ag es 7 1 and 72
 ”
Dr . Ge o r ge S h e fli e l d O l i v e r , wi t h a c lu st e r of r ipe c ar o b
a
g a i n s t th e b a c k gr o un d .
 THE E AR TH W OR M I N S CI E N T I F I C L I TE RA T U RE 49
MS . .
, Fore st E
cologi s t B ranch o f Res earch
Ph D
.
, ,

For est S erv ic e U S D ept o f A gricultur e ; one tim e S oil Te ch

, . . .

nol ogi s t Bur ea u of Ch emistry and S oil s U niv e rsity of W i s co n

, ,

Sin )
S ub s oils co nt a i n pl ant food el em ent s It is im po rtant to b ea r
.

m m i nd th at s ubs o ils a lso co nt a i n t h e import ant el em ents In .

gene ral th e surf ac e s o il co nt ai ns m or e ni trogen th an th e sub

,

s oil owi ng to th e pr es enc e o f mor e organi m att e r S om e d eep

, c .
,

bl a ck soil s may h ave as high p e rc ent age o f nitro gen i n th e sub

soil ( to a l i m it ed d ep th ) as is co nt a i ned i n th e surf a ce strat um .

Th e p e r c ent age o f phosphoru s i n th e surf a c e l ay e r is com

m ou ly gr eat e r th an o r equ al to th at contai ne d i n t h e subsoil .

Th er e i s O ft en a cl o s e rel atio nship betw een th e phosph o rus and

t h e am o u nt o f org an ic m a tt e r i n mi ne r a l s o ils This ac cou nt s for .

th e hi g h e r phosphorus c o nt ent of th e upp e r stra t a O n ex .

h austi v e croppi ng th e high er c ont ent o f th e surf a ce s o il is g r a du

,

a lly r e du c e d ; u ntil i t equ a l s at l ea st th e p e r cent a g e c ont ai ned i n

t h e subsoi l .

Th e pot a ssiu m co nt ent is u s u ally gr ea t e r i n th e subsoils ,

e s pe ci a lly wh en th ey a r e fi ne t ex tur e d M or e pot a ssium i s fou nd

-
.

i n sub s oil s of humi d cli m at e s b e caus e of t h e pr es en c e o f m o r e

fi ne p a rticl e s w hich a r e no t o nly rich e r i n p o t a ssium th an t h e
,

c oa rs er surf ac e p a rticl es but which absorb much m o r e o f t h e

,

pot a ssium l ea ch ed dow n from t h e surf ac e s t ra tum .

I n a rid and s emi a rid s o ils t h e phosph o rus and pot a ssium
-
,

co nt ent o f t h e s urf ac e soi l is v ery much th e s am e as th at o f th e

s u b soil.

F rom th e for egoi ng quot atio n it i s r ea dily app reci at ed w h at

,

a gr eat ch ang e ma y b e m a d e i n t h e s urf a ce soil b y t h e t r an sl o ca

tion o f th e subsoil to th e top l ay ers throu gh th e a ctio n of e a rth

w orms e s p eci ally w h en th ey ar e pr es ent i n l a rge num be r s T h e
, .

fu rth er importanc e o f this soil mov em ent from th e de pth s to th e

t op w i l l b e mo re fully u nd e rstoo d i n t h e li ght o f t h e ch em ic al
c h ang e s t h e soil u nd e rgo e s i n its p a ss ag e thr o u g h t h e ea rthworm ,

which r ende r it imm edi at ely av ail ab l e for th e growi ng of c rop s .

E v ery f a rm e r and stud ent o f th e s oil k nows th at h e canno t

m i x hi s top s oil w ith any gr eat qu antity o f subs oil without se ,
 T HE E AR TH W OR M I N S CI E N T I F I C L I T E RA T U RE 51
W e decid e d to l eav e bo x and o bs e rv e r esults m eantim e Co ver
th e ,

i ng it fo r prot ectio n a ga i nst th e summ e r sun and k e epi ng t h e

cont ents m oi s t Th e co nt ent s o f th e box s oo n lost its id entity
.

a s m anur e and a ft er a f ew m o nths w a s fou n d t o h av e b e en co m ,

p l et e l y co nv e rt e d i nto fi n e d a rk c r umbly e,a rth W e us e d this

,
.

ea rthworm soil for a Victory G a rd en g row n i n l ugb ox es whi c h , ,

s up p li ed our ta b le with l ettuc e radi s h e s you ng o n io ns be ets , , , ,

and oth er g re ens o f u nusu al exc el l en c e from ea rly S pri ng u ntil

l at e i n th e f all In this i ns t ance t h e worm s br o u ght up c o nsid e r

.
,

ab l e qu antiti es o f th e s ub s oil from b enea th t h e ol d c em e nt bo x

and thoroughly m i xe d and combi ned it w ith r a bbit m an ur e ,

provi d i ng u s with highly f ertil e and p roductiv e ea rth for ou r

l ugbox ga rd en .

I n th e R ecord o f th e U S D ept o f A gr icultur e E x p er i

. . .

m ent S ta tion Vol XVII No

, we fi nd th e followi ng sum
,
.

ma ry o f an exper im ent by A Mur i nov .

A l t e rnat el aye rs o f d i ff er ent ki nd s o f s oi l w e r e pl ac ed i n

zi nc bo xes with one gl a ss s i d e ea rthwo rm s w ere a dd ed t h e soil
, ,

k ept i n a p ro p e r s t at e o f moi s tur e and th e ch anges which t h e ,

s oil u nd erw ent d et e rm i ned b y analy s es at th e be gi nni ng an d end

o f th e expe ri m ent s w hich l as t ed one y ea r A ch eck s e ri e s o f
, .

bo xe s w e re tr eat ed i n th e sam e m anne r ex cept th at earthwo rm s ,

w er e not ad d ed .

T h e r es u l ts S ho w th a t i n th e so il s to w hich th e ea rthwo rm s
w ere ad d ed th e pho s phori c a cid s olubl e i n 10 per cent hydro
chloric a ci d i ncr ea s e d i n al l ca s e s T h e li me co nt ent which at .
,

t h e b egi nni ng w as g r ea t e s t i n t h e s u r f a c e s oil s was fou nd at ,

th e end of th e ex pe r im ent s to gr a d u a l l y i n crea s e f ro m t h e s u r

f ac e t o w a rd t h e s ub s oil s Th e ni t r og en was m or e u ni fo rml y
.

d i s t r ibut ed th r o ughout th e so i l at th e end o f t h e ex p e ri m ent th an

at th e b egi nni ng .

In co ns i d eri ng so i l th at h as been w o rk ed ov er by ea rth w o rms

and m i xed w ith ea rth w o rm ca s ti ng s att ention s hould be call ed to
—
,

th e f a ct th a t th e maj o r plant foo d el em ent s nitrogen p ho s -

,

‘
P ag e 744
52 H AR N E SS I N G T HE E AR TH W OR M
p h o r us and potas sium as w e ll a s th e mi n o r el em e nt s a r e

i ntim at ely mix ed and compo und ed with a high pe rc ent ag e of or :

g a n i c m a t e ri a l a
,
l l i n a fi n e ly divid e d st a t e which e xpos e s m a
,
ny
su rf a ces to th e b a ct eri a l actio n s o imp o rtant i n th e topsoil Th e .

”
ea rthworms sw eet en th e s oil as t h e c asti ngs a r e ri ch i n cal
,

c i um ca rbo na t e th a t h as b een s ecr et e d fr o m t h e bloo d o f t h e

ea r thw o rm i n t h e m et a bolic pro ce ss e s a n d is t h e n excr e t e d i n

t h e ca sti ngs .

O f p a rticul a r not e is th e hi ghly import ant f a ct th a t ea rth

worm ca sti ng s ar e v e r y rich i n nitrogen and m ay c ont ai n thr ee
ti m e s as much nitro gen as is fou n d i n th e soil i n which th e worms
wo r k This poi nt is brou ght out by H o rac e E dw a rd S t o ck
.

bridge F l o rid a A gricultura l Co ll eg e ) i n his book R oc ks

a nd S oi l s : Th e i r O r i gi n
, Com pos i ti on and Ch ar ac ter i s ti cs . In
dis cussi ng ea rthworm ca s ti ngs ,
he s ays
Th e amou nt o f organic m a tt e r thus d ir ectly or i ndir ect ly
a dd e d to t h e soil m ay be i n f e rr e d from th e f a ct th at D a rw i n

estim at es th a t th e m a t e ri al annu a lly brough t to th e surf a c e by

worm s is two t enths o f an i nch p er acr e ; equival ent to an av e rage

-

of t on s o f each a cre i nh abit e d by wo rm s .

Da rw i n s t at es th e ammo ni a co nt en t o f w or m ca s ti ng s to
be p e r c en t ,
whil e t h e a v e r a g e a mmo n i a pr e s e nt i n com
m o n surf a c e soils a s d et erm i ne d by Knop a nd W ol ff is o nly
, ,

p e r c en t It
. th e r e for e a pp ea r s th a t t h e a ctio n o f t h e

worm s h as i nc rea s ed th e am moni a co nt ent o f th e soil a ct ed upo n

m or e th an thr ee f o ld ( 3 2 1 per c ent ) .

W h en giv en umb e r of pou nds pe r a cre r eprese nt ed

in th e n

by p e r c e n t of t o n s t h e amou nt o f , d ry m a t e ri al

w hich Darw i n es tim at ed annu ally p a s se d th r ough th e earth

w o rm s o f E ngl and p er acr e t h e yea rly acc essio n of am mo ni a
,

p e r a c r e i s equi v al ent to pou n ds A m mo n i a i s but one

.
,

an d pe rh a p s not th e m o st import a nt o f th e co nstitu ent s m ad e

,

“
av a i l ab l e i n th e top s oi l by th e li f e fu nctio n s o f ear thworms
- .

Q uoti n g fu r th e r from D r S tockbridg . e T h is be it bo rne i n

, ,

m i nd i s but a ch ange wr ought i n one yea r and capab l e o f yea r ly

,
 T HE E AR TH W OR M I N S CI E N T I F I C L I T E R AT U R E 53
repetitio n A nd m o r eo v er th e enti re m a ss o f m ould on ev e ry
.
, ,

fi el d p a s s e s i n th e cou r s e o f a f ew yea r s throu g h th e i r alim ent a ry

”
canals .

I n co n sid e ri ng t h e sign ific an c e of th e abov e qu o t atio ns a nd

co mm ents we w ill po i nt out th at in th e exampl e we h av e giv en
,

o f th e actio n of th e e arthw o r m s i n th e Anglo E gypti an S ud an -

,

t h e a c c e ssio n o f ammo ni a to th e t o psoi l would b e an a lmost nu

b eli ev ab l e amou nt W e can o nl y s u rm is e at this poi nt th at th e

.

a cc essio n of oth e r p l ant food el em ent s to t h e topsoil i s propo r

t i onal to th e gai n i n n itrogen d eriv ed from ammo n i a .

T h e co n st ant t ransloc atio n o f th e pl ant food mi ne r al s from

th e subsoil to t h e surf a c e z o ne s th e thoro ugh and c ea s el ess mix
,

i ng o f th es e el em ent s with th e s o il m aki ng it a fi nely co nditio ne d

, ,

ev en ly b al an c ed soil w ithout t h e n e c e ssity for lo ng w ea th e ri ng ,

i s j u s t pa rt o f th e im po rt ant w o rk o f worm s W ith o ut quoti ng .

long r e f e r ence s and d et a ils l et us summ a riz e i n p ar t th e w o rk

,

o f ea rthw o rm s i n natur e with som e r el at ed poi nts b e for e p ass

, ,

i ng on to t h e s eco n d p a rt o f t h e book w hich d ea ls wi t h t h e con,

t roll ed a ctivity o f earthw o rm s .

S U M M A R Y
E rthwo rm s ar e fou nd i n natur e r angi ng f r om a sparse
a ,

popu l atio n o f a f ew thous and p er acre to s ev e ral millio n s p er

a cr e i n f avorabl e enviro nm ent Th ey a r e distribut ed prae.

tical l y al l o v er t h e gl ob e .

W hil e e a rthworm s i nh abit th e surf ace l aye rs o f s oil d e ,

rivi ng nutritio n fro m th e organic co nt ent o f th e s o il but swal ,

lowi ng th e soil with al l th at it co nt ai n s th ey comm only burrow ,

d eep i nto th e earth riddli ng and ho neyc ombi ng th e ea rth to a

" ,

d epth of s ev e ral f eet Th ey com e to th e to p to d epo sit th ei r

.

ca sti ng s on top of th e earth and i n th e lo o s e surf a c e l ay e rs ,

bri ngi ng th e subsoil to th e top and m ixi ng it w ith th e surf a ce

so il In it s pa s s age th r ough th e w orm th e mi ne r al subsoil u nd e r
.
,

go es ch emical ch anges m aki ng it imm ed i at ely av ail abl e for pl ant

,
54 H AR NE S S I N G THE E AR TH W OR M
n utritio n Th e aerati ng t unne l s h av e th e im po rtant fu nctio n of
.

great l y i nc rea si ng th e ai r ca pa city o f th e s oil In s o m e ca s es .

‘

t h e ai r ca p a city i s i ncr ea s ed as m uch a s 60 to 7 5 p e r c ent .

W at e r p enetratio n i s impro ve d w h e re th er e i s adequ at e ea rth

wor m popul atio n P l ow sol e is elimi nat ed Th e rai n f all i s
. .

quickly absorb e d i nst ead o f ru nni ng O ff o r st a nd i ng on th e sur

,

f ac e.

Wo rm ca st s in aci d s oil a r e much l es s a ci d th an th e soi l fro m

which th ey a r e d eriv ed th e r ed uctio n i n a cidity i n som e i nstances
,

amou nti ng to as much as 7 5 e c n t I n l a rg nu mb e r s t h e

p r e . e ,

ea rthworms produc e a topsoil th a t is pr a ctica lly a neutr a l humu s .

A lso ea rthworm s r ed uc e th e a lk ali n ity o f th e s oil s o th at a lk ali ne

, ,

soils a r e r end er ed l es s alk ali ne whil e a cid soils ar e r ende r ed l ess

,

a ci d
.

W o rm ca sts co mmo nly co nt a i n a hi gh p e rc ent age of ca r

bonates as w el l as a high p e rc ent age of nitrogen .

E a rthwo rm s i ncr ea s e th e organic co nt ent o f t h e s u r fa c e soi ls

by c o n centr ati ng th e organic cont ent O f th e so il i n th e top l ay ers .

Colloid humu s is i ncr eas ed i n th e to psoi l .

B act e ri a l multiplicatio n and fu n ctio ni ng ar e f avor ed b y t h e

a ctio n o f ea rthworm s . Wh ere th e re ar e num erous ea rthwo rm s ,

th e s oil a ls o h a s a g r eat l y i ncr ea s e d n umb e r o f s oil b a ct e ri a es p e ,

ci all y thos e co nc e r ne d i n th e d ecom positio n of c ellul o s e D ecom .

p ositio n O f v ege t ab l e m att er is much m o r e r ap id u nd er th e

i nflu enc e o f ea rthworms .

E a rthwo rm s co nti nu ally r e s to r e t h e p l ant foo d e l em ent s to

t h e surf a c e s o ils fr o m t h e subsoils thus o v e rcomi ng th e eff e ct s
,

o f l eachi ng Th rough th e actio n o f th e ea rthworms th e pot en

.
,

ti al f ertility o f th e s oil is r ende r ed av ail ab l e by th e f act th at i n

th e di g es tiv e proc e ss e s o f th e ea rt h w o rm t h e el ement s o f pl an t
nutritio n a r e m ad e w a t e r s olu b l e
-
.

E a r thworm ca sti ng s h av e much g r eat e r pr o ductiv e v alu e for

pl ant growth th an oth e r so il d ue to th e f act th at th e nutritio nal
,

el em ents h a v e b een co nc en tr a t e d i n t h e c a sti ng s i n w a t e r solubl e -

fo rm and i n a m ore bal an ce d co nditio n It i s v e ry m uch lik e .

 FI C L I T E RAT U RE 55

Resi s t an c e to pests and pl ant disea s e s i s i ncr ea s ed b y a cti on

O f e a rt h w orms ,doubtl ess d ue to th e producti on o f a mor e
b al anc e d s oi l w ithout d efici en ci e s such a s a r e fou nd i n soils d e
p e n d en t o n ch em ic a l f e r tiliz a.tio n A n oth e r impo rt an t O bs e rv a

w or m cultu r i s t s i s th at f ruit trees w hich h av e nev e r bo rn e fruit

,

be com e pro d ucti v e a ft er ea rthwo rm s h av e b e en e st ablish ed a r o u nd

t h em. U nd et erm i ne d d efici enci e s i n th e soil h av e e vid ent l y b een
o f ea rthwo rm s r e sulti ng i n u nprodu ctiv e
,

t f ul .

th es e co nd pa rt o f thi s book m any

,
of th e b ov e poi nts
a

be emp h as iz ed .
 Ca n It B e D o ne ?

IN T HE foregoi ng p ages we h av e d i s cuss ed th e ea rthworm i n

natur e and show n som ethi ng o f its v a lu e i n t h e soil . W e h av e
show n ea rthworms worki ng i n th e soils o f E ngl and i n co neen
t r at i ons o f from to p e r a cr e o r mor e ; an d i n t h e

s o ils o f th e U nit ed S t at e s i n co nc entr ati on s o f fro m to

upw a rds o f p e r ac r e
. W e h a v e sh o w n ea rthw o rms i n

E ngl and i n an annu al productio n o f t en to ns o f c a sti ng s p er a cre ,

w hil e i n th e mor e f avorabl e enviro nm en t o f th e U ppe r Nil e

Vall ey we h a v e r epo rt e d on t h e a nnu a l pro d uctio n o f m or e th an
two hu n dr e d t o n s o f c a sti ng s p e r a cr e .

Th e v alu e o f t h e ea rthwo rm i n nature h a s b een e s t ablish ed

b eyo nd qu e stio n How ev er t alki ng and writi ng about th e v alu e
.
,

o f ear thwor m s i n natur e w ithout doi ng anythi ng about it is ex

a ct l y lik e th e a c a d emic discu s sio n o f w at e r po w e r i n natur e ,

w ithout e v er a thought o r eff o rt to utiliz e it i n t h e s e rv i ce o f

m an T h e positiv e and u nqu alifi e d answ e r to th e qu estio n Can
“
.

”
? “
it b e do ne is Yes—i t h as b een d o ne ”
.

O ne millio n ea rthworms p er a cr e i n good n a tiv e s o il is con

s i d er ed a v e ry n um e rous n a tur a l popul a ti o n . S uch a p o pul ati on
r epr es ents ap pro x im at ely t en w o rms pe r cubic foot o f soil ,

figu ri ng an av e rage w o rki ng d epth o f thirty i nch es .

In th e i nt en siv e pr o paga tio n an d u s e o f dom estic at e d e ar th

w orm s we h av e put th em to w ork i n co ntro l l ed s oi l buildi ng
,
-

O pe r a tio n s i n co nc entr a tio n s o f thr ee thou s an d o r mor e p er cubic

 CA N IT BE DO N E ? 57
foot o f compost ed p a r ent m at e ri a l In r o u n d numb er s su ch a
.
,

ean s o ne h u nd r ed a nd th i r ty m i l l i on w or ms
p e r a c r e fo o
. t T h e f ac t whi c h m ak e s such hi g h c o n een

t r a t i o n s possibl e i s th a t th e nu m b er of e ar th w or m s i n a g i v en

e nvi r onm enta l s p

a ce i s l i m i t ed onl
y by th e a m ou nt o f av a i l

a bl e food pr es en t . L est th er ea d e r at th is poi nt b e misl ed i n to

thi nki ng th a t thr ee th ous an d ea rthw o rms c o uld surviv e an d
work i n a cubic fo ot o f nativ e s o il we h a st en to st at e th a t i n
,

i nt ensiv e propagati on we pr ovid e t h e necess a ry concentr at ed nu

t r i ti onal m at e ri al fo r th e worm s to work with i n S pe ci al c ul t ur e
b ed s o r comp o st h eaps .

—
W e h av e go ne to th e gr eat es t o f a l t each e rs M o th er Na
“ l
tur e—for an exampl e o f m a ss pro ducti on o f ea rthworm top
-
”

S oil i n th e Nil e Va ll ey showi ng th a t it can b e d o n e

,
No t only .

do e s natur e s h o w th a t it c an b e do ne but sh e S h o ws h ow t o d o it
, .

M aki ng pra cti ca l a pplica tio n o f th e l e sso n s o f nature i n t h e i n ,

t ensiv e prop agatio n and us e o f d o m e sti cat ed ea rt hw o rms w e

c r eat e a f avor abl e e nviro nm ent provid e th e abu n d a n t s o il buildi ng
,
- -

food o f wo rm s which is ch eaply av a il abl e pra cti cally ev e rywh er e ,

a nd t h e ex a mpl e o f natur e is duplic a t e d i n prop o rti on t o t h e

am o unt o f m at e ri a l and numb e r O f w o rm s i nv o lv ed .

W e no w pass to th e s ec on d pa rt o f th e bo ok which d ea ls ,

m o re p a rticu la rl y with ea rthworms u n d e r co ntr oll e d pr op aga tio n

and u se .
 A N ew C o nc e p t

IN THE followi ng ch apt ers we deal with t h e i nt en siv e prop aga

tio n and use o f ea rthworm s u nd er co ntroll ed envir o nm ent A s .

h as b een st at ed t h e one f a ct which m ak es it po ssibl e to utiliz e

,

th e ea rthwo rm i n m a s s productio n o f humus l a d en t o psoil is th a t

- -

t h e numb er o f ea rthwor ms i n a gi v en enviro nm ent is limit ed o nly

by th e amou nt o f av a il abl e food pr es ent .

Th ere ar e two obj e ctiv e s to b e h eld i n m i n d : T h e first is th e

m o st eff ectiv e and eco nomic al utiliz ati on o f al l possibl e o rgan ic
m at eri al su ch as eve ry form o f v eg et ati on al l an im al m anur es
, , ,

g a rb a g e,
g a rd en orch a
,
r d a n d f a rm
,
w a st e a n d lit t,
e r o f a l l k i n ds ;
i n f a ct wh a t w e h av e t e r m e d t h e bi ologic a l end pr o du c ts o f li f e
,
-

a s O pp o s ed t o pur ely Ch emic a l end pr o ducts a nd stri c tly ch emic a l

-

f ertiliz ers T h e s ec ond obj e ctiv e i s to est ablish th e gr eat e st po s

.

sibl e e a rthworm popul atio n i n t h e s o il usi ng m eth o ds o f till ag e

,

and org an ic f e rtiliz atio n th a t will f a vor t h e m a i nt enan ce o f ea rth

worm s i n th e s o il as w ell as th e b a ct eri al p opul ati on th a t i s con

,

c e rn ed i n s o il buildi ng and m a i nt enanc e o f th e high est st at e o f

-

f e rtility i n a pe rm ane nt ag ricultur e .

I n prop a gati ng ea rthworms i nt ensiv ely i n S p eci al cultur e

be ds we us e th em v e ry much as w e u s e b act e ri al cultur es br ee d
, ,

i ng th em i n high co n centr ati on s by fur nishi ng a d equ at e fo o d m a

t e r i al to s up po rt v a st numb ers i n a limit ed a r ea F e rt il e f arm
.

a nd g a r d en soil prope rly h an dl ed throu gh organic methods w il l

, ,

ea sily support fro m one to two millio n o r mor e ea r thworms p er

62 H AR N E S S I N G THE E AR TH W OR M
r f t S uch a popul atio n will provid e id ea l ae ratio n and a i r
ac e - oo .

c ap ac ity f or th e soil with go od dra i nage rapid w at e r pe netr a

, , :

tio n and m aximum m o istur e holdi ng cap acity A t th e s am e tim e -

.
,

such an ea rthw o rm popul ati o n provid es a soil turno v er and con

d i t i on i ng of upw a rds O f two hu nd r ed to ns o f m a t e ri a l annu ally ,

mix e d and pr ep a r ed i n th e humus mill o f th e ea rt hworm and

d eliv e r ed to t h e ro o t z one o f v eg et atio n compris ed i n th e i m
-

m edi at e si x to ei ght een i nch e s o f su rf a ce soil In S p e ci al culture .

b eds w e commo nly prop aga t e ea rthwo rms i n co ncentr ati on s o f

,

upw a rds of th r ee th ous a nd worms p er cubic fo o t o f m at e ri al ,

which m ean s i n rou n d numb er s one hund r ed and th i r ty mi ll i on

, ,

w o rm s p er ac r e f oo t -
.

W ith th e abov e figur es and obj ectiv e s i n m i nd it i s possibl e ,

to b eg i n to visu aliz e th e po ssibiliti e s o f s o il buildi ng wh eth e r i t -

,

b e f o r a si ngl e flow e r p o t a wi n dow b ox o f flow e rs 3 sm a ll c ity

, ,

yard or g a rd en or more e xt en siv e a cr eage i n l a rg e ga rd ens nur

, ,

s eri e s or ch a rds O r f a rms

, ,
.

W e o rdi na rily thi nk o f ea rthw o rms a s sm all w ri ggli ng i n , ,

si gn ificant r epug nant c r eatur e s T O appre ci at e prop e rly th e pos

,
.

s i b i l i t i es i nh e r en t i n t h e i n t en siv e prop a ga ti on a nd u se o f worm s

i n s o il buildi ng w e sh o uld g ai n a new a nd di ff e r ent co n cept

-
, ,

thi nki ng o f th em i n u nits o f hu ndr eds tho us ands or ev en m i l , ,

li ons i nst ea d O f thi nki ng i n te rms o f s ep a rat e ti ny i ndividu al

,

w o rm s Fo r purpos e s O f illustrati o n s uppos e w e ask How

.
“ ,
, ,

m any ar e a milli on ea rthwo rm s and u se o ur im ag i natio n i n

? ”

a n sw e ri ng t h e qu e sti o n .

M ent ally we sh all combi ne one m illio n ea rthworms i nto a

,

si ngl e composit e an im al and pl ace this anim al o n an a c r e o f

,

gr ou nd with a y ea r s ratio n o f f e rtil e topsoil pil ed up a rou nd it

,
’

i n symm e tri ca l pil e s for its d a ily co n sumptio n W e sh all th en .

h av e a mo nst e r an im al w ei ghi ng more th an 2000 pou nds with

, ,

36 5 pil e s o f s o il b e for e it E a ch pil e will co nt a i n appro x im at ely

.

one cubic y a rd o f ea rth wei gh i ng upwa r d s o f 2000 pou nd s E a ch

'
.
,

pil e will repre s ent th e d a ily ration o f this f anta stic dirt eati ng ,
-

anim a l th a t w ill sw a llo w its own w ei ght o r more o f ear th ea ch

,
 A NE W CO N CE P T 63
d ay‘
o f th e yea r S uch will b e our comp o sit e anim al m ent ally
.
,

i nt eg r at ed from one m illio n ea rthwo rm s Now l e t us ch eck w ith .

t h e f a cts a s th ey h a ve b een e st ablish e d by c a r e ful expe rim en t

,
.

W e h av e w eigh ed m any o f th e ea rthw o rms which w e p r o p a

g a t e d d uri n g Ou r r e s ea r ch O n th e a v e r a g e
. th ey r un a bout 50 0 ,

to th e pou nd o r ab o ut 3 1 wo rm s p er o u n ce T h e fully m atur e

,
.

worm i n go o d conditio n av er ages four i nch es i n l engt h Thus

, ,
.

we fi nd th at one millio n o f th em w o uld w e1 gh 2000 p o u n ds If .

pl aced end to end th ey w o ul d m ak e a co nti nuous li ne ov e r 6 %

,

mil es lo ng A n i ndivi d u al wo rm e ati ng its way throu g h th e

.
,

soil w ill swallo w it s own w eight O f ea rth d aily i n o rd e r to ab

, ,

s o rb f r om th e so il th e i nfi nit esim a l a m ou nt o f nut ritio n r equir ed

to k eep a w orm i n goo d co nditio n W h en w e analyz e and c a r e .

ful ly stu dy th es e figur es we beg i n to gai n a co nc ept o f th e t r e

,

m end ons soil buildi ng forc e which is at work i n th e ea rth wh en

-

it i s popul at ed by one m illio n ea rthw o rms pe r a cr e T h e ea rth .

worm is j ust as truly an ai r br eathi ng m anur e produci ng anim al -

,
-

a s a h o rs e cow
,
o r oth e r d om estic anim al T h e di ff e r en ce i s
, .

th at ea rthworms work u n s een and th eir m anur e i s so thoro u ghl y

combi ned with th e soil th at it cannot b e s ep a rat ed In f act as .
,

h a s b een poi nt ed out th e m anur e of th e ea rthworm i s fi nely co n

,

d i ti one d soil .

A t first thou ght wh en it is st at ed th an an earthworm will

,

i ngest its own w ei ght i n soil each tw enty four hours this a m ou n t -
,

s eems almost u nb eli ev abl e H o w ev e r wh en th e eati ng and ex

.
,

cr eto r y a ctiviti e s o f t h e chick en ar e c o mp a re d with thos e o f t h e

ea rthw o rm a r a tio n o f topsoil equ al to t h e w ei g ht o f t h e ea rth

,

w o rm each d ay s eems a v e ry r ea so nabl e amou nt O n th e av e rag e .

,

a m atur e h en will dro p s ev enty fi v e pou nds o f m an ur e ea ch y e a r

-
.

Chick en s utiliz e o nly about t en p e r c en t o f th e nutritio nal v a lu e

o f th e foo d th ey eat th e b al ance goi ng out i n th ei r droppi ng s
,
.

Thus th ey h ave to gorge m any hours each d ay i n ord er to pro

duce egg s i n com m e rci ally profit abl e num b er s S uppos e th at a .

l ayi ng h en h ad to s w a llo w enough ea r th d a ily to s ecure th e

a m o u nt of org an ic foo d n e c e ssa ry to k e ep h er i n go od l ayi n g co n
64 H AR NE S S I N G THE E AR TH W OR M
ditio n i n st ea d o f f eedi ng on co nc entrat ed gr a i ns and m ash es
, .

To d o this sh e would h av e to co nsum e s ev eral tim es h er own

,

w ei g ht o f ea rth e a ch d ay a ssumi ng th a t h er di g estiv e organ s w er e

,

s imil a r to thos e o f t h e ea rthworm Y et th a t is exa ctly wh at th e

.

ea rthworm h a s to d o T h e ea rthworm liv es on th e organ ic con

.

t ent o f th e s o il whi ch it sw allows with all th a t is co nt a i ned

,

th e r ei n T h e e a rthworm is S O co nstruct ed as to b e abl e to d ig est

.

this m at e ri al thus ga i ni ng th e sm all am ou nt of f o od necessa ry

,

f o r nutritio n O nly b ec a us e it i s pe rh ap s th e m o st p e rf e ct
.

di gestiv e o rganism k now n to th e anim al world is th e ea rthw o rm

a bl e to a bs o rb en o u g h food from an am o u n t of ea rth equ a l to

its o wn w e i ght to m ai nt a i n it i n a f at and a ctiv e co nditio n Thus .

,

t h e st at em en t th a t th e ea rthw o rm sw a llow s its o wn w e ight of

e a rth d a ily a pp e a rs o n e x a mi n ati on

,
p e rf ectly r easo nabl e and
,

u nd erst an d abl e .

W e a ga i n r e pe a t : Thi nk o f ea rthworms i n l a rge u nits o f

hu ndr eds th ous ands millio n s ; f o r i n i nt ensiv e prop agatio n and
, ,

u s e o f ea rthw o rms w e must d ea l with g r ea t n umb e rs O f th em .

O th e rwis e w e c a nno t exp ec t to a tta i n r e sults w o rthy of con

,

sid e ratio n .
 E ar t h wo r ms i n G e ne r a l Fa r mi ng

O NE o f th e qu es tions m o s t f requ entl y ask ed i s How woul d

you utiliz e ea rth w o rms for l arge a cr ea ge and g ene ra l f a rmi ng
W e a r e fo rtu na t e i n h a vi ng a f a ct s tory o f a l a rge O hio f a rm
w hich was Op e r at ed with full use of ea rthworm s du ri ng th e
pe rio d from about 1 83 0 to 1890 E a rly i n our re s ea rch i n to t h e
.

s ubj e ct o f ea rth w o r ms w e c am e i n cont a ct with th e l at e Dr

,
.

G eorg e S h effi el d O liv e r p io neer ea rthwo rm culturist o f Cali

,

fo r ni a W e b e cam e clos e fri ends a nd coll a bor a tors f o r a num

.

b e r o f y ea rs prio r to hi s d ea th . I n an s w e r to our qu e stio n s about

t h e us e o f ea rth w orm s fo r l a rge a cr eag e Dr O liv e r r el at e d to u s
,
.

th e sto ry of hi s ea r l y youth o n his gr an df ath e r s f arm W e can

’
.

t hi nk o f no b ett e r w ay to p r e s ent th e t e ch niqu e fo r utiliz a tio n

o f ea rth w o rm s i n gene ra l f a rmi ng and for l ar ge acr eage th an to
tell th e s to r y r eco n st r ucti ng it v e ry much as D r O liv e r told it
, . .

W hil e this story gi v e s th e bro ad b a sic pri ncipl es f o r us e o f

ea rthworms i n gene r a l f a rm i ng t h e e a rthworm f a rm e r o f tod ay
,

w ill h av e th e adv ant age o f m o d e rn comp o sti ng t ech niqu e s and

m any oth er improv em ents which h av e b e en work ed out duri ng
t h e p a st f ew de ca d e s. How ev er t h e ea rthwo rms r em a i n th e
,

s am e fo r th ey h av e com e d o w n to us pr actica lly u n ch ang ed

, ,

from remot e geolo g ical age s to th e pr e s ent .

In a l a t e r ch a pt e r w e sh all giv e a r ep o rt o f ea rthworm till

,

age on a mod ern f a rm ,

w ith r esult s which a r e cor ro b orativ e o f
thos e r epo rt ed as follow s by Dr O l iv e r
. .

65
 E AR TH W O R M S IN G E NE R A L F AR M I N G 67
se l f l ov ed th e soil and coul d co o p erat e i n al l commu nity w o rk
,
.

M y gr andf a th e r O ft en r em ark e d th at h e wa s m aki ng mor e profit

from hi s r em ai ni ng 160 acr es th an h e ev e r m a d e on t h e origi nal
1800 a cr es d ue to his li f etim e e xp eri enc e impr o v e d m eth o ds
, , ,

and t h e i nt en s iv e utiliz a tio n o f ea r t hwo rm s .

Th e hom e st ea d w as loca t e d a t t h e c ent e r o f th e f a rm Fou r .

a cr es o f orch a rd and ga rde n fur n ish e d a n abu n d anc e o f fruit s

an d v ege t abl e s t h e y ea r rou n d R oot c el l a rs v eg et abl e b anks

.
, ,

canne d and d ri ed fruits and v eget abl e s pr o vid e d f o r th e wi nt e r

m onth s Th e hou se and o rch a rd w e r e b ack ed by forty acre s o f
.

e n —
timb r ed l a d m apl e hicko r y bl ack w al n ut burr oak and m any
, , , ,

oth er tr ee s nativ e to O hio I ncid ent a lly th e f a rm was f enced

.
,

—
with bl ack w al nut rails b eauti ful timb er whi ch w o uld b e al
m ost pricel e s s at this ti m e My grand f a th e r c all e d this timb er ed
.

tract his p a rk I t was i nd eed a wo nd e rful p a rk ab o u ndi n g i n

.
, ,

s m al l gam e and bird li f e to d eli ght th e soul o f a sm all b oy with

hi s fir s t gun Th e park wa s w ell w at er ed with livi ng spri ng s and
.

a quit e g ene rous si z ed c r eek r a n th rough it l a r g e eno u g h t o fur

-
,

nish al l th e fi s h th e f amily n ee d e d I was d esi gn at ed as th e

.

o ffi ci al fi sh catch er a t a sk whi ch I d ea rly l o v e d

-
, .

It is import ant to get a pictur e o f th e l ay out o f th e f a rm i n -

,

ord e r to u nd erst and its effi ci ent op er ati o n without w a st e o f ti m e

a nd ener gy It wa s divid ed i nto four tr acts o f f o rty a c r e s ea ch
. .

T h e ho m e st ea d w ith orch a rd ga r d en and p a rk oc cupi ed o ne

, ,

fo rty Near th e c ent er o f th e 1 60 a cr es w as loc at ed th e grea t

.

b a rnyard o f about two acr e s with bro a d swi ng i ng gat e s i n ea ch

,

o f th e f o ur S id es O pen i ng i nt o l anes whi ch l ed i nt o each o f th e

,

forty acr e t ra cts Thus th e stock co uld b e h erd ed i nto any p art
-
.

o f th e f a rm simply by Op eni ng th e pr o pe r gat e an d drivi ng th em

,

thr o ugh th e l ane i nto th e particul ar s ection th at was to be

p a stured .

L oca t ed i n th e four corne rs o f th e b a r ny a rd w er e t h e str aw

—
st a cks alt e rnati ng w h eat s t a ck oat st a ck wh eat st a ck oat st a ck
, , , .

Th e s e st acks occupi ed p erm anent rai s ed pl at f o rms about S i x f eet ,

abov e t h e grou nd re s ti ng on sturdy w al nut p osts and cov e r ed

,
68 H AR N E S S I N G T HE E AR TH W O R M
by sm all logs or po l es cut from th e w oods Th e s t ock h ad
, , .

g o od sh e lt e r u n d er the s e pl at forms i n th e w i nt er f eedi ng on th e ,

»

s tr aw ov e rh ea d thr o u g h t h e cra ck s bet w ee n th e lo g s P l en ty .

o f str aw wa s alw ays throw n d ow n for b eddi ng My grandf ath er .

cl a i m ed th at ea ch ki nd of st raw ad d ed v alu abl e el em ent s o f f er

t i l i ty to his com po st and h e alt e rna t e d t h e st r awsta ck s so th a t
,

th e wh ea t an d oa t str a w would b e e v enl y mix e d .

I n t h e c ent e r of th e b a rny a rd wa s th e compost pit which i n , ,

t h e li g ht o f my pre s e nt k nowl e d ge I now kn o w to h av e b een

,

t h e most p e rf e ct and sci entific f e rtiliz e r pro d uctio n u n it I h av e

e v e r k no w n . This pit was fifty f eet wid e and one hu ndr ed f eet
lo ng and h ad b een exc av at ed to a d e pth o f about two f eet A t .

ea ch en d , ev enly sp a c ed from sid e to S id e and about t w enty

f eet from th e end a h eavy l og post was d eeply anchore d Th es e

, .

posts w e re pr ob ab l y tw elv e to fi ft een f eet hi gh with an ov e r ,

h ead cabl e a nch o r ed to th e top of each post and ru nni ng to t h e

b a rn O n th es e cabl e s w e r e l a rge tr av eli ng dump b a sk ets i n
.
,

whi ch th e m anu re from th e b a rn w as tran spo rt e d to th e compo st

pit and dum ped ea ch m o rni ng to b e e v enly S pread i n a u ni fo rm
,

l aye r By m eans of t h e posts i n each end th e m anur e coul d be

.
,

du m p ed at a sp o t most co nv eni ent for prop er h andli ng W ith .

thi s a rrangem ent o f ov e rh ead trol ley fro m b a rn to compost pit ,

it was po s sibl e to cl ea r th e b a rn quickly each morni ng o f th e

night s droppi ng s and S pr ea d t h e m at e ri al i n t h e pit w ithout any
’

los s o f th e v alu abl e el em ents o f fr esh m anure Th i s i s an i m .

po rt ant poi nt i n th e utiliz atio n o f ea rthwo rm s for g eneral f a rmi ng .

Just outsid e th e b a rnya rd r an th e cr eek which fou nd it s ,

s ourc e i n a big spri ng i n th e p a rk F rom this creek an ab u ndance

.

o f w at er wa s p ip ed b y gravity i nto t h e w at eri ng troughs fo r th e

s t o ck i n b arn and ya rd Al s o a fl um e with a co ntroll ed i nt ak e
.
, ,

l ed to th e compo s t pit so th a t w h en nec ess a ry th e com p ost coul d

,

b e w e ll s o ak e d i n a f ew mi nut es T h e hom e s t ea d occupi ed

.

grou nd on a hi gh e r l ev el th an th e b ar nya rd so th at dra i nage ,

was a lw ay s a w ay fro m t h e h o us e an d th e r e wa s no ch an c e o f
pollutio n fro m th e t eem i ng li f e o f th e b arnya r d .
 E AR TH W OR M S IN G E NE RA L FAR M I N G 69

To one S id e o f t h e b a rnya rd and at a high e r l ev el th an th e

floor o f t h e ya rd was locat e d t h e i ce p on d This po nd was so .

a rr ang ed th a t it could b e fill e d f ro m a flum e l ea di n g by g r a vity ,

from th e cr eek at one end whil e at th e low e r end a spillw ay

,

wa s provid ed so th a t th e po n d co uld b e dr a i ned A t t h e pro p e r .

s ea so n t h e i ce po nd would b e fill ed and wh en th e i c e f o r m ed

,
'

t b t h e ri g ht thi ck ne ss t h e a nn u a l h ar v e st o f i ce wa s cu t and

sto r ed i n th e i ce hous e to pro vid e an abu nd an c e o f i ce for al l

,

p ur pos e s th e y ea r r o u nd T h e b o ttom of thi s po nd wa s fo rm e d

.

of a fi ne t extu r ed r ed cl ay E a ch S pri ng th e po nd was dr a i ned

-
.

a nd with t e am s o f s cr a p e rs m an y to n s o f thi s c l ay w e r e s c r a p e d

out and dik e d a rou nd th e bord e rs of th e p o nd to w eath e r for

us e on t he compost h eap .

And no w en t e rs th e ea rthworm F o r m o r e th a n sixty y ea rs

.

th es e 1 60 acr es h ad b een f a rm ed without a si ngl e crop f ailur e .

M y gr and f ath e r wa s k now n f a r an d wid e f o r t h e u nequ al e d

e xc ell enc e o f his cor n an d o th e r gr a i n and a l a rg e p a rt O f his
,

su rp lu s wa s dispos ed o f at top pric es for s eed pu rpos e s T h e .

f a rm combi ned gene ral f a rmi ng and s tock r a isi ng ; my gr and

f ath e r s hobby f o r pl ea su re and profit w a s th e br eedi ng and
’

, ,

tra i ni ng o f fi ne s addl e hors e s and m atch e d H ambl etoni an t eams .

He m a i nt a i ned a h e rd o f about fi fty hor s es i ncludi ng stud , ,

br oo d m a res and colts i n al l s t age s o f d ev elopm ent In a d d i

, .

ti on to hors es h e h ad ca ttl e s h ee p h og s and a v a ri ety o f fowl

, , , , ,

i ncludi ng a flock of about fi ve h und e r d chi ck en s which h ad th e

r un of t h e b a r ny a r d w ith a flock o f ducks
, U su ally about thr ee .

hu ndr ed h ead o f stock w er e wi nt e r ed T h e hi red h elp con .

s ist e d o f thr ee or fou r m en a ccordi ng to t h e s ea s o n with a d di

, ,

t i onal h elp a t ru sh s ea so ns This est abli s h m ent was m a i nt a i ned

.

i n pro s p e rity and pl enty and my grand f ath e r attribut ed his

,

unv a ryi ng succ ess as a f a rm e r to t h e utiliz atio n o f ea rthworm s

i n m a i nt a i n i ng a nd r ebuildi ng th e f e rtility o f th e soil i n an un

brok en cycl e T h e h ea rt o f th e f a rmi ng t ech n iqu e was th e com
.

post pit .
70 H AR NE S S I N G THE E AR TH W OR M
As previously m entio ned th e pit was fi fty by one hu nd r ed
,

f eet exca v at e d to a d epth o f t w o f ee t and it was especi ally

, ,
'

d esigned to provid e a g r eat breedi ng b ed for ea rthw o rm s , .

L it e ra lly million s o f ea rthworm s i nh abit e d th e pit and compost

h eap E a ch morn i ng th e b ar n wa s cl eaned th e droppi ng s f or
.
,

th e pr evious tw enty four hours w e r e tran spo rt e d to t h e h ea p by

-

th e du m p b a sk ets o n th e ov e rh ea d troll ey and ev enly spr ea d ,

ov er th e surf a c e Th e buildi ng of t h e compost h eap was an

.

i nv a ri abl e d a ily routi ne o f th e f a rm work A fl o ck o f chick en s .

e v e rl a sti ngly scra tch ed an d work e d i n th e b a rny a r d a ssist e d by ,

th e ducks g l ean i ng ev e ry bit o f u ndig e st e d g r a i n th a t fou nd its

,

way i nto t h e m anur e and i ncid ent ally a ddi n g about tw enty to ns
,

o f droppi ng s p e r y ea r to th e m at e ri al which ev entu ally fou nd

its way i nt o th e comp o st h eap T h e cattl e and sh eep gra z ed
.

a r o u n d th e four s t r a ws tack s a n d b edd e d u nd e r t h e sh e lt er of th e

s t a cks addi ng th eir dro ppi ng s to th e surf a ce and tr ea di ng th em

,

i nto t h e b edd i ng m a t e ri al F rom tim e to tim e th e entir e ba m

.

y a rd w as r ak e d a nd scrap ed t h e combi ne d m anur e and litt er

,

b e i ng b ar r owed to th e compo s t h eap and distribute d i n an ev en

l ay e r o v e r th e entir e surf ace A S t h e co mp o s t r each ed a d epth
.

o f tw elv e or fourt een i nch es s eve r al t on s o f th e r ed cl ay from

,

t h e b o rd e r o f t h e i ce po nd would b e h a ul e d i n and spr ea d i n an

ev en l ay e r ov e r t h e surf a c e of t h e compost Thus th e v ar i ety .

o f an im a l m anur es fr om hors e s cattl e sh eep hogs an d fowl , , , ,

alt er nat ed i n t h e h ea p with l ay ers of t h e fi ne t exture d cl ay rich -

,

i n mi ne r a l e l em ents . M eantim e b eneath th e surf a c e th e ea rth

,

w o rms multipli e d i n u ntold millio n s g org i ng ceas el essly up on ,

th e m anur e s an d d e composi ng v ege t abl e m a tt e r a s w e ll as th e ,

m i neral cl ay soil and d epositi ng th e ir excr et a i n th e f o rm of

,

ca sti ng s—a compl et ely brok en dow n d eodoriz ed s oil rich i n al l , ,

th e el em ents o f pl a nt li f e . F r om tim e to tim e as nec ess a ry

( t h e n e c e ssity b e i ng d et e rm i n e d by pa r e f u l i n sp e ctio n o n t h e p a rt

o f my g r an d f ath er ) th e com p o s t would b e w at e red throu gh th e

,

fl um e l ea di ng from th e cr eek thus b ei ng provid ed with th e

,

m o isture needed to p e rm it th e ear thwo rms to fu nctio n to th e

 E AR TH W OR M S IN GE N E RA L F AR M I N G 71
g rea t es t adv an tage in th ei r li f e work o f co nv erti ng compost to
-

W ithi n a f ew mo nth s th e ea rthworm s h ad compl et ed the i r

w ork Wh en sp ri ng a r r iv ed t h e se a so n o f th e annu al plow i ng
.
, ,

t h e to p l ay er o f th e h ea p w ould b e stripp ed b a ck r ev ea li ng th e ,

p e rf ect w o rk o f th e worm s W h a t h ad ori gi nally b een an ill

.

s m elli ng mixtur e of m anur e u ri ne and litt er wa s now a d a rk

, , , ,

f erti l e crumbly soil with th e o d or o f fre sh turned ea rth This

, ,
-
.

m at eri al wa s not h andl ed w ith fork s but w ith shov els Th e r e , .

w e r e no d en s e cak e s O f bu rned h al f d ecomp o s ed m anur e My,

-
.

g r a n d f a th e r w o ul d t a k e a h a n d ful o f t h e m a t e ri a l a n d sm e ll o f it
b e for e p r o nou nc i ng it rea dy f o r th e fi eld s T h e sm ell t est .
”

was a sur e w ay O f j ud g i ng th e qu ality W h en p e rf e ct tran s

.

form atio n h ad t ak en pl ace al l o dor o f m anur e h ad dis app ea r ed

,

an d th e m a t e ri a l h a d t h e Cl ean sm ell of n ew ea rth .

A t this tim e o f t h e y ea r t h e b egi nn i ng of t h e S pri ng pl o w

,

i ng t h e compo st h ea p w a s a lm o st a s o lid m a ss o f ea rthw o rms

,

a nd ev e ry S hov e l of m a t e ri a l would co nt a i n s c or e s o f th em As .

I now k now from y ea rs o f stu dy and exp erim ent ev ery cubic ,

f o ot o f this m at e r i al co nt a i ned hu n dr eds an d hu ndr eds o f e a rth

w orm egg c apsul es ea ch o f which withi n two o r thr ee w e eks
-
, ,

a ft e r bu ri a l i n t h e fi e lds w o uld h a t ch out from tw o o r thr ee to

,

a s hi g h as tw enty worms Thus th e newly h at ch e d ea rth w orms

.

b e cam e th e p e rm anent popul atio n o f th e s o il f ollowi ng th eir ,

li f e w o rk o f di g esti ng th e o rgani c m at e ri al mixi n g and com

-
,

bi ni ng it with much ea rth i n th e pro ce ss an d d ep o siti ng it i n ,

an d o n t h e surf a ce a s ca sti ng s— a fi nely co n ditio n ed h om o ,

e n i z ed s oil rich i n t h stor d nd v il bl l m n ts of pl n t

g , e e a a a a e e e e a

f o o d i n w a t e r s o lubl e form
-
.

W h en th e spri ng plowi ng b egan t h e followi ng m etho d wa s ,

a dopt e d : S ev e r a l t e a ms w er e us ed with t h e plows whil e tw o o r ,

th r ee f arm w agons with d eep b eds w e r e empl o y ed i n h a uli ng

t h e crumbly end product of th e ea rthworms fr om th e compost
-

pit to th e fi eld s T h e w agon s w o rk ed ah ea d o f th e plow s th e

.
,

m at e ri al b ei ng S pr ead generously on th e su rf a c e an d quickly

72 H AR N E S S I N G THE E AR TH W OR M
p low ed u nd er S eldom w as any m at e ri a l expos ed on th e surf ace
.

more th an a f ew mi nute s ah ea d o f th e plows for p art of th e ,

t e ch niqu e follow e d was to plo w th e egg capsul e s and liv e e a rth

-

w o r ms u nder so th at as m any o f th e ea rthw o r m s w ould su rv iv e

,

a s possibl e to co nti nu e th e i r v a lu ab l e w ork i n th e soil A lso it .

w a s ne ces sar y t o plow th e w or m s and ca psul e s u nd e r a s quickly

'

as po ssibl e to e sc ap e t h e vo ra cious m a ra udi ng crows which

,

sw a rm ed i n gr eat flock s to th e f eas t o f worm s and ca psu l es s o

thou g htfully sprea d fo r th em A t this t im e to my gr ea t delight
.
, ,

I was ap poi nt ed crow hu nt e r A rm ed w ith a light s ho tgu n I

.
,

i ndustriously b anged aw ay at th e crows to my h ea rt s co nt ent ’

killi ng so m e of th em and k eepi ng hu nd r ed s o f th em at a d i s

t anc e u nti l th e plo w s coul d tu rn th e earth and bu r y th e w o rms
and c a ps ul e s s a f e from t h e bir d s a nd th e s un I esti mat e th at
.

s eve r al t ons p er acr e o f this highly pot ent f e rtiliz er m at e ri a l

w e r e annu ally plow ed i nto th e fi elds i n p er p ar ation fo r th e c rop s
to f ollow O n a ccou nt o f thi s t ech niqu e not only was t h e ea rth
.
,

“
conti nu a lly occupi ed by a ve ry num erous w orm po pul atio n t li e
y ear rou nd but annu a lly a gene rou s s eed i ng w ith liv e ear th
,
”

w o rms and c ap s ul es was pl an t ed to repl enish and h elp r enew th e

f ertility of th e ea rth .

Mo re th an fo rty y ea rs a ft er m y ex p e ri ence on my g ran d

f ath er s f a rm s tudi es o f th e ea rth w orm s i n th e soil o f O hio we r e
’

m ad e by th e O hio S t at e U niv ers ity In plots o f so i l cov ered

.

w ith blu eg r a s s o n t h e O hio S t at e U ni v ers ity Fa rm th ey fou nd

, ,

ea rthworm s i n numb e r s o f one mil l io n o r m ore p er a cr e F rom .

my exp eri ence o f almost a li f etim e of study and ex peri m ent atio n
w ith ea rth w o rm s I am s ur e th at th e ear thw orm popul ation o f
,

my g rand f ath er s f a rm f ar exc ee d ed o ne m i l lio n to th e acre

’
.

In th e annu al distributio n of th e f e rtiliz e r my grand f ath e r,

nev e r com pl et ely s trippe d th e com post p it O ne y ea r h e w oul d

.

b egi n th e h au l i ng at one end o f th e p it s t rippi ng b a ck th e top

,

layer s o f m at eri al w hich h ad not been brok en d o w n l eavi ng a ,

gene rou s po rtio n at th e oth e r end o f th e p it as br eedi ng and

culture gr ou nd A ft er th e h auli ng o f the f ertili z er was com
.
 E AR TH W O R M S IN GE NE RA L FAR M I N G 73
tir e r em a i ni ng cont ents O f th e pit w er e ev enl y spr ea d
p l et e d t h
,
e en
“
ov e r th e entir e surf a c e for m oth e r su b st ance and th e new ”

c o mpost h ea p was thus b egu n By this m ethod th e r e was al

.

w ays l e ft a v e ry l a rge numb e r o f br eedi ng ea rthwo rms with ,

v a st numb e rs o f egg ca psul es to r ep o pul ate th e com po st pit and

,

ca rry on th e highly impo rtan t w o rk O f pr o vidi ng f e rtiliz er f o r

t h e c omi ng y ea r In this w a rm hi ghly f av o r a bl e envir o nm ent
.
, ,

t h e worm s multipli ed with m a ximum r a pidity .

I n my e xpe rim ents i n l at e r y ea rs I d e t e rmi ned th a t ce r ,

t ai n breeds of ea rthwo r m s i n a f avor abl e envi ro nm ent and with

,

a n a bu nd a nc e o f foo d m a t e ri a l to w o rk o n will w o rk c ea s el e ssly ,

i n c o nc entrati o ns o f mor e th a n t o th e cubi c y a rd ; a ls o ,

th at ea rthw o rm s thus w o rki ng will c ompl et e ly tr an s f o rm

o ne cubic y a rd o f m at e ri a l p e r m on th Thus i n natur e w e h a v e

.
,

a co n stru ctiv e forc e which c r e a t e s humus with a m a zi ng r a pidity

wh en g iv en th e O ppo rtu n ity and u n d er pr op e r co ntr ol furn i sh e s

, ,

a m ethod of utilizi ng e v e ry p o ssibl e en d pr o duct o f bi o l o g i c a l -

a ctivity throu g h t h e v e ry simpl e pro c e ss O f co m posti ng with

ea rthw o rms .

G o i ng b a ck to my grand f a th e r s f a r m his r egul a r r ot ati on

’

o f crops was co rn wh eat oats timothy and c l o v e r h ay i n a

, , , , ,

three y ea r cycl e O ne forty ac r e tract wa s pl an t e d to tim o thy

~
.
-

and clov e r ea ch y ea r A crop o f h ay w a s h a r v e st e d a nd stor ed

.

f o r th e wi nt er th e fi eld wa s us e d f o r g r a zi ng a nd fi na lly a c r o p
, ,

was tur ned u nd e r f o r g r een m a nur e I n this m an ne r ea c h

.
,

y ea r one forty wa s l e ft u ndisturb e d by th e plow f o r a numb e r

o f mo nths allowi ng th e e a rthw o rm p o pul atio n to w o rk and mul
,

t i pl y to th e m ax imum whil e c o nv e rti ng th e o rg a n i c co n t en t o f

,

th e ea rth i nt o t h e fi ne st f o rm o f humus W h en th e cl o v e r fi elds

.

we r e pl o w e d u nd er a n a lmost u nb eli ev abl e numb er O f ea rth

w o r ms was rev eal ed a s th e sod w a s turned .

O ne f ac t I f a il ed to m entio n w as th a t this l an d w a s no t
usu ally co nsid er ed th e fi ne st to b egi n w ith It was a thi n top .

soil o nly six to e i ght i nch es i n d epth ov e r much o f t h e f ar m

, ,

u nd e rl a id by lim esto ne O n a c co u nt o f th e sh allow d epth o f th e

.
 E AR TH W O R M S IN G E NE RA L FAR M I N G 75
o f th em fi fty f ee t hi g h and ea ch tr ee b ea ri ng a d i ff e r ent ki nd
of fruit In th e four a cr e s o f o rch ard and g a rd en surr o u n di ng
.

t h e h o us e th er e was produc e d a g r ea t v a ri ety o f fruit fur n ishi ng ,

a n a bu n d a nc e i n s ea s o n
,
f o r th e f a mily a s w e ll a s f o r m any O f
,

th e neighbors . I n thos e d ays th e fruit was not sold I r em em .

b er an O ft en r e p ea t ed r em a rk o f my gran d f a th e r up o n t h e ca r e
“
-

o f tr ee s e sp e ci a lly fruit tr e e s
,
He s a id Ne v e r disturb th e s o il
.
,

u nd e r a tr ee T h e ea rthw o rm is th e b e st plow f o r a tr ee and

.

I do not w ant th em disturb ed T h e v e g et abl e ga rd en w a s e sp e

.
”

c i a l l y fi ne k ept wo n d erfully en ri ch e d from t h e compo s t pit

,
th e ,

s oil b ei ng lit er ally aliv e with ea rthw o rms A pro fusi on of fl ow ers
.
,

both p ott ed and o th e r w i s e a s w ell as a w e alth O f shrubb e ry

, ,

b ea ut i fi ed th e pl a c e . F o r ch o ic e fl o w e rs we w ould u se a rich
,

mixtur e o f fi ne soil and m at e ri a l fr om th e compost pit .

M y g r and f ath er s ea rth wo rm f a rm fur nish e s a n e x a mpl e o f

’

th e t e ch n iqu e for utilizi ng th e ea rthw o rm i n g ene r a l f a rmi ng

op eratio n s eith e r o n a l a rge or sm all s cal e F ro m my obs e rv a

,
.

ti on s a s a sm a ll b oy suppl em ent ed b y mu ch fri e n dly and l o vi ng

,

i nstru cti on fr om my g r andf ath e r 0 11 th e subj ect o f ea rthw o rms ,

a n d fr om m o r e th a n forty y ea rs exp e ri en ce i n my ow n w o rk I
’

am fully c onvi n c e d th at t h e h a r n essi ng o f t h e ea rth w o rm will

b e o ne o f t h e m a j or f a ctors i n t h e ev entu al s a lv ati o n o f t h e soil .

I k now th at th e s o il can b e m ad e to pr o du ce s ev er al tim es as much

a s t h e pr e s ent av e r a g e through t h e utiliz a tio n of th e ea rthworm
,
.
 O r c h ar d i ng W i th E a r t h wor ms

IN THE story o f My G rand f ath er s E a r thwor m Fa rm George

’

“
S h efli el d i s quot e d a s s ayi ng i n re ga r d to th e ca re of tree s
,

Nev e r disturb th e soil u n d e r a tree T h e wisdom of this r e

.
,

m a rk is a ppr e ci at ed fully o nly wh en a stud y is m ad e o f th e

subj ect o f o r ch a rdi ng W h en we go to na ture wh e re prim ev al
.

for e sts h av e st o od f or centuri es w e fi nd th e gro u nd rid d l ed to

,

g r ea t d e pth by ea rthworm burrows . E a r thwo rm s lik e to work i n

t h e sh a d e a mo ng th e fi ne roots of tr ee s fi ndi ng sust enanc e i n

, ,

t h e org anic d ebris and b a ct e ri a l li f e o f t h e s o il i n t h e d ead b a c

,

t e ri a as w ell a s th e pro ducts O f bact e ri al li f e A si de from v ege

.

t at i on th e r e is a v a st w o rld o f u ns een b a ct e ri al l i f e i n th e s o il
, ,

amou n ti ng i n a ggreg at e w ei ght i n th e ca s e o f f e rtil e a gri cultur a l

l ands to mu ch mor e th an al l anim al li f e which crawls cr eeps , ,

w a lks ru n s and fli es on and abov e th e s urf ac e o f th e grou nd

, ,
.

B eca us e we do not see thi s m i cr OS COpi c u nive r s e we m ay not ,

v isu aliz e or s en s e its ext ent .

T h e multiplic a ti o n o f b a ct e ri a is so ra pid th a t sta rti ng w ith

,

a si ng l e c ell,
u nd e r f av o rabl e co nditi ons th e numb ers will r each
,

a str o nomic a l figure s withi n a f ew h o urs with a bulk a nd w e i g ht

,

o f such m agn itud e th at th e hum an mi nd canno t g rasp th e tot al .

T h e n umb e r o f b a ct e ri a i n a n ou n c e o f f e rtil e topsoil i s v a ri o usly

e stim at e d as from eight ee n milli on t o tw enty four billio n -
W h en
.

we co n sid e r th at b a ct e ri a appe a r a s dots u n d e r th e microscope

76
 ORC H A RD I N G W I TH E AR TH W OR M S 77
wh en m a gn ifi ed o ne thous and tim e s th e r esults o f such multi ,

p lic ati o n b eco m e still h a rd e r to g ra sp I f we w e r e to m agn i fy .

a m a n t o o ne thous an d tim e s his siz e h e would a p pe a r mor e ,

th an o ne mil e t all an d a qu a rt e r mil e br oa d O n this po i nt we -

.

"
sh all quot e from B ac ter ia i n Re la tion t o S oi l F er ti l i ty by Dr .
,

Jos eph E G r ea v e s
. P h D P ro f e ssor o f B a ct e riology an d
. .
,

P hysiolog i c al Ch emist ry U t ah A g ri c ultur al Co ll e g e ) :

,

A b a ct e ri al g ene r atio n is t ak en as th e tim e r equi re d for a

m atur e c ell to divid e and th e r e sulti ng d aught e r cells t o r ea ch
m aturity This pro c e ss m ay b e compl e t ed i n h al f an h o ur at
.
—
tim es ev en more r apidly U nd e r l e ss f av o rabl e cir cum st anc es it
.

m ay b e much lo nge r It h as be en e stim a t ed th at i f b a ct e ri al mul

.

t i p l i cat i o n w ent u n c h e ck e d th e d e sc en d ants o f o n e c ell w o uld i n

two d ays numb e r a nd th at i n thr ee d a ys th e
d esc end ants of this S i ngl e c ell would w e igh p o u nds .

It h as b een furth er e stim at ed by an emi nent biol ogist th at i f

pr o pe r conditio ns could be m a i nta i n ed f o r th ei r li f e activity i n ,

l ess th an fi v e d ays th ey would m ak e a m a ss which w o uld com

p l e t e l y fill as much sp a c e a s is occupi e d by a l l t h e o c e a n s on th e

ea rth s surf ac e i f t h e w a t e r h a d an a v e r a g e d epth o f o ne mil e

’
.
,

L e st som e r ead e r b ecom es al a rm ed about b act e ri a l et u s ,

s t at e th at th ey a r e se l f limiti ng th e s a m e as oth e r li f e f o rms

-
,
-
,

b ei ng strictly limit e d by th e am ou nt o f f ood av a il abl e i n th e i r

en viro nm e nt A ls o t h e b y products o f th e ir o wn li f e proc e ss es
.
- -
,

a ccumul a t e r ap idly an d a s it w er e th ey ar e s o o n st ewi ng i n

, ,

th ei r o wn j uice to th ei r own d estru cti on I nc id ent ally it i s .

,

d o ubt ful th a t i n th e abs enc e o f t h e b a ct e ri al li f e o f th e s oil

, ,

th e hi g h e r f o rm s o f a n im al li f e c o uld exist L ik e th e ea rthw o r m .

,

b a ct eri a a r e th e u ns een but c ea s el ess tr ans f o rm ers o f t h e end

products o f li f e b a ck t o th e soil i n t h e et er nal cycl e f r o m —
ea rth throu g h li f e b a ck to t h e e a rth
, , .

T h e ab ov e m ay at first a ppea r a s a digre ssio n from t h e

subj e ct o f orch ardi ng How ev e r i n co nsi de ri ng th e nutritio n
.
,

" P ag e 26 .
78 H AR NE S S I N G THE E AR TH W OR M
o f tr ees through th e a i d of ea rthw o rm s it is import ant to u nd e r ,

st an d fully th e sourc e o f nutriti on for th e w orms as w ell as for

t h e tr ee s .Th er e is much m o r e sust enance i n th e soil th an m ay
b e d e riv e d fr om t h e gro ss f o rms o f v e geta tio n i n and abov e
t h e ea rth . S O i n c on sid e ri ng th e li f e of a tr ee and its nutritio n
, ,

it is w e ll to exami ne th e el em ents which ent er i nto its growth

a n d m a i n t e na n ce .

W e st a n d i n aw e d am a z em ent as we co nt empl at e a S eq u oi a
i
g g a n t e a ,
t o w e ri n g n ea rly t hr ee hu ndr ed f eet i nto th e a i r bea r ,

i ng withi n its bulk tr a i nl oa ds O f m a t e ri al ca rryi ng co n c ea l e d ,

withi n its g row th ri ng s its r ec o rd ed age r ecord o f p e rh aps th r ee

-

to fi v e th o us an d y ea rs W h e r e did it com e fr om h ow di d it
.
,

g r o w,
fr o m wh a t hidd e n sourc e do e s its mi g hty h ea rt dr a w its
i o c eiv abl e stre gth NO m an h a s ca rri ed sm all b ag s o f
n c n n ?

c h emic a l f e rtiliz e r i n a f o o li sh a tt empt to h elp n ourish this tr ee

i nto its g i a nt siz e No m an m ad e pl ow h a s d isturb ed th e sur

.
-

f a ce o f th e ea rth at its b a s e Y et h e r e it st ands with a lif e

.
,

sp an r eachi ng t ow a rd a g eol og i cal ag e W e a r e r emi nd ed o f .

”
th e s c riptur a l i n j u n cti o n Con sid e r t h e lili e s h o w th ey g ro w
g
,

a n d mi ht w e ll p a r a phr a s e t h e li ne to r e a d
“ C o n sid e r t h,
e tr e e s
, ,

h ow th ey g r o w "
W h en we com e to o r ch a rdi ng with th e a i d o f ea rthw o rms ,

w e S h o uld no t b e too mu ch con c e r ne d about f e rtiliz e rs or w o rry ,

a t a l l a b o ut c ultiv a tio n T h e thi ng to do is to o ff e r a littl e

.

f ri endly coOper at1 on with natur e st a nd b ack and w atch th e tr ee

, ,

g ro w .

Wh il e th e s am e pri ncipl es apply to o rch a rdi ng i n g eneral ,

o u r studi e s o f th e ea rth w o rm i n o r c h a rdi ng h a v e b e en co n fi ne d

f o r th e most p a rt to c itrus o rch a rdi ng by r ea so n o f the f a ct ,

th at w e liv e i n S outh e r n Ca li f o rni a wh e re citrus fruit is th e m ai n

o r c h a rdi ng i ndustry S om e tim e a go w e visit e d t h e g r ea t o r ang e
.

r wi g s ti rou d iv rsid p rti ul a r end

g o n ec o n a n
“
R e e C a
li f
o f our j o ur ney b ei ng H an f o rd L oa m a g r o v e whi ch th e
o
r,
n
i.
a t h e a

,
”
c ,

ow ne r M r F rank Hi n ckl ey h a s O p e r at ed b y th e non cultiv atio n

, .
,
-

m ethod f o r a p e ri o d o f m o r e th an tw enty y ea rs M r Hi nckl ey . .

 OR C H A RD I N G W I TH E AR TH W O R M S 79
is a h rd h ea de d suc ce ss ful orange grow e r and busi ness m an
a -
,

wh o h as m ad e mo ney g rowi ng ora nge s H e h as b een growi n g .

orang e s al l his li f e a nd his exp e ri en ce cov e r s a p eri o d o f m o r e

th an f o rty ye a rs He is w ell e ducat e d w ell i n form ed m ethodi ca l
.
, , ,

and pr a ctic a l ; a nd as h e h as k ep t c a r e fu l r e cord s for m any y ea rs

, ,

h e h as his d a t a and k now s w h a t h e is t a lki ng about T h e t en .

a cr e tr a c t c ompri si ng H an ford L o a m i s one o f th e outst a n di n

g
grov es o f t h e s t at e W e we r e am a z e d at th e s iz e and lu x uri ance
.

o f th e tr ee s M any o f th e l eav es w e r e o f s uch u nusu al siz e

.

a s to be a l mo s t u nb eli ev a bl e w h en comp ar e d w ith t h e foli a g e

o f t h e a v e ra g e or an g e tr ee .

M r Hi nckl ey s own s tory o f his exp e ri en c e i n d ev elopi ng

.
’

this grove co nv eys t h e f a cts i n a most forc e ful m anner A ft e r .

our visit to his pl a ce we w rot e hi m a l ett e r r equ esti ng a r ep o rt

,

for our r ecord s Und e r d at e o f O ctob e r 1 7 193 9 we r ec eiv ed

.
, ,

t h e f o llowi ng l e tt e r .

D E A R DO CTO R B ARRE TT
I h av e you r l ett e r o f O ctobe r l 0th and will t r y t o g iv e
som e i n form atio n th a t will b e o f v a lu e i n y ou r r es ea r ch .

I mi ght s ay th at my exp eri en c e with th e ea rthw o rms i s m o re

o n t h e pr a cti ca l sid e th a n on t h e exp e rim ent a l O n o ne o f my .

te n acr e grov e s H a n ford L o am

-
,
I disconti nu ed al l cultiv a tio n
,

about e ight een y ea rs a o A t th t tim t h tw n ty e i g ht y ea r - -

g a e e . e

O l d tr ee s a pp ea r ed to h a v e r ea ch e d th e i r limit a s to siz e a nd pr o

d ucti on about thr ee hu ndr ed box es p er a cr e p er y ea r

,
.

T h e first y ea r a ft e r ch ang i ng my cultu r a l m ethod to o ne o f

non cultiv a tio n
-
I notic ed a g r eat di ff e renc e i n w at e r p enetr a
,

ti on P l o w s ol e w as elimi nat ed t h e tr ee s st a rt ed g r owi ng an d

.
, ,

th ey h av e co nti nu e d to d o so ev er si nc e u ntil now th ey a r e ,

l a r g e fi ne tr ee s and m y produ cti on av e rage for th e l a st fi ft een

, ,

y ea rs h as b een about 6 30 b ox e s per a cre p er yea r .

S oon a ft e r I quit a l l cultiv ati on I notic e d th a t t h e ea rth ,

w o rm s w ere d o i ng a w ond erful j ob o f tilli ng th e s o il ; th ey

e limi n a t e d al l pl o w s ol e l eavi n t h e rou n d p o rous a nd m ell ow
g g ,
.

I als o pe rc eiv ed th at th ey w e r e f e edi ng on th e l eav e s th at h ad

a ccumul a t e d i n th e furro w s a nd a ro u n d u n d e r t h e tr ee s R aki ng .

th e l eav e s o ut fr o m u nd e r t h e tre e s an d pl ac i ng th em b enea th t h e

80 H AR N E S S I N G THE E AR TH W OR M
drip o f th e tr ees en courage d th e w o rms to work th a t porti on
o f t h e soil most a s it k ept mor e moist
, U n d e r s uch id eal cOn .

d i t i ons th e ea rthworm s r a pidly i ncr eas e d u ntil now th ey a r e

a bl e to w o rk e v e ry fo o t o f s o il i n my grov e—i n f a ct
,

I mi ght ,

s a y t h e s o il is c o nti n u a lly i n m o ti o n
. As th e tr ee s h av e a h eavy .

foli ag e o f l a rge l eav es th e l ea f drop s eems to fu rnish ampl e

,
-

food for t h e w o rms .

I h av e us ed a so lubl e co m m er c i al f e rtiliz e r calcium nitrat e ,

or sulph at e o f am mo ni a f o r th e p a st tw enty y ea rs with th e

, ,

e x c epti on o f on e y ea r wh en I us e d cotto n s e e d m ea l U nti l six .

y ea rs ago I a v e rag ed a bout 3 % po und s o f actu al n itr ogen p er

tr ee p er y ea r but th e l a st six y ea rs I h av e av e rage d 1
,
pou nds
o f actu a l n itrogen pe r tr ee p e r y ea r Th e re h as b een no o rganic .

m a tt e r a dd e d t o this g r ov e si nc e th e f a ll o f 19 19 T h e qu ality .

o f t h e fruit h a s b e en a b ov e t h e a v e r a g e ; a lso t h e siz e s h av e

b een i n th e d esir abl e brack ets In my O pi ni o n th e r e is no d o ubt

.

th at th e e a rthwo rms ad d f e rtility on th e s oil b esid es conditi on i ng it .

I also h av e a tw enty a c re g ro v e i n s andy s o il whi ch I t ook

-
,

c a r e o f i n t h e m e c h a n ic a l wa y for fou rt e en y ea rs a nd I s a w ,

v ery f e w w o rms i n al l th at tim e Fo r t h e p a st f ourt een y ea rs .

,

h ow ev e r I h av e a ppli ed my non cultiv a tio n m eth o d an d th e

,
-
,

w o rms a r e i n c r ea si ng ev e ry y ea r Th ey st a rt ed at th e l ow e r end
.

o f t h e furr o ws wh er e t h e s o il i s h ea vi e st ; and a s th e s o il ch ang e s

,

fr o m t h e a cc umul a ti o n of l eav e s a r o u n d th e tr ees th e w o rms ,

a r e abl e t o liv e an d i n cr ea s e .

Th es e gr o v es a r e k ept cl ean o f w ee ds by ho e i ng ; th e fur

r ows h av e b e co m e sh all o w and wi d e from ho ei ng and raki ng
t h e l ea v e s T h e w a t e r can thus c o v e r a l a r ge r a r ea o f th e sur
.

f ac e m aki ng as mu c h s o il a s possibl e av a il abl e for th e w o rm s

,

t o u s e duri ng t h e dry s ea s o n with o ut extr a exp ens e ,

.

I a ls o h a v e a l ot o f sixty fi v e orange tree s a t h om e which

-
,

I pur ch a s ed a y ea r ago This so il i s a h eavy r ed soil and v e ry

.

subj ect to pl ow s ol e I am w ell pl ea s e d with th e w ay th e w o rm s

.

h a v e multipli e d a n d e limi na t e d th e pl o w s o l e u nd e r my m eth o d

withi n th e y ea r ; and th ey will no d o ubt conti nu e to b ett e r th e
s oil a nd a i d t h e tr e e s .

I n r ega rd to t h e am o u n t o f w a t er us ed I fi nd th a t si n ce ,

t h e w o rms h a v e O pe ned up t h e s o i l w at e r p ene tr a t e s m o r e fr eely .

I can i rri ga t e i n a much sh o rt er tim e an d with a l a rge r volum e

o f w a t e r p er furr o w U n d er this m eth o d o f non c ultiv ati o n I
.
-
,

u s e a littl e l e ss w a t e r but th e tr e e s a r e a bl e to us e mor e of th a t

,

whi ch i s a ppli ed .
 OR C H A RDI N G W I TH E AR TH W OR M S 81
O ur D eputy Fa rm A d vis er is m aki ng a graph co nsisti ng ,

o f th e siz es grad es and a m ou nt o f box es cov e ri ng th e p a st

, ,

t wenty y ea rs W h en I r eceiv e th es e d at a I w ill b e gl a d to s en d

.
,

th em to you i f y o u so d e sir e Th ank you f o r your i nt e r e st i n

.

Ve r y truly ,

( si g ned ) F RA N K H I N CKLE Y
A t th e d at e o f thi s wr iti ng J anu a ry o f 1944 it is of i n , ,

f er est to poi nt out th a t M r Hi n ckl ey h a d elimi nat e d t h e plow

.

from his orch a rdi ng O pe ration s more th an tw enty y ea r s be for e

t h e appe a rance o f E d w a rd H Fa ulk ne r s book P l owma n s F ol l y
’ ’
.
, ,

cu rr ently on its way to b ecomi ng a b e st s ell e r S i nce r ec eivi ng .

th e abo v e r epo r t from M r Hi nckl ey w e h a v e vi sit e d his pl a c e

.
,

a n umb e r of tim e s a nd a g o od m any i nt e r e sti ng d et a ils h a v e b e en

brou ght o ut with m any thi ngs not co v e re d i n his l ett e r O ne

, .

o f th e most as t on ishi ng st at em ent s was m a d e by him i n an sw e r

“
to our qu e stio n How much m o ney d o y ou h av e i nv e st e d i n
m achi ne ry ? ”
,

“
M r Hi nckl ey r eplie d : I h av e thi rty a c r es i n
.

o r ang e s i n H an f o rd L o a m an d a no th e r ro v e n e a r th e r e I b e
g .

li ev e my tot al i nv estm ent i n m a chi ne r y is l ess th an t en d o ll a rs ,

co nsisti ng of h oe s and rak e s A nea r nei ghbor with thirty two

.
,
-

a cr e s o f or a ng e s h as ov e r f our th o us an d d oll a rs w o rth o f m a

’

chi ne r y and hire s a n exp e rt to O pe r at e it I c all i n a M exi can .

b oy ev e ry oth e r mo nth and w e go o v e r my g r ov e s with h oe and

rak e to e limi na t e th e f ew w eeds whi c h com e fro m s eeds th at
a r e b l o w n i n by th e wi n d
”
.

M r Hi n ckl ey st at ed th at a ft e r th e i n iti al ch ang e from th e

.

O l d c ultur a l m ethods his l abor costs w e r e l ess By use o f t h e

,
.

h oe pr omptly t o e limi nat e w ee ds nev e r a ll owi ng th em to g o ,

to s eed th e or ch a rd was soo n pr a cti cally fre e from w eeds NO

,
.

tra ct o rs or m achi nes a r e r equi red i n t h e non cultiv atio n m eth o d ; -

th e re fore th e trees do not need to b e trimm e d hi gh In M r . .

Hi nckl ey s orch a rd t h e tr ees h av e b een allow ed to d ev elo p u ntil

’

th e limbs pr a ctic ally t o uch t h e g ro u n d m ai nta i ni ng a d en s e S h a d e ,

ov er th e entir e surf ace and an u n f avorabl e enviro nm ent for

 O RC H A RDI N G W I TH E AR TH W OR M S 83
i nt ensiv e prop aga tio n o f dom estic at ed ea rthwo rms f or al l hor
ti cul tur al purpos es will b e t ak en up i n l at e r ch a pte rs .

S i nc e b eco m i ng a cqu a i nt e d with M r Hi n ckl ey and his

“
m etho ds and re sults through ea r thw o rm till ag e w e h av e h ad
.

,
”

r epo rt s from a n umb er o f o th e r o rch a rdists W e will m ention .

on e sm a ll tra ct i n p a rti c ul a r a fi v e a cr e g r o v e n ea r Co st a M e s a
,
-
,

Cali forn i a It is h andl ed by m e thods simil a r t o M r Hi n ckl ey s

“
’
. .

g rov e ; th a t is m,
e th o d s whi c h we h a v e c all e d e a rthworm till a g e .

F or t h e y ea r 1 94 5 th e ow ne r o f this g rov e st a t e d th a t h e r ec eive d

a g r o ss a mou nt o f f o r his o r ang e c rop from th e s e fi v e
ac r e s .E x ami nati on sh o ws th a t t h e entir e tr a c t is r eally a g r eat
ea rthworm cultur e b ed F r om a f ew su ch r e ports i nv e sti gat ed
.
,

we ar e l ed to c o nclud e th a t t h e e a rt hw o rm doubtl e ss d e s e rv e s
cr edit for m any o f t h e outst andi ng re sults whi ch h av e been ob
s erv ed i n o th er su c c ess ful orch a rds .

W hil e we h av e discuss e d t h e ea rthwo rm i n citru s o rch a rd

i ng th e s am e pri ncipl e s a pply to oth e r ty pe s O f o rch a rdi ng as
, ,

well as to general f a rmi ng and pr o du cti on o f food crops W h at .

we wish to emph a siz e r ega rdl e ss of v eg et ation u nd e r co n sid era

,

tio n i s th at with ea rthw o rms and t h e oth e r a lli ed forc es o f

,

na tur e utiliz e d prop e rly w e obt a i n a s o il with a m a ximum o f

, ,

pl ant nutri ents i n av a il abl e form F rom su ch s o il e xp e ri ence

.
,

h as show n th a t m a ximum producti on r esults a r e obt a i ned both ,

i n qu antity and qu ality .

 D o m es t i c a t ed E ar t h wo r ms

IN THE u nhurri ed p roc ess e s of nature it m ay require from fo rty

to fi fty y ear s for nativ e ea rthworms to spr ead slowly fro m a
s i ngl e breed i ng colo ny and ful l y impr egnat e an acre of grou nd .

I n E ngl and w h er e th e ea rth w o rms h a d b een worki ng i n a f a irly

,

f avorabl e envi ro nm ent through geologica l ages D a rw i n fou nd

,

nativ e ea rthworm s i n n umb e rs r an gi ng from to

or more per a cr e i n som e soils which m ean s l es s th an o ne wo r m
,

p e r c ubic fo o t o f su rf a c e soil. E v en i n th e s e sm all n umb e rs as,

h as b een poi nt ed out D a rwi n e stim at e d th a t from t en to e ight een

,

t on s o f dry m at eri al p er a cre p a ss ed th rough t h e bodi e s o f

ea rthworms i n E n l an d ea ch y ea r to b e d e po sit ed i n an d on
g
th e surf a c e a s ca sti ng s .

W e h av e previ o usly m enti o ned th e e a rthworm s i n th e S t at e

o f O hi o wh e r e th ey h a v e b e en fou n d i n b lu eg r a s s l an d i n num
,

b er s upw a rds o f a milli on p er a cr e I f w e figu r e an ave rage

.

w orki ng d ept h of thirty i nch e s one milli o n worm s p er a cr e

,

w oul d m ean i n rou nd numb e rs about ten w orms per cu b ic foo t

, ,
.

A popul atio n o f two to f o ur na tiv e ea rthworms p e r cubic foot

i n f a rm s oil or oth e r soil is co nsid e red a quit e n um erou s ea rth
w o r m popul atio n In previous p ag es we h av e show n th e almost
.

i ncr ed i b l e amou nt o f culti v ation and trans l ocatio n of s oil w hich

ea rthwo rms pe rfor m u n d e r f a vor abl e c onditi on s . I n i nt en siv e
p rop agatio n and use we co ntrol th e envi ro nm ent and cr eat e
,

nu tritio nal c on d itio n s w hich a r e m o st f avor abl e to proli f e ra tio n

 DO M E S T I CATE D E AR TH W OR M S 85
and growth o f ea rthworm s W e commo nly d ev elop cultur e b e ds
.

w ith con c entrati ons o f a s m any as worm s p er cubi c f o ot ,

w ith corr espo nd i ng r esult s i n th e pro du ctio n o f humus To .

br ee d worms i n such gr ea t numb e rs i n li m it ed S p ac e we must , ,

o f cou rs e provid e food m at e ri al and s o il buildi ng e l em ents f o r

,
-

th em to w o rk with It should alw ays b e born e i n mi n d th at

.

w o rms liv e on t h e organic c on t ents o f th e s o il Th e r e f o r e i f .

,

t h e soil fur nish e d th e m is d efi c i ent i n organic m at eri al th e ,

wo rm s cannot liv e i n it Th ey d o no t s ecur e any n utriti on from

.

t h e pur ely mi ne r a l co nt ent o f t h e soil but o nly from th e o r

,

g a n i e co nt ent th at h as b een d e riv ed throu gh li f e proc ess e s .

I n th e a d a pt atio n o f th e ea rthw o rm a s a co ntroll ed s e rv an t

of man th e el em ents o f ch anc e must b e elimi nate d an d r e sults
,

must be m easur e d i n u nits o f tim e W hil e we m ay build soil

.

for futur e g eneratio ns w e w an t to h av e th e ben efit o f t h e s oil

,

h e r e and now and thi s is th e r ea s on for i nt en siv e breedi ng o f

,

ea rthworm s . Wo rki ng with th e sur e m eth o ds o f d efi nit e pur

pos e and k nowl edg e we m ay a chi ev e r e sults withi n a f ew m o nths
,

whi ch would oth e rwis e r equire m any d eca d es t o a ccomplish ,

w e r e we to w ait on t h e l eisurely pro ces s es O f natur e which ,

t ak e no accou nt of tim e .

I n us i ng th e t e rm d om e sti cat ed ea rth worm w e a r e r e ,

f e rri ng to a br eed o f ea rthwo rm s which h as b een d ev elop ed and

m o d ifie d b y s el e ctiv e br eedi ng and f eedi ng ov e r a p e ri o d of
s ev e ral y ea rs to m eet th e r equir em ent s for i nt ensiv e u se i n
,

ho rticultur e and agricu l tur e T h e ori gi nal obj ect o f th e ex

.

p e r i m enta l work which l e d to t h e d e v e l o pm en t o f t h e d o m e stic a t ed

ea r thwo rm was to elimi nat e th e el em en ts o f ch anc e w hich a r e
e ncou nt e r ed i n d eali n with xc di
g t h e e e e n gly num e rous v a ri eti e s
of nativ e earthworm s ; to sp eed up r esults to m e et t h e d em ands
o f p ractical peopl e u nde r al l co nd itio ns and enviro nm ents both ,

city and cou nt ry ; and abov e al l to d ev el op an ea rthworm which

, ,

w oul d be ad apt abl e to ev ery ki nd o f soil and food and one which
coul d be ch anged r eadily from one environm ent to anoth e r T h e .

o r di na ry native ea rthwo rm i s a sl av e to th e env i ro nm ent i nto

86 H AR NE S S I N G T HE E AR TH W OR M
which it is b o rn It i s h atch ed fro m th e egg capsul e as a fu l l
.
-

fl edged ea r thwo rm and imm edi at ely b egi ns its li f e w ork of d e -

v our i ng th e s u r rou n d i ng soil i n s ea rch for s u s t en an c e It grow s .

to m aturity on th e av ail abl e f o od pr e se nt and its ch em i cal ,

m ak eup a dapts it s el f to th e p a rticul a r el em ent i n which it liv e s .

Trans f e r th e nativ e ea rthwor m to a di ff e r ent s o il or food and ,

it will u s u ally d i e o r at l ea st requi re a lo ng p eriod of ti m e to

,

a d a pt it s e l f and b ecom e prolific i n t h e new l oca tio n .

Anoth e r import ant co nsid e r atio n i n ea rthwo rm cultu r e i s

th e qu e s tio n o f f e rti l ity an d pro l i f e r atio n In s om e S p eci es g r eat
.
,

n um b e r s o f i n f e rtil e ca psul es a re produ ce d a nd o nly o ne or two

wo rms wil l be h atch ed from th e f ertil e capsule In oth er s p eci es .

pra ctica lly al l th e ca p s ul es ar e f e rtil e and each will h atch out

,

from thr ee o r four to as high a s tw enty wo rms S om e S peci es .

l iv e and thriv e o nly i n a ve ry limit e d r ange o f soil a cidity ; i n

f a ct mu s t h av e an almost neut ral s oil to s u rv iv e O th ers w ill
, .

th riv e and multi p ly i n a v e ry wi de range of s oil from v e ry acid ,

to m a rk e dly alk ali ne T h e s eriou s impo rt an c e o f this poi nt o f

.

s oil a ci d ity wi l l b e ap p r ec i at ed by those w ho h av e m ad e som e

stu dy o f th e ch em ica l natur e of soils and pl an t n utrition .

I n w h at w e h av e t erm ed s el ectiv e f eed i ng and b reed i ng ,

v a rious sp eci es o f e a rthworms w e r e u s ed h abits obs er v ed u nd e

, ,

s i rab l e m emb ers cu l l ed out and gra du ally cultur e s o f earth w o rms
,

w er e obt a i ned w hich answ er ed th e purpos es o f i nt ensiv e prop aga

tio n u nd e r co ntro l fo r ho rticultu ral ag r icultu ral and oth e r u s es
“
.
,

W h en we speak o f d om e s tic at e d ea rthwo rm s we ar e d eali ng ,

with na ti v e ea rthwo rms w hich h av e b een modifi ed by environ

m ent and feedi ng W h en ear th w o rm egg capsul es ar e h atch ed
.
-

out i n a n ew enviro nm ent th at enviro nm ent b ecom es th e natural

,

one f or th e new ly h atch ed w o rms w h e rea s a wo rm w hich h a s

'

d ev elop ed i n an entire ly di ff er ent env iro nm ent m i g ht not su rv iv e

i f transpl ant ed i nto a s trange s oil It is this f a ct o f th e a dapt
’
.

ability o f th e newly h atch e d w orm to t h e p a rti cul a r s oil i n which

it is h atch e d which m ak es it possibl e to engage i n i nt ensiv e e ar th

w o rm culture for th e pro ductio n o f egg capsul es w hich w h en -
,
 DO M E S T I CA TE D E AR TH W O R M S 87
p l a c ed in a new en vironm ent will h atch w o r ms th at ar e a dapt ed
,

t o t h e soil i n which th ey a r e bor n .

S o g r eat is th e m odificatio n o f v a riou s sp ec i e s o f na tiv e

ea rthw o rms u nd e r spe ci al envi ronm ent al co nditi o n s and f e e d
,

i ng t h a t t h e l aym an o r u n tra i ne d obs e rv e r m ay c on clud e th a t h e

,

h a s pr o du ce d a n ew sp e ci e s o f ea rthw o rm H ow ev er wh e n we
.
,

submit th e d om esti cat e d ea rthw o rm to a comp et en t z o ol og ist

”

f o r l abora to ry id entific atio n a nd Cl a ssific atio n we l ea r n th a t we

,

ar e still d eali ng with s o m e sp ec i e s o f n a tiv e e a rthw o rm whi ch

h as b een m o difi ed by ch ang e s i n enviro nm e nt and n utriti o nal

f act o rs Thus wh en w e obs erv e m a rk ed ch ange s i n ea rthw o rms
.
,

u nd e r sp eci al br eedi ng and cultur al conditi on s w e sh ould n ot ,

j ump to t h e con clusi on th at w e h av e discov er ed o r pro du ce d a

n ew sp ec i es o f ea rthworm A s st a t e d b e f o r e ea rthw o rms h a v e
.
,

surviv e d throu gh r emot e g eolo g i cal a g e s d ow n t o th e pr es ent

pr actica lly u nch ange d a s to S p ec i e s but with wid ely v a r y i n g
,

ch a r act eri sti c s i n di ff e r ent localiti es such ch a r a ct e risti c s b ei ng

,

d ue to th e f a ct th a t t h e wo rm s ch ang e a nd a d a pt th ems e lv e s t o
t h e nutritio nal envi r onm ent i nto whi c h th e y h a v e b een h at ch ed .

T h e wid e distributi on O f ea rthw o rms thr ou gh o ut t h e ea rth i s

d ue to t h e f a ct th at th ey can a d a pt th ems e lv e s t o new en vir o n
m ents and new f oods .

R ega rdl e ss o f wh e r e ea rthw o rms a r e f o u n d o r wh at S p eci e s

,

we ar e d eali ng with th e on e im po rt ant f ac t to bea r i n mi n d i s

,

th at al l o f th em a cc omplish th e s am e end —th ey eat th eir way "

th r ough th e earth sw allo w i ng th e s o il with al l th at it co nt a i ns

, ,

ca r ryi ng it throu g h th e di gestiv e mill o f th e alim ent a ry c anal ,

and fi nal ly ej ecti ng it a s highly r efi ned a nd c on ditio n e d t o ps o il .

A t thi s poi nt w e wish t o g iv e full cr edit to th e l a t e Dr

,

“
Georg e S h effi eld O liv e r f o r th e d ev elopm ent o f th e d om esti cat e d
.

ea rthworm whi ch w e h av e u s ed i n our s o il buildi ng r es ea rch

”

“
-
.

I n th e sto r y of My G randf ath er s E a rthw o rm Fa rm w e h av e

’

t h e b a ck g rou nd o f Dr O liv e r s l at e r exp e rim ents an d aecom

’
.

p l i s h m ent s i n ea rthwor m cultur e Hi s .e xp e ri en c e s a s a sm a ll

b oy on th at O hio f a rm i mpl ant ed i n his you ng mi nd thos e i n
88 H AR N E S S I N G THE E AR TH W O R M
r d ica bl e m em ori e s and impre ss io ns w ith d efi nit e k nowl ed ge
e a ,

of th e v alu e o f ea rthworms w hi ch m any y ea rs l at er l ed hi m

,
’

i nto i nt ensi v e ea rth w o rm f a rmi ng M o re than fo rty y ea r s a fte r

.

l eavi ng his g rand f ath e r s f arm Dr O liv er fou nd hi msel f en

’

,
.

g ga e d i n l a n ds ca p e g a rd e n i ng His mi nd naturally turne d to

.

w ays an d m eans for uti l izi ng hi s ea rly k nowl edge o f ea rthwo rm s .

R eca lli ng th a t gr eat ea rthwo rm cultur e b ed i n his gr an d f a th e r s

’

b a rnya rd abo ut w hich th e w ho le e conomy o f th e f a rm r evol v ed

, ,

h e b egan hi s o wn ex pe rim ent s w ith ea rthworms w hich l ed to ,

th e d ev el opm ent of th e do m e s tic at ed ea rthworm To th e d ay o f.

hi s d eath Dr O liv er was firmly co nv i nce d th at h e h ad s uccee ded

.

i n produci ng a hybri d ea rthworm Thi s poi nt is not highly i m

.

port ant T h e import ant poi nt i s th at through hi s w ork o f

.

s el e cti v e f eed i ng and br eedi ng h e di d s uccee d i n p roduci ng an

ea rth w orm w ith ch a r a ct eristics w hi ch an s w e r pe rf ectly a l l th e

r equir em ent s fo r i nt ens iv e prop agatio n and use To get fi r st .

h and i n form ation On th e d ev elopm ent o f this m odifi ed wor m we ,

a p p li e d to Dr O liv e r hims el f
. T h e s to r y i s be st giv en i n h i s own
.

w or d s a l ett er writt en u nd er th e dat e of J anu ary 30 1940 w hich

, , ,

we quot e as fol l o ws

D E A R D OCT OR B A RRE T T
In an s w e r to your r equ es t for i n fo rm a tio n abo ut th e d ev elo p
m ent o f wh at y ou ca ll th e dom e sticat ed e a rthwo rm it i s a lo ng ,

s tory It w o uld t ak e a rath er l a rg e book to r ecor d th e d et ail s

.

o f m y ups and d ow n s w hil e ex pe r im enti ng w ith ea rthwo rm s I .

“
w il l try to giv e yo u th e e ss enti al fa cts as bri e fly a s possi b l e To
”
b egi n with you r t e rm do m es ticat ed ea rth w orm i s a quit e ap
,
.

p pr o r i at e nam e fo r t h e w,
or ms w hich I h a v e d ev e lo pe d c e rt a i nly
lik e t o live at hom e O ne o f th ei r most v alu ab l e ch ar ct er i sti cs
.

i s th at th ey do not w and er aw ay from t h e vici nity w h e r e th e

h om e co l o ny h as b een e s t ablish ed .

A s you k no w my i nt e r e st i n ea rth w orm s d at e s f r o m th e

,

tim e I liv e d for a nu mb e r of yea rs on m y grand f a th e r s f a rm ’

back i n O hio Lat e r on Ch a rl es Da rw i n brou ght out hi s f amous

.
,

b oo k on th e For mation of Veg eta bl e M oul d Th r ough t he Ac ti on

of E a r th wor ms w hich co nfi rm ed i n a s ci entific way w h at I h ad
,
 DO M E S T I CA TE D E A R TH W O R M S 89
a lrea dy l earne d f r om pra ctical experi enc e F rom tim e i mm em o .

r i al f a rm e rs and ga rd eners h av e recogn iz ed th at pl ants and

v egeta bl e s prospe r i n soil wh e re th e r e ar e pl enty o f ea rthworms ,

but f ew h ave giv en any thought to w hy this i s t ru e In gene ral .

,

peopl e who h av e work ed with th e soil h av e simply a cc ept e d

ea rthwo rm s a s o ne of th e i nh a bit an ts o f goo d s o il ne v e r r ea li z i ng ,

th at th e worm h ad anythi ng to do w ith th e buildi ng o f th e s o il .

I n m y i nv es tiga tio n s I fou n d sc att e r e d i nst anc e s wh e r e

f a rm ers who f e rti l iz ed th eir l and with m anur e from neighbor
hood stab l es att empt ed to tran spl ant m anur e br ed worms to th ei r -

fi eld s E v ery att empt ultim at ely f aile d as th e transpl ant ed w o rms
.
,

did not s u rv iv e S O f ar a s I h av e been abl e to l ea r n no si ncer e

.
,

a tt empt was ma d e to d is cov e r w hy such e a rth w orms p erish e d

w h en move d My own exp e rim ent s and r es ea rch brought to light

.

th e f a ct th at ea r thwo rm s a r e as much i n n ee d o f th e fo o d and

s oil on w hich th ey h av e be en ra i s ed as a fish i s i n need o f w at e r .

M anure bred worm s d em and m anur e ; soil bre d w o rms d em an d

- -

s oil and d ecayi ng v eget abl e m att e r an d humu s .

My first eff ort s to d ev el o p a s a tis f a ctory hybrid ea rthworm

w e r e ma d e i n 192 7 wh en I was engaged i n l a ndsca pe a rtistry .

S el ect ed s pe cim en s o f ea rthw o rms fou n d i n v a rious s e cti o n s o f

th e U n it ed S t a t e s w e r e studi ed br e d and i nt e rbr e d
,
M o st of my .

ob s er v atio ns comi ng u nd e r pr acti c al co n ditio n s sh o w ed th a t th e

, ,

bra ndli ng ( com m only k now n a s th e m an ure wo r m ) poss e ss ed

hi g hly f avorabl e qu aliti es whi ch i f tran smitt ed and r et ai ned by
,

a hyb r i d w ou l d b e v e ry a dv a nt ag eous
, Chi e f amo ng th e s e f a
.

v o r ab l e qu aliti es wa s th e f a ct th at th e b r andli ng nev e r d ep o sit e d

i ts ex cre tio n s a bov e th e s urf a c e o f th e s oil O ne o f t h e m a i n

.

obj ectio ns w hich h as b een m ad e to th e use o f ea rthworms ( i n

f act abo ut th e o nly l egi ti m a t e obj e ct io n ) i s th e h abit of th e
,

o rdi na ry nativ e ear thwo rm o f buildi ng littl e pil e s o f lob e d c a st

i ngs on l aw ns and gol f li nks O n l aw ns such pile s o f ca sti ngs

.

a r e u n si ghtly whil e on gol f li nks th ey a r e such a n uis an c e th a t

,

i n m any pl a c es t h e wo rm s a r e kill ed out by th e u s e o f pois on s

and mi ne r al f e rtiliz e rs Go l f requi res p e rf ectly smooth surf a ces
.

fo r bes t res ult s and t h e littl e hil l ocks o f cas ti ngs m ad e b y th e

ear thworm s a r e oft en l a rg e enough to d iv e rt t h e b a ll I n som e .

s ect io ns pa rticul arl y i n E ngl and th e nativ e ea rthwo rms produc e

, ,

s uch mound s of ca s ti ng s th at l awn s g ol f co u rs es and cri ck et

, ,

grou nd s h av e to be roll ed r egul a rly i n o rde r to k eep th e s urf ac e

sm oo th fo r go od s po rt and s i ghtli ne s s .

S o th e qu a lity o f d eliv e ri ng its e x cretio ns u nd er th e s urf a c e

92 H AR N E S S I N G THE E AR TH W OR M
a nd th estro nge r o nes w e re r et ai ned a s br ee de r s Du r i ng th e .

fir s t s i x mo nth s about one thou s and hybrids h ad b een s el e ct ed

as br ee d e rs and w e re m ati ng and produci ng f e rtil e eggs Fo r a .

p e riod of s ev e ral y ear s I co nti nu ed ca r e fu l s el ectiv e br eed i ng and

f eedi ng u ntil I h ad d ev elo pe d a hybri d w hich b r eeds tru e to form
a nd i s p e r f e ct l y a d apt e d fo r i nt ens i v e p rop a ga ti o n an d u s e i n

h o rticultur e and agricultur e .

W hil e t h e s to ry o f my exp e ri m ent s app ear s v er y simpl e i n

t h e r eco u nti ng it S hould b e st a t e d th a t a full fi v e y ea rs w e r e
,

co nsum ed i n th es e ex pe r im ents Ho w ev er th e r esu l t s obta i ned .

,

i n orch a r d s nurs e ri es ga r d ens l aw n s and poult ry hous e s h av e

, , , ,

prov ed th at this fi v e y ea r s ti m e S pent wa s ful l y j ustifi ed To

’
.

summ a riz e r e sults for th e ea rthwo rm cultu ri st from a p ra ctica l ,

s t andpoi nt thi s d o me s tica t ed hybr i d h as m any ch ar cter i sti cs b f

,

S pe ci a l v alu e s o m e o f th em b ei ng
,

It i s a prolific br eed er u nde r f av o rab l e co nd itions pro d ucing

,

one eg g c apsul e ev e ry s ev en d ay s A v ery high pe rc ent ag e o f .

t h e c apsul e s a r e f ertil e and th ey h atch out f r o m fou r to tw enty

you ng worms ea ch .

It is a fr ee anima l r ead ily adapti ng it s e l f to any foo d en

,

v i r onm ent o r soil Thus al l th e w as t e s o f th e or d i na ry f amily

.

ca n b e co m po s t e d and us e d for e a rth w o rm food It turn s th es e .

end pr o
-
duct s i nto rich humus pra ctica lly odorl ess and co nt ai n,

i ng all th e el em ents ne cess a ry for growi ng choic e pl ants and

v eget abl e s .

It is not migr atory Thus w h en a b reedi ng colony i s es

.

tab l i sh ed u n d er a tr ee i n a flow e r b ed u nd e r a ros eb ush or

, , ,

e ls ewh er e th e ho m e br eed i ng c ent e r r em a i n s and th e w orm s

,

g radu ally spr ea d i n al l d ir ectio ns i n an ev er wi d en i ng ci rcl e u ntil -

,

al l th e sur r ou n di ng grou n d i s thi ck l y popu l a t e d with thi s pr o lific

br eede r and cultiv ator of th e s oi l .

A po i nt wh ich s hould b e stro ngly emph a s iz ed is th at this

hyb rid w orm pro d uc es a v e ry fi ne g ranul a r ca sti ng i nst ea d o f a ,

lobe d ca sti ng T h e ca sti ngs do not s ti ck togeth er but a r e d e

.
,

posit ed as a v e ry ev enly d istribut ed l aye r on th e surf ace In .

loos e c rumbly m at e ri al m any of th e casti ng s ar e d eposit ed b elow

, ,

th e su r f a c e i n proximity to th e rootl ets wh e r e th ey ar e need ed .

Whil e I was not ex p erim enti ng p a rticul a rly to p r o duce fish

b ait thi s hybrid is u nex c ell ed for ba it It is v e ry a ctiv e of a
, .
,

goo d r ed color and w il l rem ai n ali ve on a fi sh hook fo r a num

,
-

b er of hour s wh en pro pe r l y i mpal ed .

 DO M E S T I CA T E D E AR T H W OR M S 93
It is a m ed iu m siz ed worm av era gi ng o nly thr ee to fou r
-
,

in ch es i n l engt h w h en fully m a tu r e Thi s i s e sp e ci ally ad v an

.

tag e ous i n th e ca s e o f d e lica t e fl o w e r s and fi ne s ee dli ngs a s t h e ,

sm all worm ri ddl es th e ea rth w ith it s fi ne ae ra ti ng tu nnels with

out disturbi ng th e ti ny rootl et s and without dryi ng out th e soil
too much .

S uch i n bri e f 1 3 th e sto r y of th e evo l utio n o f t h e do m e s

,

t i cat ed ea rthwo rm I f eel th at i n w riti ng yo ur b ook on Har nes s

.

i ng th e E a r th wor m you a r e d oi ng a r ea l and l a s ti ng s e rvic e to

h um anity . I look fo r w a rd w ith k een i nt erest and antici p ation
to its pu b lication .

Cor d i al ly your s ,

GE ORG E S H E FFI E LD O LIVE R

D O M E S T I C A T E D E A R T H WORM S V E R S U S
N A T I V E E A R T H W O R M S

Th e qu es tio n is fr equ ently a sk e d W hy go to th e exp ens e

,

o f pu r ch a s i ng d om es tic at ed ea rth w orm s i f nativ e ea rthwo rm s ,

do th e s am e w ork Our an s w e r is th at anythi ng w o rth doi ng

i s w orth doi ng w ell By t aki ng ad vant ag e o f th e exp e ri enc e of
.

tho s e w ho h av e s pent y ea r s i n study and r e s ea rch t h e b eg i nner ,

ca n a voi d m any mi s ta k e s and much exp en siv e l abor E a rthworm .

culture i s v ery m uch th e s am e as w orki ng with oth er anim als

or w ith pl ant s T h e l abo r i s th e m ai n co s t put i nt o th e w ork
. .

It t ak e s j ust as m uch tim e to w o rk w ith scrub sto ck as with

thoroughbr ed s It t ak es th e s am e amou nt o f tim e to g row a
.

s eedl i ng t ree as to gr o w s om e choice v a ri ety th at h as b een d e

v el oped and t est ed .

W hil e ea rthwo rm cultu re can b e e st ablish ed and d ev elop ed

w ith th e av ail ab l e nati v e w o rm s it p ays to m ak e th e s t a rt w ith
,

th e dom es tica t ed v a ri ety a s the y a r e su r e to b e prolific a r e

, ,

a d ap t abl e to al l so rt s of food and soil an d will w ork th e y ea r ,

r ou nd w h e re th e t emp eratu re i s w a rm enough T h e sm al l ex .

pens e o f st arti ng r ight i s s oo n absorb ed i n th e result s obtai ned .

O ne fri end wr ot e u s th at h e s ta r t ed with 2 50 ea rthwo rm egg

cap s ul es and w ithi n t w o yea r s h e e stim at e d th at h e h ad
 B r eed ing H a b i ts o f th e E ar t h wo r m

E AC H i nd i v i d u al o f th e rth w o rm f am i l y i s both m al e and f e

ea

m al e ( h e rm aph ro d it e ) h av i ng both eggs and s permato z oa b ut

, ,

it i s not s el f fe rtilizi ng A n act of Copu l atio n i s necessary i n

-
.

ord e r th at eggs m ay b e com e f e rtil e S ituat ed b ack f r o m th e .

”
h ead about one thir d th e l engt h o f th e w or m i s th e cl ite ll um
-
,

a b a nd o f ti s su e su rrou ndi ng th e bo dy Th e Centu ry Dic .

t i o na r y gi v es a v er y goo d d efi nitio n o f t h e clit ellum W e quot e .

i n p a rt t h e s a d d l e of an anne li d a s t h e ea rthwo rm ; a
,

p eculi a r gl and ul ar ri ng a rou nd th e bo dy r es ulti ng fro m th e sw ell

,

i ng an d oth er modifica tio n o f c e rt a i n s egm ent s It i s a s exu al .

o rgan pro d uci ng a tough v i s cid s ecr etio n by w hich t w o w o rms

, ,

a r e bou n d tog eth e r i n a ki nd o f copul atio n T h e c l it el l u m i s

.

e a s ily id en tifi ed as it st and s out ab o v e th e s urf a c e o f th e b o d y

,

as a d isti n ct b and d a rk e r i n color th an th e r e s t o f th e b o d y

, .

I n a b ull eti n titl ed Th e E ar th wor ms of O h i o i ss u ed b y th e

, ,

O hio Biologica l S u rv ey Dr H enry W O l s o n giv es a v e ry con

,
. .

ci s e and cl ear d es c r i ptio n o f th e act o f copul ation and th e rep ro

d ucti v e fu n ctio n s of ea r th w orms W e quot e i n p a rt f r o m this
.

d es cri p tio n :

E ch i nd i v i dual i s a m al e and f em al e ( h e rmaph rod ite ) so

a ,

anyo ne o f t h e s am e s p eci es w il l do fo r a m a t e Though h av i ng .

b oth egg s and spe rm atoz o a th ey ar e not s el f f erti l izi ng b ut m u

,
-
,

t ual l y f e rtiliz e ea ch othe r s e gg s

’

96
E ar t h ma s t e r Fa r ms , R o sc o e Ca l i fo r n i a
,
 B R E E DI N G H A B I T S OF T H E E AR TH W OR M 97
Th e two w orm s m eet and ov e rl ap one anoth e r to about one
third to one fourth o f th e ir l ength s with th e h ea ds f a ci ng i n
-
,

opposit e dir e ctio ns and th e v entral sid es i n co nt a ct Th ey th en .

s ecret e qu antiti es o f vi scou s mucus which fo rm s a thick b an d ,

a bout t h e c l i tel l er r egio n s o f th e ir bodi e s Th es e muco us b an ds .

surrou nd both bodi es and s e rv e to bi nd th e copul ati ng i ndividu al s

tightly togeth e r E a ch worm th en a cts as a m al e g ivi ng o ff a
.
,

qu antity o f s em i nal flui d th a t i s co n duct ed alo ng th e groov e s

to t h e s emi nal r ec ept a cl es o f th e oth er wh e r e it is pick ed up ,

an d st o r ed A ft e r th e wo r ms h av e s e p a rat e d th e slim e tub e

.
,

which is form e d by th e clit ellu m o f th e worm is work ed f o rw a rd

o v e r t h e b ody coll e cti n g a lbum en f rom t h e gl an ds of t h e v entr a l
,

sid e A s it p ass es ov e r th e fourt eenth s egm ent it co ll ect s a f ew

.
,

eg gs fro m t h e o viducts a nd th en p a s s es th e n i nth a n d t ent h s eg

m ents wh er e it r ec eiv es sp e rm atozo a fro m th e s emi nal re cept a

,

cl es wh ere th ey h av e b een stor e d u p T h e sp e rm th en f e rtiliz e s .

t h e eggs Th e slim e tub e is gr a du ally slipp ed o ff ov e r th e h ea d

.
,

c l o si ng up a s though with a dr a w stri ng a s first its a nt e ri o r en d -

,

a nd th en its post e rior end s li p s o ff o v e r t h e sh a rp prost o mium .

This clos e d slim e tub e with th e f e rtiliz ed egg s and nutritiv e

,

fluid which it co nt ai n s co nstitut es th e co coo n In this cocoon

, .

t h e eggs d ev elop dire ctly i nto t h e you ng worms whi ch wh en , ,

r ea dy to em er g e craw l out through one end o f th e co coo n a ft er

,

th e slim e plug h a s b een dissolv e d aw ay Th e c o c oo n s v a ry i n .

siz e and sh ape a ccordi ng t o th e sp eci es Th e sm all est a r e h a rdly

, .

o ne millim et e r i n l ength whil e th e l a rg est ar e a s l a r ge a s ei ght

,

millim et ers I n L u m br i cus ter r es tr i s ( commo nly k n ow n a s th e

orch ard worm rai nworm an d v a ri ous oth er p opul ar nam es )
, ,
,

th e c apsul e s ar e l emo n sh ap ed h avi ng a n oliv e c o l o r

-
,
T h e n um .

b er o f eg gs i n t h e c a p s ul es o f H el od r i l us tr a pez oi d es i s fr om
thr ee to eight ; i n thos e o f L um br i cus ter r es tr i s it is from four to
tw enty A ll o f t h e egg s o f th e L u m br i cus ter r es tr i s b eco m e
.

f ecu nd at ed and d ev elop ; on t h e oth er h and i n th e capsul e s o f ,

H tr apez oi d es one egg o nly o r ra r ely two or thr ee produc e

.
, ,

embry o s T h e embry o s esca pe as sm a ll worms i n ab out two

to thr ee w eek s .

U n d e r f a v o r abl e c on diti on s whi ch m ean s pl enty o f foo d, ,

m oi s ture and mi l d summ er t emp eratur e th e dom esti cat ed ea r th

, ,

worm will produc e one o f th e l emo n sh a p ed egg capsul es ev e ry - -

s ev en to t en day s T h e capsul e ( cocoo n ) m ay co nt ai n from

.
98 H AR N E SS I N G THE E AR TH W OR M
t wo or th ree to as high a s tw enty f e rtil e egg s In a mo ist w a rm .
,

envi ro nm ent th e i n c ub ati ng pe ri od is from two to thr ee w eeks

“
,

T h e new bo rn wo rm s first appe a r as whitish bits of thr ead ,

a bout one qu a rt e r i nch lo ng o r sm a lle r

-
Th ey gr a du ally be com e
.

d a rk e r w ithi n a f ew hours and withi n a f ew d ay s can b e r ea dily

id entifi ed as ti ny r eddish c o lor ed ea rthwo rm s T o t h e u ntra i ned
,
-
.

ey e t h e newb o rn w o rm s a r e visibl e o n ly a ft e r a ca r e ful s ea r ch

,

fo r th em E x c ept fo r siz e th ey ar e h atch ed as full fl ed ged ea rth

.
,
-

worms and imm e di at ely beg i n th ei r li f e w ork o f devouri ng ea rth -

with al l it co nt ai ns di gesti ng and utilizi ng t h e organic food

,

m at e ri a l from th e i ngest ed ea rth and fi nally d epositi ng th e r e sidu e

,

o n or nea r t h e surf a c e as ca sti ngs .

W hil e th e newb o rn worms a r e h a rd to see th e r e is no ( l i f ,

fi cul ty i n id enti fyi ng t h e egg ca p s ul es ~

T h e color is usu ally
.

ra di cally diff e r ent from th at o f th e s o il v a ryi ng from light ,

l em on color i n fr e shly pass e d ca psul e s to a d a rk purpl e i n cap

sul e s nea ri ng m aturity and r eady to h atch S iz e v a ri e s depe ndi ng .
,

on th e S i z e o f t h e worm from whic h t h ey com e ra ng i ng fro m ,

th e siz e o f a p i n h ea d to a bout t h e siz e o f a gr ai n o f ri c e

-
A .

h and ful o f ea rth from a pro p e rly pre p a re d culture box m ay con
t ai n s ev er a l doz en capsul es .

Wh il e th e no rm a l i ncub ati ng p e ri o d at ri g ht t emp e ra tur e

h a s b e en st a t e d to b e f ro m two to thr ee w eeks this pe ri o d m ay ,

b e ext end e d a lm o st i nd efi nit ely by d ryi ng out t h e c ap sul es or b y

r e frige rati on U n d er ord i na ry co nditions o f t empe rature and
.

m oistur e as fou nd i n th e ea rth at th e ti m e th e capsul es a r e

produce d th ey will i n cub at e and h atch withi n th e no rm al p e riod
,
.

O n t h e oth e r h an d i f th e ca p s ul e s h a ppe n to b e subj ect ed to

,

t h e h ea t o f th e s un a nd dry o ut o r ar e dri ed purpo s ely for

,

p r es e rv atio n th ey m ay r em a i n dorm ant and f ertil e for mo nths

,

and th en sw ell and d ev elop u nd er prope r t em pe ratur e and

moistur e Capsul e s h av e b een r ep ort ed to h av e h atch e d out a ft er
.

lyi ng d orm ant fo r eight een months Als o capsul es m ay be pl aced

.
,

i n r e friger ati on a t t em p e ra tur e s r ang i ng f rom fi fty d eg r ee s and

low er and thu s k ept dorm ant and f erti l e u nti l th ey a r e d es ire d
,
DOM E S T I CA T E D T H W ORM
( cal l ed
“gg
e
E AR

-
cap s ul es
E GGS

P en d r aw i ng —natu r al s i z e
 B RE E DI N G H A B I TS OF TH E E AR TH W O R M 101

a ppear ed j ust a s you ng as ev er A s a m att er of f a ct th e ea rth

.
,

wo rm 1 8 ab out as nea rly pe rf ect a di gestive app a r atus a s can b e

co nce iv ed o f i n th e anim al world Its s ecr eti on s t ak e car e o f
.

e v e ry form o f foo d both

,
a cid a n d a lk a li n e— su ga rs st a r ch es , ,

pr ot ei ns f at s E quipp ed w ith a pow e rful gizz a rd it d oes not

, .
,

h ave to s el e ct o r ch ew th e food T h e worm sw a ll ows anythi ng

.

sm all enough to ent e r its mouth i ncludi ng gra i n s o f s an d and

,

sm all sto nes w hich act as millst ones i n th e g izz a rd whi ch g ri n ds ,

and mi x e s ev e rythi ng It absorbs and assimil at e s nu t ri ents fr om

.

th e s w all o w ed m a t e ri a l It br eaths through th e ski n and climi

.

nat e s throu g h th e ski n S o b a rri ng a ccid e nt a l d estru c tio n e a rth

.
, ,

worm s should enj oy comp a r ativ e immort ality i h th e fl e sh r e ,

m ai ni ng et ernally youth ful through p erf ect a ssimil ati on and el i m i

na tio n.

A s ea rthworm s a r e b oth m al e and f em al e i n o ne body a ,

col o ny m ay b e e st abli s h ed from one f e rtil e ea rthwor m or from

i

a s i ngl e egg c ap s ul e W ith a c a p s ul e b ei ng pr oduc e d ev e ry s ev en

-
.

to t en days and h atchi ng from one or two to tw enty worms it ,

can b e s een th at productio n will s oo n r ea ch a stro nomic a l figur es .

Tho se w ho ar e p a rticul a rly i nt er es t e d i n m ath em atics can t ak e

a p encil and p ap e r a nd figu r e it out Th er e is no di fficulty or
.

p robl em i n th e productio n o f pl enty o f wo rms ev en i nto th e ,

m illio ns o nce th e si m pl e t ech niqu e i s studi ed and a st a rt m ad e

,
.
 E a r t h wo r m C ul tur e

S T A R T I N G E A R T H W O R M C U LT U R E

I N T E N S I VE prop agati o n for m ax imum r es u l ts in s oil buil d i ng -

quir es l a rge numb ers o f wor ms d epen di ng on th e a mou nt o f

,

l and to b e us ed fo r ga rd en o rch a r d or f a rm It should be

, ,
.

bor ne i n mi n d and emph a siz e d th a t i nt ensiv e use o f ea rthwo rms

b ea rs a bo ut t he s am e r el atio n to ea rthw o rms a s f o u nd i n na tur e
as a pow er i n sta ll a tio n f o r productio n o f el e ctri city such as ,

Ni ag a r a Fa lls Bould e r Dam or Bo nneyv i ll e Dam h as to th e

, , ,

u nh a r ness e d w at e r p o w e r fl owi ng dow n a nati v e s tream W e .

u s e fr o m o ne t hous a nd t o fi v e thous a nd tim e s t h e co n c en tr a ti o n s

of bree di ng ea rthworm s pe r cubic f oot o f co m post ed m at e ri al

a s would b e fou n d i n t h e a v e r a g e n a tur al e n vi r o nm ent wi th t h e

nativ e ea rth w or m popul atio n .

T h e s m a ll city g a rd ene r m av h a v e o nly a f ew squ a r e f ee t

o f ea r th o r po ssibly j ust a f ew pott ed pl ants o r a wi ndo w box
,
.

O th ers m ay h av e a sm a ll kitch en v eg et abl e g a rd en or flow e r ga r

d en. S ti l l oth e rs m ay h av e a m a rk e t ga r d en or n ur s e ry and ,

s o on up to ex t ensi ve ac r eag e i n orch ard f a rm or ran ch E ar th , , .

w o rm cultur e m ay b e engaged i n succ essfully wh eth e r it be for ,

p ro d uci ng fi ne po tti ng m at eri al for a f ew pl ants a s m all gar d en , ,

or for a cr eage o f any ext ent A st a rt may be m ade i n a one

.

gal lo n can or a s m all box b eg i nning w ith a f ew ea rthworm eggs

,

( ca ll ed e gg c
-
a psul e s ) o r a f
,
ew w o rms T h e t e ch ni q u e i.s pr ae

tica lly th e sam e re gard l ess o f th e siz e of t h e s etu p

,
.

1 02
 E AR TH W OR M CU LT URE 1 03
In a wo rd s th e way to begi n ea rth w o rm cult ur e i s t o
f ew ,

provi de a cultu re m ed iu m of ea rthwo rm food i n som e ki nd o f

—
conta i ner o r bed a ti n can a s m all woo d en bo x a com po s t
h eap or a S peci al ly des igne d cultu re b ed—ad d a f ew egg ca p su l es
, ,

-
,

or w o rms and k eep th e cultu r e tho ro ughly m oist and s ha ded

,
.

F u rth e r discu ss io n of ea r t hwo rm food wi ll com e l at e r W e h av e .

al r ea d y co v e r ed t h e s ub j ec t o f foo d for w o rms i n a ge ne r al m an

ne r. R e sults obta i ned will o f co urs e b e co mm en surat e with

, ,

th e ca r e and eff o rt ex p en de d E ngagi ng i n ea rthwo rm cultur e i s

.

v er y m uch lik e s ta rti ng i n to rai s e chick ens On e can s ta rt w i th .

a f ew eggs and i n c r ea s e s lowly o r s t a r t w i t h a la rg e n u m b e r of

,

eggs and i ncr eas e ra pi dly Fo r a s m all ya r d or ga r de n a sm all

.
,

s etu p is al l th at i s requi red—o ne or two c an s or box cultu res .

For a gr ea t e r am ou nt o f l and a pro po rti o nat ely gr eat e r s etup

,

s hould be m ad e as a be gi nni ng A s an ex am pl e o f th e rapi d ity

.

of i ncr ea s e whi ch can b e m a d e f ro m a sm all b egi nni ng one ,

thous an d egg capsul e s w e r e i ncub a t e d and h a t c h ed out

-
F rom .

this s t a rt four lug b o x cultur es ( see illustra tio n s and i nst ructio ns
-

on box cultur e ) o f fi v e hu ndr ed worms ea c h w e r e s e t up W ithi n .

o ne yea r from th e tim e thi s s e tup was m a d e a tot a l o f ,

egg ca psul e s h ad b een h a r ve st ed from th es e four box e s

-
Th e .

i ncr ea s e was us ed to impregnat e ext ens iv e soil buildi ng culture -

be ds and co m po st h eaps and at th e end o f th e first y ea r v a st

n um be rs of th e s oil bui ld ers w er e at work and m ultiplyi ng i n
-

m any to ns o f com po s te d s oil buil d i ng m at eri al-

.

O nc e t h e i niti al beg i nn i ng is m a d e with a mo d est ca sh

,

i nv es t m ent o f fro m fi v e d oll a r s on up to about t w enty fi v e dol -

l ar s th e m ai n mo ney cost i nvolv ed is th e sm all amoun t o f l abo r

,
-

r equi r ed i n t aki ng ca r e o f th e cultur e s T h e m at eri al w hich i s

.

u s ed i n providi ng soi l b uildi ng foo d for th e wo rm s i s th e same

-

m at e ri al w hich s houl d be i ncorporat ed i nto th e soi l anyw ay i n

buildi ng and m a i nt a i ni ng th e high es t s t at e of f e rtility .

Wh ere too s mal l a be gi nni ng i s m ad e one i s apt to b ecom e ,

d i s cou raged w ith th e sl o w p rogr es s m ade i n b uil di ng up an

a d eq u at e nu mber o f b r ee di ng ea r th w o rms to s ho w sa ti s f a ct o r y
 E AR TH W OR M CU LT URE 1 05
m a i nt ai n a st ead y s upply o f ea rthworm eggs for productio n o f
br eedi ng stock and f o r impre gn ati ng ext ensiv e cultur e b eds and
compost h eap s as w ell as flo w er pots b ed s l aw n s tr ee s shrubs
, , , , , ,

a nd soi l i n g ene r a l .

W e h a v e fou nd th at t h e st an d a r d v eg et abl e lug box which ,

h a s and ov er all m ea sur em en t of 1 4 i n ch e s wid e 1 7 V i nch es lo ng , 2

a nd 6 i nch e s d eep an sw ers a l l purp o s e s for s etti ng up ea rth

,

w o rm cultur e S uch box e s ar e usu ally obt ai nabl e at th e g ro cery

.

o r m a rk et at t h e v e ry re a so na bl e cost o f from thr e e t o t en c ents

ea ch. L ug box e s a r e light i n w e ight quit e stro ng and d ur abl e

, ,

and s e rv e t h e pur pos e a dmir ably .

To co n s erv e S p ac e bo x e s m ay b e st ack ed i n ti e rs f o ur to
,

t en box e s high .Ti e rs four or fi v e box e s hi g h a r e m o st con

v eni ent for ea sy h an dli ng T h e ti e rs should b e support e d ab ov e
.

fl o or or g rou nd upo n a b a s e about six i nch es high S u ch a b a s e .

support m ay b e m a d e from 2 x 6 t i m b e r stoo d o n edge and

”
, ,

prop erly s pac ed ap a rt by cl eats firmly nail ed a cross t h e ends .

T h e illustr a t e d pl an S hows t h e d et a ils o f a b a s e support with

ov erall dim ensi on s 46 i nch e s lo ng and 1 7 % i n ch e s wid e d e ,

s igned to support thr ee ti ers of boxe s S u ch a b a s e m ay b e .

m ad e any l ength d esir ed but we h av e f ou nd i n pra ctic e th at i n

,

l ev eli ng th e b a s e it is m u c h ea si e r to a dj ust a short b as e i n a

p erf e ctly l ev el po s ition espe ci ally on u nev en g ro u nd th an it i s
, ,

to a dj ust a lo ng b as e A lso i n shi fti ng a b a s e from one lo cati on

.
,

to anoth er th e short light b a s e is mor e co nv eni ent to h andl e

, , .

T h e pu rpos e o f th e b a s e support i s to pr o vid e v entil atio n a nd

drai nag e and also to pr ev ent escap e o f th e br eed e r w o rms B reed .

i ng box e s s et fl at upo n th e grou n d or floor provid e a cool d amp ,

spot u nd erneath th e box and th e worm s m ay cong r egat e o r e scap e

u nd e r th e box and burr o w i nto th e g rou nd S uppo rt ed on a .

b as e above flo o r o r g rou nd th e worms will r em ai n i n th e box e s

,

wh er e th e f o od and moistur e a r e .

By t h e use of s epa rat o rs b etw een th e b ox es ( s ee illustra

tio ns ) m ad e o f 2 x 2 m at eri al 1 7 % i nch es long and S p ace d
”
,

1 3 % i nch e s a p a rt by l ath cl ea ts th e w at e ri ng o f cultur e s is

,
1 06 H AR NE S S I N G THE TH W OR M
E AR

f acilit at ed A ho s e nozzl e o r fl at s p ri nkl er h ead can be i ns e rt ed

.

b etwe en th e b ox es without d i s turb i ng th e ti e rs and th e entire ti er

can thus b e w a t e r ed i n o ne o r t w o mi nut es O nc e th e cultur es
.

a r e s et up al l t h e att entio n th ey r equi r e b et w een h a rv e st tim e s

,

t hr ee o r fou r w eeks ap a rt— i s w at e ri ng o nc e or t w ic e a w eek ,

de p en di ng o n th e w eath er and t empe rature In hot d ry w ea th er

.
,

mor e w at e ri ng i s r equir ed th an i n cool wet w ea th er Cultur es

,
.

S h o uld b e k ept th o roughly moist at al l ti m e s for be st r e su l ts In .

w at e ri ng a g ent l e S pri nkl er strea m shoul d be u se d so th at th e

,

surf ace o f th e cultu re wil l not be ru dely d i stu rbed by th e force

o f a h a rd str eam o r S pr ay W e alw ay s use a l ay er o f gu nny
.

s a ck m a t eri al o n top of the cultur e m at e ri al i n ea ch bo x T h e .

g u nny s a ck co n s e rv e s moistur e a nd pr ev ents dryi ng out ; and

a lso ac ts a s a w at e r spr ea d e r i nsu ri ng ev en sprea d o f th e w at er
,

a nd p r ev enti ng di sturb anc e o f th e cu l tur e m a te ri al b y forc e of

t h e w at e r .

Gunny S a c ks
W e h av e fou nd th at pl enty o f gu nny s a cks lmost i ndi s ar e a

pen s abl e i n ea rthwo rm cultur e O l d pot ato s acks suga r sa cks

.
, ,

—
f ee d s a cks i n f a ct old to w sa ck s o f any ki nd provid e m at eri al
,

fo r a multitude o f purpos es W e us e th em fo r cov er mat e ri al

.

to prot e ct th e cultur es from exc essiv e h eat and col d for sh ad e ,

i n a form of scr een s t a ck ed on a l ath o r oth e r li ght fr a m e

work Th eir m a i n use how ev er i s as cov e r m a te ri al on th e
.
, ,

surf a c e o f th e comp o st i n al l bo xes and culture b eds S uch .

cov e r m at eri a l cons e rv e s moistu re k eeps th e surf a ce of th e cul

,

ture d ark and d am p and f avors m aximum ca psul e pro d uctio n

,
-
.

T h e wo rms w ill co ngr egat e i n gr eat numb e rs im m e d i at ely b e

low th e d am p l ay er of burl ap and thi s f avor s r a pid br eedi ng .

W e use a h ea vy p a ir of t i n s nips f o r cutti ng th e s a cks i nto con

v eni ent siz e s fo r re gul a r u se O rdi na ry s cissors m ay b e us e d
. ,

but th ey ar e not h ea vy enough fo r r eg ul a r u se W ith ti n s nip s . ,

w e can cut s ev eral l ay e r s of s a cki ng at a ti m e thu s spe ed i ng up ,

 E AR TH W OR M CU LT URE 1 09

strip o f l ath si x i nch e s lo ng shoul d b e t a ck e d on ea ch end o f

, ,

box nea r upp er edge so th a t t h e bo x can b e firmly g r a sp e d i n

, ,

li fti ng In th e illustratio n s w e S ho w a phot ogra ph o f a l ug b ox

.
,
-

S e tup with li ne dr awi ngs to S h o w t h e d et a ils d e s c rib ed abov e

,
-
.

W e sugges t v ery ca re ful stu dy and att entio n to d et a ils .

C ompos t Mi x i ng
we usu ally sp eak o f rthw o rm f ood a s compo st ea W hil e .

t h e compost m ay b e thoroughly m ix e d i n any co nv eni ent w ay ,

o n a b a r e spot of g r o u nd i n a box o r oth e r c on t a i n e r w e h av e

, ,

fou nd a mixi ng box simil a r to a c em ent mixi ng tr o ugh a v e ry

,
-
,

co nv eni ent and practical thi ng to h av e on h and S uch a mi x .

i ng box should b e a b o ut tw elv e i n ch e s d eep thr ee f e et wid e , ,

a nd fi v e to s i x f eet lo ng with smooth w oo d or m et al bottom

,

a n d S lopi ng en ds A m et a l bottom support e d by w o od i s p r e

.
,

f e rr ed a s this m ak es a pra cti ca lly w at erpr oo f box an d th er e is

,

n o w a st e of w at e r whil e mixi ng c om po st Thr ee c ubic f eet o f .

m at eri al can b e c onv en i ently mix ed i n s uch a b ox A ny surplus .

m at eri al not us e d can b e store d i n th e b ox and k ept m o ist f or

futur e use T h e rotti ng o f th e m at e ri al thus st o r ed i n crea s es
.

it s v alu e as earthwo rm f o od T h e c omp o st can b e mix ed with .

a r ak e h o e or s hov el i n t h e s am e m a nne r th a t c em e nt is m ix e d
, ,
.
,

It is w ell to scr een th e ea rth first i n ord e r to r emov e sm all sto nes
o r h a rd clo d s usi ng a h al f i nch m esh s c r een or ev en a s fi ne a
,
-
,

s cr een as qu art e r i nch m esh T h e sl opi ng en ds o f th e mixi ng

-
.

b ox f ac ilit a t e th e mixi ng and emptyi ng o f th e b ox Co mpost fo r .

lug box es should b e v e ry thoroughly br ok en up by ch oppi ng ,

r aki ng o r s cr eeni ng S imil a r to th e pr ep a ra tio n of fi ne p o tti ng

, ,

m at e ri al T h e fi ne r th e b ett er It should b e bor ne i n mi nd

. .

th at ea rth w orms h av e no t eeth and th at th ey can sw allo w p ar

ti cl es no l a r g e r th a t t h e m outh O p en i ng .

W hil e th e pr elimi na ry m ixi ng s hould b e m ad e with prae

tically dry m at er i al it can b e li ghtly spri nkl ed to l ay th e fl yi ng
,

d u s t A s th e m at eri al b ecom es w ell b rok en up it S houl d be

.
,
1 10 H A R N E SS I N G THE E AR TH W OR M
s pri nkl ed m or e and mo re so th at wh en it is rea dy f o r use it ,

w ill be a c rum b ly m as s dam p thro ugh and through but not

“ ”
m u d dy o r s oggy wet Co m po s t shoul d no t be floo d ed as
,

“ ,

“ ”
.

this t ends to p ud d l e th e fi ne soi l and m ak e a d ens e m ass i n

,

s t ea d o f a cru mbly lo am y com post A goo d pl an i s to mi x a

, .

tray o f compost as outli ne d and th en sp r i nkl e i t d a ily f or two

or thr ee d ay s tu rni ng it tho rough l y at each s pr i nkli ng In this
,
.

way th e m at e ri a l wil l ab sorb th e w a t er ev enl y through and

through Fo r l ug bo x pr o pa ga tio n too much ca r e cannot be
.
,

ex e r cis e d i n t h e pr ep ara tio n o f m at e ri al fo r c apsul e p ro d uctio n .

Lu g B ox C omp os t Ma ter i a l
F o r l ug- bo x cu ltur e
om post m ay b e pr epa r ed o f
,
a fi ne c

one p a rt m anur e o ne p a rt s cr eened top s oil and o ne p art

, ,

a g r icultu r a l p ea t moss A mi xtu r e o f m a nu r es m ay b e us ed

. .

How ev e r we pr e f e r a mixtur e o f ho r s e and rabbit m anure

, ,

h al f and h al f fi nely brok en up or a mixtu re m a d e f ro m rabbit

- -
, ,

m anure only In consid e ri ng th e ki nd o f m anur e to u se th e

.
,

av a il abl e sourc e o f m anure mu s t b e t ak en i nt o a ccou nt Fo r .

l a rge com post b ed s wh ere from a cubic ya r d to s ev era l to ns

,

of m at e ri a l i s com po s t ed al l ki nd s of m anur e and v eget abl e

,

w as t e i ncludi ng ga rb age ca n b e us ed to a dv ant age ; but for

, ,

i ntensiv e pro d uctio n o f ca p s ul es i n lug box es it is hi g hly d e ,

sirabl e to h av e a v e ry fi ne compost o f c rumbly m at e ri al th at i s

not too di s agr eeabl e or m e ssy to h a n dl e with t h e b a r e h and s o r

with glov e s In a dd itio n to th e m at e ri al as outli ned w e u s u ally

. ,

work i nto th e compost a lib e r al s p r ni k l i ng o f s om e st and ard ,

al l purpo s e chick en m a sh or c o rn m ea l
-
Cor n rh ea l h a s b een .

f o u n d t o f avor th e form atio n o f egg capsul es I f m a sh is us ed -

. ,

th e proportio n S houl d b e a bout one h al f to one po und for ea ch -

cu b ic foot o f fi nish ed com post I f co rn m eal is us e d a bout r ,

one h al f pou n d for ea ch cubic f o ot o f fi nish e d compost is s uffi

-

ci en t Th e m a sh or corn m eal i nsur e s a ratio n o f ca rbo hydrat es

. ,

p rot ei ns and f at s for t h e worm s so th at th ey will b e w ell

, ,
 E AR TH W O R M CU LT URE 111

no uri s h ed r egard l ess o f th e organic com po s ti ti on of the co mpost ed

,

so il b uil d i ng m at e ri al Max imum p roductio n i n box culture i s

-
.

d epe nd ent on pl enty o f f oo d Th e m a sh or co rn m eal should be .

a dd e d b e fo r e th e co m po s t h as b een wet s o that it can be uni ,

fo rm ly distri b ut ed th roughout th e m i x tur e .

M ea s ur i ng Q
and f M a t er iua l i ty o
a l s

In p re pa ri ng co mpo st fo r box cu l tur e we u s u al ly mix abo ut ,

th ree cubic f ee t o f m at e ri al which i s about al l th e mixi ng box ,

w i ll a ccommod at e An ap pl e bo x is a h an dy m ea su r e a s it
.
,

h olds a pproxim at ely a cubic foo t It i s not nec es s a ry to both e r .

w ith too fi ne a m ea sur e a s th e propo rti o n s as o utli ned a r e ap

,

p r oxi m at e o nly S o we tak e an a ppl e bo x o r oth e r m ea sur e o f

.
, ,

m anu re ; one box o f good lo amy topsoil and one b ox o f agr i cul
tural p eat moss plus th r ee pou nds o f chi ck en m a sh or o ne an d
, ,

one h a l f pou nd s o f corn m eal

-
T h e p eat m ay b e so ak ed a h ea d .

o f tim e brok enup and squ ee z e d o ut It requir e s s ev e ra l h o urs

, ,
.
’

tim e fully to impregnat e p eat with w at e r W e usu ally so a k it .

tw enty f o ur h o urs b e for e mixi ng th e co mp o st an d t h en squ ee z e

-

th e surplus w a t e r out Mat e ri als s hould b e m ea sur ed dry as

.
,

th ey b ulk up a ft e r w at e r is a dd ed P eat moss i s b e st for l ug .

bo x cultu re a s th e id ea is t o provid e a comp o st th a t will r et ai n

,

a high w a t e r co nt ent without b ei ng s oggy or muddy Fo r l a rg e .

c ompost b ed s s t ra w h ay l eav e s or oth e r v eget abl e m att e r m ay

, , , ,

be s ub s titut ed for p eat L ug bo x cultur e i s us ed p a rticul a rly f o r

.
-

pro d uctio n o f l a rge num ber s o f egg c ap s ul e s for impregnatio n -

o f more ext en siv e compo s t be ds and s oil a rea s Th e re fore .

gr eat e r ca r e m ay b e t ak en and a sm al l a dditio nal expens e i h

cur red Com m erci ally e gg c apsul es a r e v alu ed at o ne c ent ea ch
.
,
-
,

th e v alu e b ei ng b as ed on l abo r co s t fo r p r oductio n and h andli ng .

W e v alu e a lug bo x cultur e o f fi v e hu ndred breed e r wo rm s at

-

fift een d ol l a r s How ev e r i n p roductio n fo r use i n i mp r egnati ng

.
,

s oil millio n s o f c ap s ul es can be pro pagat ed at pr a cti cally no c ost

,

oth er th an th e cost of th e ch ea p and abu nd ant m at e ri al u s ed

 E AR TH W OR M CU LT URE 1 13
i ng which a ct s as a s pread er for th e w ate r and pr ev ent s th e
,

w at er f r om di s tu rb i ng th e s urf a ce o f th e cultur e A s th e bu rl ap .

rot s and d i si nt eg rat es it be com es fo od fo r th e wo rm s and a

,

f re sh cov er i s added as ne ce s s ary E xpe ri ence h as p rov ed th at

.

s uch a cov e r cons erv es th e m oistur e and p r ev ents th e s urf a ce

from d r yi ng out p rovid e s a da rk surf ace and f avor s capsul e
, ,

p roductio n .

I mp r eg na ti ng Cul tur e B ox es wi th E gg
-
C ap s u l es
Th ecu l t ure bo xe s fo r caps u l es ar e p r ep ared th e s am e as
fo r br eed er w o rm s as d esc ri b ed i n th e pr e c ed i ng pa ragraph
,
.

S pr ea d two or thr ee hu ndr ed ea rth w o rm egg ca psul es ov e r t h e -

s urf ace o f th e co m post and co v er w ith one i nch o f add itio nal
co mpo s t Co v e r w ith d amp bu rlap ex actly as outli ned f o r
.
,

b reed er w o r m s Pl ac e i n a w a rm pl ac e for i ncub ati ng and h atch

.

i ng . A t em per atu r e o f f rom fifty to s ev enty d eg r e e s i n th e s h ad e

i s w arm enou g h A s he d b a s em ent or o th e r sh a dy pl ac e can
.
, ,

be utili z ed . A t th e p r op er t em pe ra tur e th e eggs w ill i ncub at e

,

and h a tch i n f r om fourt een to t w enty one days Th e newly

-
.

S p aw ne d w o rm s w i l l d ev e lop quit e rapi d ly i n a w a rm enviro n

m ent and w ill rea ch th e rep ro d uctiv e s t age i n f rom si xty to ni nety
d ays T h e cultur e shou ld not b e d isturb ed d uri ng d ev elopm ent
.
,

ex c ept fo r th e ne c essa ry w at eri ng Co nt ents o f th e cultur e bo x

.

should be k ept moi s t at al l tim es A ft er sixty d ays th e cultur e

.
,

m ay be exa m i ned to d et e rmi ne i f cap s ul e s a r e b e i ng produc e d .

A fte r cap s u l e pro d uct ion i s s t a rt ed t h e cultu res ar e h an dl ed th e

,

s am e a s th e culture box es o f m atur e w orm s A lug bo x of com .

po s t as d es c r i bed abov e h as s u ffici ent foo d to d ev elop one to two

thou s and w o rm s fro m cap s ul e to r epro d uctiv e st age Thu s a .
,

thous and o r m or e egg ca p s ul e s m ay be u s ed i n a si ngl e bo x i n

-
,

cubat ed and h a tch ed out and d ev el o pe d o v e r a p erio d o f f r om

s i x ty to ni nety day s Th en th e cultu r e can b e divid ed i nt o t w o

.

o r more bo xes Th rough expe ri ence we h av e fou nd th at a bout

.

fi v e hu nd re d m ature w o rms to a lug box gi v e th e b e st r es u l t s i n

 E AR TH W OR M CU LT URE l 15

Spatul a . Nev e r
s h a rp cutti ng tool i n h andli ng ea rth
use a

wo rm s .W hil e th ey will st and co nsid erabl e h an dli ng th ey s hould ,

n ot b e cut o r i nj u r ed I f th ere a r e a numb er O f bo x es to b e

.

s e rviced a lo ng t abl e can b e us e d and s ev e ral box es dum p ed at

,

o ne ti m e Duri ng th e h a rv es ti ng th e w ork t abl e shoul d b e i n a

.
,

l ig ht ed pl ace ei th er m i ld s uns hi ne o r u nd er el ectric light W o rms

,
.

ar e v e ry s en sitiv e to l ight and will quickly bu r ro w do w n tow a rd

th e bo ttom and c ent e r O f th e com po s t i n t r yi ng to e scap e from

th e li ght H av e th e s am e num b e r O f cultur e box es pr epa r ed as
.

h a v e be en d u mp ed T h e ol d bo x es w hi ch h a v e b een du m p ed
.

s houl d b e pr epa red agai n th e s am e as th e o rigi nal cul tur e box es

,
.

Th e ol d bo x e s w ill h av e th e origi na l l ab el s on th em and ca n b e

u se d fo r th e b r eed er wo rm s ov e r and ov e r .

A ft e r w aiti ng a f ew mi nut e s a ft e r dumpi ng to a llo w t h e ,

wo rm s to work dow n aw ay fro m th e surf ac e st a rt th e h a rv est ,

i ng ope ratio n by raki ng t h e m a t eri a l fr om t h e s u r f a c e of th e

cone s h ap ed pil e P rocee d l ightly w ith th e fi ngers s o a s not to
-
.
, ,

i nj ur e th e w orm s A n i nch o r mor e O f m ate r i al can usu ally b e

.

r em ov e d at fir s t ; t h e m a t e ri a l r emov ed co nt a i n s th e egg ca psu l es -

and i s p l ac ed i n t h e new cu ltur e bo x ; w a it a f ew mi n ut e s to ,

a l l ow th e w o rms to w ork d eep e r th en r ep ea t t h e O p e r a tio n ; and

,

s o on un til two thirds o r mo r e o f th e O l d cultur e m a t e ri a l h a s

,
-

b een t rans f err ed to th e new box Any worms encou nt ere d .

s houl d be trans f e r r ed ba ck to th e O l d cultur e bo x E xp eri en ce .

w ill s oo n t each how to h a rv es t t h e i ncr ea s e as rapi d ly as po s

s ibl e In fol l ow i ng thi s routi ne th e br eed er wo rms w il l be fou nd
.
,

i n th e one thi rd O f th e Ol d compost r em a i n i ng on th e ta b l e M o s t

-
.

o f th e egg ca psu l es w ill h av e b een tran sf e rr ed to th e new cultu r e

-

bo xes T h e h a rv est ed m at eri al w ill co nta i n t h e ca p s ul e s which

.

h av e b een p r oduced d u r i ng th e two or thr ee w eek s p r eced i ng th e

h a rv est A l s o it w ill co nt a i n a goo d m any you ng w orms W e
. .

som etim e s w a it a d ay or mor e a ft er d umpi ng th e cultur e b ox es

,

on th e w o r k t able b e fore b egi nn i ng th e h a rv e s ti ng

,
By w a iti ng .

a co ns id e rab l e l engt h o f tim e we s h a ll fi nd th at mo s t o f th e

,

w o r ms wi l l h av e w ork ed d o w n to th e bottom O f t h e pil e and we ,

1 16 H AR NE S S I N G THE E AR TH W OR M
s h al l thu s be ab l e quick l y to tr ans f er th e top two thir ds or m o r e -

to th e new cultur e b ox e s w ithout encou nt eri ng any w orm s and

w ithout furth er w a iti ng .

T h e r em a i nd er O f th e Ol d com post w ith th e b reed er w o rms, ,

s houl d now be returned to th e O l d cultur e b o xe s th e box es fill ed ,

with th e new c ompost and prep a r ed a s at th e o ri gi nal st a rt T h e .

new ly lo a d ed box e s w ith c a psul e s shoul d b e prop erly m a rk e d

and a new ti er O f b o x e s s ta rt ed Th es e new cultu re s w i ll r e

.

qui re fro m s i x ty to ni nety days b e for e th ey ar e r eady fo r h ar

v es ti ng Op eratio ns .

W ith m atur e b r eedi ng ea rth w o rm s h arv esti ng i s c a r r i ed out

, ,

ev e ry tw enty o ne to thi rty d ay s

-
I n cub atio n pe rio d o f capsul es
.

i s fou r t een to t wenty one d ay s d ep end i ng on m oi s tur e t emp era

-
, ,

tu r e and oth er co nd itions Th e r e fo r e i f h a rv esti ng is ca rri ed

, .
,

out ev ery t w enty one to thirty d ays practic ally al l th e i nc r eas e

-
,

i n c ap s ul es will b e tr a n s f e rr e d to new cultur e box es t o build up ,

a d d ition a l br eed i ng stock .

M a r k i ng B o x es
A ny syst em O f m arki ng can be follo w ed by th e i nd ividu al
a s m ay s uit hi s own i n cli natio n W e u s u ally numb er and d at e
.

th e box e s m a i nt a i ni ng two s e ri es O f numbe rs

,
O ne s e ri e s of .

n umb e r s i s for m atu r e br eed e r ea rthwo rms T h e oth e r s e ri es

-
.

i s for th e cultur e s which a r e d ev elopi ng from egg ca psul es As -

.

t h e new cultu r e s r ea ch th e re pr o ductiv e ag e th ey ar e trans ,

f err ed to th e b reed er s eri es In s etti ng up new br eed e r box es

.
,

i t i s w e ll to a ctu ally cou nt th e worms allowi ng fi v e hu ndr ed to ,

s i x hu nd r ed per b ox It i s impo ss i b l e to r ecov er al l th e egg

.

capsul es at h a r v e st tim e and this residu e O f capsul es w ill h atch

out and d ev elo p with th e m atur e b r ee de r s In tim e th e cultur e .
,

bo xes w ill b ec om e o v erpopul at eda F or this r ea so n th e br ee d e r ,

bo x es s hou ld be w ork ed ov er fro m tim e to tim e and th e num be r ,

of w o rm s r ed uced to from fi v e hu nd r ed to six hu ndred p er box .

A s p rev i ously s t at ed i f a cu l tu re box b ecom es too c ro wd e d th e

, ,
 E AR TH W OR M CU LT URE 1 17
w o rm s will quit p rod uci ng capsul e s Th ey t end to limit the ir .

popula tion to co rr e spo nd to th e av a il abl e food pr e s ent W e h av e .

fou nd th at we can se cur e th e m axi m u m numb er O f ca p s ul es fr om

bo xes O f b etw ee n fi v e hu ndr ed and si x hu ndr ed worms ea ch O n .

t h e oth e r h and whil e th e ca psul e s a r e h atchi ng out and d ev el op

,

i ng it is a ll right to h av e from o ne thous an d to two th o us a nd

,

worm s to th e b o x A s th ey reach th e repro d uctiv e st age th ey

.
,

can b e s ep a ra t ed a nd br ee di n g c ultur e s O f t h e co rr e c t numb e r

set up . I n m a rki ng box es we h a v e fou nd it conve ni ent to t a ck

,

a s m a l l s qu a r e O f w hit e ca r db o a r d to th e end O f t h e box l e a vi ng ,

th e h ea d o f th e ca rpet ta ck not quit e d ow n Numb e rs can b e .

typed on ca r d b e for e attachi ng to bo x or ca n be m a rk ed with ,

l ead pencil or w at e rproo f pencil a ft er th ey ar e t ack e d i n New .

car d s ca n b e provi d ed as th e old ca r d s b eco m e ragg ed By l ea v .

i ng th e h ead O f t h e ca rp et t a ck sli g htly protrudi ng w e can ,

rea d ily pry it out fo r att a chi ng new ca r ds from tim e to tim e .

B ui ld i ng L ar g e C omp os t B ed s
On ec an adequ at e numb e r o f lug box culture s O f m atu re -

b r eed e rs h av e been establish ed al l h a rv e st ed m at e ri al can b e u s ed

,

fo r impr egnati ng l a rge compost b eds fo r s oil buildi ng and fo r -

rapi d p ropagatio n O f v as t numb er s of ea rthworms O r th e i n .

cr ea s e can b e us ed d ir ectly for impre gn ati ng pott ed pl ants flow er ,

beds l aw ns ga rd ens s h rubs tr ee s or orch ar ds Fo r i ns t ance

, , , , , .
,

i n orch a r d i ng a s etup O f a hu ndr e d lug b o x e s O f fi v e hu nd r e d

,

breed ers each prop e rl y h andl e d w ould produce enough i ncr eas e
, ,

t o i m pr egn at e fro m one hu ndr ed to thr ee hu n dr ed tr ee s p er

m o nth In impr egnati ng orch ar ds or oth e r t ree s o r shrubs th e
.
, ,

h a rve st ed cap s ul e b ea ri ng m at e ri al is buri ed a ro u nd th e tr ees

,
-
,

w el l b ack f rom th e bol e with a cov e r O f pr ep ared comp o st as a

,

m ulch to cons e rv e moisture and furn ish an abu ndanc e o f ava i l

,

abl e f ood fo r th e d ev el opi ng wo rms Onc e ea rthwo rm s a r e .

es ta bli s h e d i n th e s oil t h ey w ill t ak e ca r e o f th ems e lv e s W h er e

, .

ev er th er e i s s u ffici ent m oi s t ur e to m a i nt a i n go od v e get a tio n t h ,

e

ea rth w o rms can s u rv iv e .

 E AR TH W O R M CU LT URE 1 19
R epor t N o 2 : F r om Kans as Ci ty, M is s ou r i
. F r om a lo ng .

l ett er, g ivi ng many deta il s o f hi s work i n ea rthwo rm cultu re ,

thi s M i s souri man con cl ude s with thi s su m m a ry : ed my
“
I clos
y ear O cto b er 1 F r om Ju ne 4 1 943 s t a rti ng w ith 1 000 ca psul es
.
, , ,

ti ll S ept ember 30 1 944 I ha v e pro d uc ed, , caps ul es

”
H A H
. . This man h as us ed his i ncr eas e i n e st ablishi ng ex
.

t ens i v e s oi l b ui l di ng com po st b eds and sta t es th at h e now h as

-

v as t qu antiti es o f th e soi l b ui ld ers at w ork i n th es e be ds m ul

-
,

ti pl y i ng i nto a lm o s t a s t r o nomica l n umbe rs w hi l e a t th e s am e ,

tim e b r eaki ng d ow n th e m at er i al i nt o hi ghly f e rtil e to p d r e ssi ng -

fo r hi s ga rden a cr eage .

W e h av e on fi l e m any r epo rt s s i m i la r to th e abo v e fully ,

ver i fyi ng ou r own fi ndi ng s o ve r a peri od o f s ev eral yea r s ex '

per im ental r e sea rch i n pract i c al ea rth w o r m cultur e and soil

bui ld i ng .

S h ad e Te mp er a tur e D ar k nes s Moi s tur e

, , ,

Fo r i nt ens i ve caps u l e production i n bo x cultur es t empe ra ,

tu res r angi ng f r o m si xty to e ighty d eg rees w ill be fou n d m o s t

f av o r abl e D ryi ng out qui ckly aff e ct s w orm s and w ill i nhi b it
.

or s to p repr o d uct io n Bo xe s s houl d be k e pt f ai rly da rk a s

.
,

ea rth w o rms w ork i n d a rk ness W e u s u ally p rovi de cov e rs fo r

.

th e ti e r s o f b o x e s m a d e O f ol d gunny s a ck s or oth e r ch ea p m a
, ,

t er i al
. W o rm s p r e f er to w ork nea r th e surf ace Th e re for e we
k eep th e s urf a c e of th e cultu r e cov e r ed w ith d amp burl a p a s
pr eviously outli ned to co ns er v e m oistur e and provid e d ark ness
,

o n s urf a c e O f co m post W o rms w e r e O rigi na lly w a t e r an im a ls

. .

For i nt en si v e p roductio n th ey still r equ i r e p l enty of w a t er

, Cul .

t ur es should alw ay s b e m oi s t th r ough and through though not ,

s oggy wet Thi s poi nt cannot b e too s t r ongly em ph a si z ed Bo xes

. .

s houl d not b e fl oo d ed G ood dra i nag e s hould b e m ai nt a i ne d i n

.

botto m o f bo x so th a t s urplu s w at er will quickly dra i n o ut

,
If .

cultu r es a r e m ai nta i ned i n o ut d oo r s ha d e th e ti ers s houl d be ,

p r ot ect ed f ro m fl oodi ng rai ns S h eds outho us es b as em en ts .

, , ,
 P LA N O F B A S E S U P P O R T FOR LU GB O X S T A CK

S I D E V I E W

P LA N O F DIVID E R S FO R LU GB O X E AR TH W O R M

S I DE VI B I

F R O NT VI E "
 E AR TH W OR M CU LT URE 1 23
month f rom each box W e use th e i ncr eas e f o r i mpregnat ing
.

la rg e compo s t bre ed ing be d s flow e r be ds la w ns or ot h er lan d

, , , .

F r o m th i s it w i ll be s een th a t a s etup o f f rom fi v e to t en cul

tur e bo xe s w il l qui ckly d ev elop v as t numbers o f worm s .

U T I LI T Y E A R T H W O R M C U LT U R E B E D

S oi l B ui ld i ng Cul tur e E nd s
-

In m eth ods f or d ev eloping ea rth worm cul t ure we use

o ur ,

l ug box set up f or rapi d prod u cti on o f ea rth worm eggs h a rv es t

-
,

th e egg s fr o m th e box es o nce ev er y th i r ty d ay s and use th e i a

,

cr ea se to i mpregnate la rge compo st be ds fo r s oil b uil di ng and -

f o r d ev el opm ent o f v a st numbe rs of ear t h w o rms In h ar v es ti ng

.

th e i nc reas e f r om th e cu l tu r e box es it i s not ne c es sa ry t o co m

,

p l et e th e w o r k on a p ar t i cula r d at e T h e
. i n cu b a tio n pe r io d o f
th e egg ca ps u l es i s f rom fo u rt een to twenty one day s ; th e r e
- -

fo r e i f th e h a rv es t ing Operati ons ar e ca rri ed out eve ry t w enty one

,
-

t o thi r ty d ay s p ra ctical ly al l th e i ncr ea s e i s r ecov er e d

, .

W e present tw o de s ign s fo r la rge co mpo st cultu r e b ed s

th e fi rs t des ign i ll u st ra ted i n t h e fo ur d et a i l ed d r aw i ng s on th e

“
nex t pag e and th e m or e co mpl i ca t ed d es i gn i ll us t r ated b y p i e

tu res and d eta i l ed cons t ruct io n pl an s o f th e E ar th master c ul tu r e

bed w hi ch i s sho w n i n f oll owi ng pages Th e p l an w ith po s t s
.

set i n th e g round i s th e s i mpl e s t and m o s t pr a ct ica l fo r th e

av e rage ea rth w o rm f a rm er .

Var i a ti on i n S i z e
knockdow n cons t ruction th e s i z e o f th e bed m ay be
In th e ,

vari ed la rge r o r s m all er as desi red by th e particu la r i ndividual ,

to s uit th e av ai l abl e spa ce and th e ext ent O f th e land to be

eve ntu ally i mpregna t ed Th e i mpo r ta nt po i nt to not e is th e
. .

”
way th e 2 x 4 po s t s ar e spa c ed to mak e th e i nt erlock i ng co rners .

As w i l l b e seen f ro m th e p ictur es th e bed i s co ns t ru ct ed of

,
124 H AR N E S S I N G THE E AR TH W O R M
2 x 4 post s and l x 6 pl anki ng NO na ils a r e us e d T h e side
” ”
. .

m emb ers O f t h e b ed b egi nni ng at b o ttom a r e s et i n pl ace o ne

, ,

a t a tim e f o llow e d by th e en d m emb e r whi ch i nt e rl o cks b e tw e en

, ,

t o h o ld t h e sid e m emb e r i n pl a c e P r essur e O f th e compost m a

.

t e r i al k ee ps a l l m emb e rs i n pl a c e T h e comp o s t i s built up l ay er

.

by l ay e r .

B o t t om a nd D r a i n ag e

In composti ng with ea rthworms goo d d rai nage is O f prim e ,

imp o rt anc e T O a c c omplish this w e pl a ce on th e gr o u nd a s

.
,

b ott om O f t h e b ed a l ay e r O f f our to six i n ch es O f co ars e s and

or g rav el eve nly spr ea d an d on top O f this we pl ac e a l ay er O f
, ,

1 x 6
”
b oar ds S p aced ap art about o ne h al f to one i nch This
,
-
.

m ak es th e b ed m ol e and goph e r pr o o f A lso one m a i n pu rpos e .

O f t h e bott o m b oa rds i s to all ow unl o a di n O f t h e fi n ish ed c o m

g
p o st with a S h o v el with o ut di ggi ng i nto th e s an d l ay e r which
,

is pl a c ed th e r e f o r p erm anent dr a i nag e In u nlo adi ng th e brok en .

d o w n comp o st th e end m emb ers O f this cultur e b ed m ay b e pri ed

,

out o ne at a tim e thus e xp o si ng one O p en end O f th e b ed and

,

a ll ow i ng t h e sh o v e li ng O f t h e c o nt ents O f b e d i nto wh eelb a r row

o r oth e r ca rryi ng d evic e for distributi on to fl ow e r b eds l aw n , ,

or oth e r pl ac e O f fi nal dispositio n .

D ep th o f B ed

W h il e width and l ength O f th e b ed may b e v a ri ed l arger

th e ,

o r sm a ll e r a s d esire d
, t h e d epth S h o uld b e m a i nt a i ne d a t a bout
,

tw enty f our i nch es E a rthw o rms ar e ai r br eathi ng anim als

-
.
-

and must h a v e pl enty O f a i r f o r b e st r e sults A d epth O f ab o ut .

two f eet a ll o ws f o r goo d ae r ati on at al l tim es A l S O i n w at eri ng .

a c ultur e b ed O f this d epth it i s no t diffi cult t o k e e p th e en tir e

'

co nt ents O f th e b e d th o r o u g hly m o ist fr o m t op to bott om This .

is v e ry import ant i n s ecuri ng b est r e sults i n ea rthw o rm cultur e .

O rigi na lly ea rthworms w er e w a t e r anim als a nd th e i r bodi e s h a v e

 E A RT H W OR M CU LT URE 125
a ve ry hi g h w at e r co nt ent Any l ack O f w at e r slows d ow n th ei r
.

a ctivity an d r educ e s productivity O f c a psu l e s B eds sh oul d not .

be flood ed but cont ents S hould b e k ept thoro u ghl y moist t hough
no t
“ ,

soggy w et E xp eri ence will s oo n t each how to m ai nt a in

”
.

t h e b e st d egr ee O f moi s tur e .

In t h e d et a il e d constructio n pl an w e h av e not S how n any

cov e r A suit abl e cov er i n ea sily r em ov abl e s ecti on s should b e
.
, ,

p rovid ed to prot e ct co nt ents O f b ed from fl oo di ng ra i n s and to

provid e sh a d e and d a rk ness Wo rms w o rk b est i n sh ad e and
.

d a rk ness R a i n w at e r is ve ry fi ne f o r th e worms S O lo ng a s
.
,

co nt ents o f b ed a r e not flood ed I f a goo d sh a d e tr ee i s con

.

v eni ent l y l o cat e d th e b ed ca n b e pl a ce d pr e f erably o n north

, ,

sid e O f tre e Thi s k eeps t h e cultur e b ed a s c ool as p o ssibl e duri ng

.

th e hot summ e r m o nths .W o rms sh o uld no t b e e xp o s ed to h ot

su nshi ne dir ectly H o w e v e r th ey a r e th e most a ctiv e wh en k ept
.
,

at summ e r t emp e r a tur e s O f fr o m sixty t o e i g h t y d eg r ee s In .

w a rm earth th e g r eat e st pr o ductio n O f ca psul e s will b e h ad .

M oi s tu r e C ons er v a ti on
Fo r m o istur e c o ns e rv ati o n and to pr ev ent surf ac e dry i ng
o ut w e a l w ays u s e on t o O f t h e c omp o st surf a c e a l ay e r O f O l d
, p
to w s a cks o r burl a p . O l d f eed b ag s po t a to s a cks o r o th e r
, ,

porous m at eri al can b e us ed T h e b ed ca n b e w at e r ed t hr ou g h

.

thi s cov er m a t eri a l with out distu rbi ng t h e su rf a c e o f t h e comp o st .

T h e cov e r m at eri al a cts a s a w at er br eak and S pr ea d e r 5 0 th at

-
, ,

i n w at e ri ng with a h o s e o r spri nkl e r he a d th e worm s and sur

,

f ac e O f c ompo st a r e not disturb ed by for ce O f th e w at e r str eam .

It is a lw ays b e st to use a spri nkl e r h ea d on th e ga rd en h o s e as ,

this distribut es th e w at er to b ett e r a dv a nt ag e without floodi ng ,

.

G ar bag e D i s p os a l W as te Ut i l i z a ti on
a nd

All kit ch en w a st e a r b ag e ) is p e rf e ct ea rthw o rm fo o d an d

m ay b e disp o s e d O f a s it a ccumu lat e s S pr ead i ng it on t h e compost

,
 E AR TH W O R M CU LT URE 12 7
d efinit e pl an s f o r cultur e bo xes cultur e b eds and so on Ho w
, ,
.

ev e r
,
ea ch ea rthworm c ulturist sh o uld ex p erim ent and d e v el o p

O f hi s own
. A ny ki n d O f box c o nt a i ne r or cultur e b ed
, ,

s erv e p rov id ed th at it h as good dra i na ge and is k ept sh ad ed

,

we h ave se t forth h av e b een f o u nd ,

through lo ng exp e ri ence to b e good By followi ng a su ccess ful

,
.

pl an th at h as a lr ea dy b een t est ed th e b egi nne r will avoid m any

,

m i s tak es O n t h e o th e r h and i f no expe rim enti ng i s ca rri ed out

.
, ,

new and b ett e r m ethods will no t b e dis cov e r ed .

 UTI L ITY CU L T U RE B E D ( I )
D etail ed P la n of E ar thwor m Cul tur e B ed

8 ‘ - 0
'

l z 6 w

GRO U N D PL A N
Kno c k D own Cons tr u cti on)

Bo a r ds a r e l ai d on to p O f s and and grav el fill Mak es bed mol e .

and goph e r proof -

P rovi d es ea s y s hov eli ng s u rf a c e for e mptyi ng
.

b ed w ithout d isturbi ng s and till

, Improv es drai nage and aera
.

tion .

PRA CT I CA L UT I L I T Y

Thi s bed i s a most p ra ctica l al l purpos e cultur e bed Whil e

,
-
.

t h e d epth s ho uld be k t at wo f ee t th e l ength and b r ea d th ma

o
" _
_

y ,

3 IV W e use l ugbox cu lture f or

”

e v ar i e 0 5 11 1
c a e s .

r ap i d p ro d uction O f ea rth w o rm egg ca p s ul es W e t ak e th e in -

.

crea se and impr egnat e l a rger cultur e beds such as illu st rat ed fo r ,
,

soil buildi ng and fo r dev elopm ent Of vast num b ers of ea rth w o rms
-
.

Thi s co ns truction pro v id e s an excell ent u nit fo r hou s eho ld garbage

d is pos al and fo r gene ral compo s ti ng O f all ki nds O f organic
w as t e m anu res grass cl ipp i ng s l eav es etc
-
, , , .
 E ar t h mas t e r E a r t h wo r m Cul tur e B ed
I nt ens i v e P r opaga ti o n o f D o m es t i ca t ed E ar t h wo r ms

( Na m e wo r k
,
i ng pl a ns ph otog p s
r a ,
h a nd d es cr i pti v e
ma tter ful l y pr otected Al l r i g h ts. r es erv ed . In
v ente d d es i gned by Th omas J B ar r ett, R os coe
a nd .
,

Cal i for nia , as a pa r t of th e E ar th m as ter S ys te m .

Us er s may cons tr u ct th ei r own beds ) .

THE E ar thm aster Cultur e B ed

i s p r es ent e d a s a compl et e b asic
u nit fo r co nv eni ently d ev el opi ng and h andli ng app roxim at ely
matur e d o me s ticat ed earth w orms In additio n to it s pr ae .

tical effi ci ency m ay be m entio ned s impli c ity o f co nstructio n lo w ,

m at er i al co s t s t rength d urab i l ity and a cc es si b i l ity W ith th e

, , , .

s upers t ructu re and cov er ( see photo s NO 10 1 1 it m ay b e .

-

u s ed w itho ut any oth er hou s i ng Ho w eve r w h er e t h e b ed can

.
,

b e s h a d ed u nd e r a S h ed l ath hous e tr ee or oth er s h elt er t h e

, , , ,

supers t ructu re m ay b e l e ft O ff ( s ee p hoto s NO 2 .

Th e V s h ap ed co ns t ructio n O f th e compost comp a rtm ent

-

( see p hoto s N O —
8 9 ) emb r a c es th e b a sic pr i nci p l e o f th e E a rth
.

mas t er Cu l tur e B ed It al l ows p e r f ect aera tio n and d rai nage

. ,

both v ery necess a ry i n th e s ucces s ful prop agatio n O f th e ai r

breathi ng d o m es ticat ed earth w o rms O n accou nt o f th e V s h ape
.
-
,

w h en th e b ed i s w at ere d th e w at er flo ws dow nw a r d alo ng th e s i d e

m emb ers g rad u all y b eco m i ng co nc en t rat ed i n th e narro w p o r
,

ti on at th e b otto m Th en th r ough cap i ll ar y att ractio n th e

.
, ,

m oi s tur e r i s es th r o ugh th e cent er to w ard th e to p Th us th e en .

ti re m ass o f co mpo s t i s k ep t uni fo rm ly m oi s t th rougho ut .

13 1
13 2 H AR NE S S I N G T H E T
E AR H W OR M

Yea rs o f ex peri ence ha ve ab undantly d em onst rated that i t

i s much better to mai ntai n a b at t ery o f m edi um si z ed uni ts
wh i ch can be compl etel y serv i ced i n r otat i on, d ay by day rath er ,

th an la rge cul ture uni ts w h i ch may h av e to b e l e f t pa rt l y ser v

i ced , a f ter a day s w ork Fo r th i s reason th e s tandard uni t
’
.
,

d escr i b ed i n th i s paper ha s b een ad o pted and advoca t ed in th e

E ar th master S y st em T h e co mpl et e uni t i ncl u d i ng co v er and
.
,

s upers t ruct ure, stand s 3 6 i nch es high and 36 inch es sq u ar e .

Th e pri ma ry p urpo s e o f ma i ntai ni ng a cul t ure bed i s to pr o -

vi de an eas y and c onv eni ent m et h od f or ha rv es t i ng ea rt h w o rm

egg -ca ps ul es f or i mpregnat i on of addi tional cul t ure bed s f or

,

breed i ng purpo s es or f or i mpregnati on of compost h eaps fl o w er

, ,

pots l aw ns gar d ens or chards or fa rm s Al so in intens i v e

, , , , .
,

pro ducti on o f d o m es tica te d earth w orm s i t i s w el l to pr ot ect th e,

breeders from m i x i ng w it h nati v e ea rth w o rms W i th E a rth .

mas t er Cul tu re B eds th e p u r e cul tu res of domes t i cated ea rt h

,

wo rms may be m ai ntai ned i nta ct f rom mi xing .

M A T E R I A L S C U T T O D I M E N S I O N

L umber
O r egon p i ne h em lock o r
, , ot h er avai l abl e lumb er .

C or ner Pos ts
4 p i ece s 2 x "
3 6 l o ng Var i ati o n : I f supe rst ructure
.

not d es i r e d ( see p h oto NO m ak e po sts 30 long ’

. .

” ”
10 p i ec es 1 x 36 l o ng . 2 p i eces 1 x 36 l ong .

B ottom o f C o mp os t C om p ar tm ent
”
2 p i eces 1 x l o ng 2 p ieces , of l ath , 3 3 56 l o ng .

R emov able S i d es f C o
o m p os t C o m p ar tm en t
” ”
1 0 p i eces 1 x 20 l o ng 2 p i eces 1 x
. 20 l ong . E ach
”
si d e r eq ui r es 5 p i eces 1 x 6 pl us 1 p i ec e 1 x
 E ART H M AS TE R E AR H T W OR M CU L TU RE BE D 1 33

”
10 p i ec es 1 x 24 l ong . Not e : 5 pi eces used in each
end , p
s ace d p rt w i t h 1 i nch
a a , p
s ace between th e cor ner
post s and en d memb er s o f panel .

S ub-S ur f ac e D i vi d er
”
11 pi eces l ath ( ord i nary pl a sterer s l ath ) 3 3 l ong wi th two ’
, ,

”
end la th 30 long S pac e betw een la t h about wi d th o f l ath ( S ee
. .

ph otos No 7 . and No .

P r i mar y Cover ( Ph oto No 1 0) .

"
A li gh t fram e l o ng by 3 2 w i de m ad e o f lath and
, ,
”
l x 2 m ateri al and cov er ed wi t h a p i ec e o f gunny sack ( tow
sack sugar sack burl ap or o th er po r ou s m at e ri al ) Not e : Wh en
, , .

cov e r i s in place cont ent s of bed may be w at er ed thro ug h th e

,

cov er wi th h ose s pri nk l er or spr ink l e r can Cov er act s a s a w ater .

sp r ea d er .

S uper cover N0 1 0 1 1 1 2)
( P h oto s .
- -

” ”
A li gh t f ram e 3 6 x 36 sq uar e m ad e o f 1 x 2 or oth er l i gh t ,

mater ial cover ed wi th gunny sa ck

, In add iti on f ou r s i d e w all s .
,

are ma de by tack i ng an opened gunny sa ck ( see p h oto NO 1 2 ) .

to ea ch o f th e f ou r si des o f fram e l eav i ng one ed ge to h ang ,

f r ee Th us w hen not i n use th e s i d e curt ai ns may b e f olded

.
, ,

back on top of fram e as in ph oto No 1 O r f or pr otecti on . .

agai nst ex cessi v e s ummer h eat or f or pr otect i on agai ns t cold , ,

th e wall s may be dropped d ow n as i n p h oto No 1 2 For pr o . .

tecti on agai nst fl oo d i ng rai ns an ex t ra cov er sh ould be prov i d ed

, ,

ma de of a frame cov ered w i th r oo fi ng p ape r Al l cov er s sh ould .

be of l i ght const ruct i on so th at th ey may be r ea d i l y li f te d 03

,

wh en th e bed i s ser v i ced or f or oth er at tenti on , .

S p eci al E mp h as is
S tudy all pr f lly f or cor r ect as sembly
h otogr aph s ca e u and

nai ling .

” “
If pr oper l y assembl ed and nai led togeth er th e bed
not become wobbly or pull apar t .
,
wil l
 E ART H M A STE R E AR H W ORM T CU L TU RE BE D 135
r
ae ati on and t o all o w f or sw ell i ng O f th e wet w oo d A one .

i nch spac e i s all o w ed betw een th e up right m emb ers o f th e end

panels and th e co rner po st s to all o w fo r nai l i ng O f to p si de
rai ls on ins i d e o f p o s t s ( see ph oto s No 8 9 f or th i s detai l ) .
-
.

P h oto No 6 .

S i de vi ew sh o w i ng co mpos t co mp artm ent comp l et el y

,
as

sembl ed .S ee ph oto s No 8 9 f or d et a i ls o f in s i d e
.
-
.

P h oto No 7 .

”
V i ew sh o w i ng s u b sur f ace d i v i der 33 x
-
S p a c e be ,

t ween l ath i s ab o ut th e w i d th o f a l ath W h en d iv i d er i s in .

pl ace ( see ph oto NO th e co mp o s t co mp a rt m ent i s di v i d ed

.

i nt o l ar ge l o w er ch amb er f o r p erm anen t ea rth w o rm b u rrows ,

f eed ing gr o und and egg caps u l e ne s t -

”
,

“
wi t h a s h all o w uppe r sp ac e s i x i nch es d eep w hich fo rms th e
.
,

P h oto No 8.

Vi ew l ook i ng d o w n i nt o compo s t comp art m ent Not e th e .

spacing b etw een al l m emb ers Not e remo vabl e s i d e m embers

. ,

w ith l o we r ends r es ti ng agai ns t th e l ath s t ri ps on bott om th e ,

top ends r e s ti ng aga i ns t s i d e r a i ls S i x i nch e s b el o w to p ed ge

-
.

Wh en th e c ompost com partm ent i s fi ll ed p res sur e O f th e ma

t er i al ho lds s i d e w alls fi rml y i n pl ac e
-
By i ns er t i ng a pry on
.
”
,

“
o ut s i d e o f th e co mpo s t co mp a rt m ent b etw een th e s i d e w al l and
,
-

top ra i l i t i s a s i mp l e m att er to pry a m emb er u p and r el eas e

,

th e bott om end r em o v i ng the m emb ers one at a ti m e

,
Th us tw o .

or th ree or al l o f th e s i d e w a ll m emb ers may be r em o v ed al l ow

, ,
-
,

ing th e m at eri al i n th e comp o s t comp a rt m ent to b e co nv eni ent l y

r emov ed fro m b el o w Th e p erm anent breed i ng co mp o s t i s
.

ter i al
.
“
ch anged two or th r ee t i m es a y ear and r epl a c ed b y fr es h m a

T h e egg nes t m at er i al ab ov e th e s u b s u rf ac e d i v i d er
- -

( ee p hot o No 9 ) i s w ork ed ov er f r eq uently i n h ar ves ti ng cap

s .

sul es and cas ti ng s .

P h oto No 9 .

Vi ew sh ow ing sub -
s u rf ace d i vi der in pl ace , si x in ch es b el ow
136 H AR NE S S I N G TH E E AR TH W OR M
to p r es ti ng on u pp er ends O f s i d e w all m embers Th e ch am b er
,
-
.

b elo w th e d i v i der i s fill ed w ith earth w orm c ultu re co mpost and

fo rms th e p erm anent b u rr ow i ng gr ou nd fo r appro xi mat el y
m atur e b reed i ng w o rms Mat er i al o f l o w er ch amber i s
.

ch anged t w o o r thr ee ti m es a y ea r T h e spa ce ab o v e th e d i v i d er

.
,

s i x i nch es d eep i s fil l ed w ith wel l prepared cul tu re co mp o s t and

,
-

fo rms th e f eed i ng b reedi ng and egg caps u l e nes t Th e m at eri al

,
-
.

i n th e egg nes t i s w ork ed ov er e v ery two o r th r ee w eek s th e ,

eggs h a rv es t e d c a s ti ng s si ft ed out and new m at er i al a dd ed

, As .

ea rth w o rm egg s h atch i n fro m fou rt een to twenty one d ay s fr o m -

th e ti m e th ey a r e p ro d uc e d al l i nc r eas e i s r e co v er ed b y w orki ng
,

th e egg nest ev e ry t w o or th r ee w eek s Caps u l es ar e u s ed fo r .

e s t abli s hi ng add itio nal b r eed i ng b eds o r fo r i mpr egnati ng ,

p o s t h eaps o r fo r i mp regnati ng th e s oi l i n garden fl o w er pot s

, , ,

nu rs er y o r ch a r d f a rm et c
, , , .

P h ot o N o 1 0 .

Vi ew s ho w i ng pri m ary cov er i n pl ac e w ith super cover al o ng ,

s i de Not e th at prim a ry cov er i s u s ed d ir ectly abo v e co mpo s t

.

c o mp a rt m ent r e s ti ng o n ed ge s O f to p ra il s
, Thi s co v er i s m ade .

by t acki ng tow s a ck ov er a light f ram e Co nt ent s O f bed may .

be w at er ed th r ou gh thi s co v er u s i ng spri nk l er ho s e o r ca n ,
.

Cov er a ct s as a w at er b r ea k and spreads w at e r un i fo rml y o v er

s u r f ace o f b ed .

P h oto N o 1 1 .

Vi ew S howi g super cov er npl ace w i th s i d e w alls f o ld ed on

in ,
-

to p Thi s co v er i s m ade by t acki ng an Opened to w s ack on a

.

light f ram e 3 6 x 3 6 s qu are S i d e w alls ar e m ad e by t acki ng

”
,
”
.
-

th e ed ge o f an Op ened to w s ack on ea ch O f th e fo ur s i d es o f th e
f ram e l eavi ng one ed ge o f s a ck fr ee to h ang do wn as a s i d e
,

wall as s how n i n p hoto No 12 P u rpo s e o f th e s uper cover i s

, . .

fo r ex t ra s h ad e and pr ot ectio n du r i ng s u mm e r s eas on and as ,

p r ot ect i on a g ai ns t co ld Co nt ent s o f b .ed m ay b e w a t er ed

t h rough th e top of super cov er sam e as th rough th e pr imary ,

cover . A li gh t rai n cov er sh ould b e ma d e o f roofi ng paper or

 E A RT H M A S TE R E A R TH W OR M CU LT U RE BE D 137
o t h e r m a t e r i alprot ect cont ent s O f bed agai ns t fl oo d i ng ra i ns
, to .

Th e super cov er sho uld b e m ad e l ight s o th at it can b e r ea d i l y

l i ft ed Off f or s erv ici ng o f bed .

P h oto No 1 2 .

Vi ew s ho w i ng super cov er w ith s id e w alls l ow ered Wo rm s

,
-
.

w ork b est and m ulti pl y rap idly w h en k ep t m od erat ely w a rm .

A n ev en t emp eratu r e a ppr o achi ng s u m m er h eat i s b es t I n ex t r a

“
h ot w eath er th e super cov er a s i ll u s t r at ed a ct s as a d es e rt cool er
,
”
.

w h en spray ed w ith w at er occ as io nal ly In th e adv anci ng coo l ness .

o f f al l w eath er th e co v e r a ct s as a w i nd br eak and p r ot ect s th e

,
-

bed f r o m ex c ess i v e chi ll A s p oi nt ed out abo v e wh er e oth er

.
,

s h ad e i s avail abl e s uch as a sh ed l ath hou s e gar age b a rn ba s e

m ent Or ev en th e no r th s id e O f a t ree—th e s u p e rst r uctur e m ay
—
, , , , ,

b e d i sp ens ed w ith Ho w ev er i f th e cultur e b ed i s m ai nt a i ned

.
,

i n th e Op en a rai n co v er s hou ld al w ay s b e p ro v i d e d to pr ot e ct
,
-

th e b ed f r o m fl oo d i ng It s hou ld alw ay s b e b o rne i n m i nd th at

.

ea rth w o rms w o r k b es t i n th e d a rk and th at pl enty o f s h a d e i s

essenti al to b est r es u l t s i n i nt ens iv e prop agatio n .

I M P O R T A N C E O F C O N T R O LL E D

P R O D U C T I O N

I n th e i nt ens i v e
pro pagatio n and use o f d om es tic at ed ea rt h
w orms i t i s ess enti al th at egg caps u l e p r o d uction be m ai nt ai ned
,
-

u nd er p er f ect co nt r o l s o th at an ad eq uat e s co re o f cap s u l es b e

,

a v ai l abl e at al l ti m es Th ere fo r e at l ea s t one unit O f breed ers

.
,

s hou ld b e m ai nt ai ned und er p er fe ct co nt r o l d ep end i ng on ho w ,

m uch l and i s to b e i m p regnat ed I f l ar ge ac reage i s to b e i m.

p r e g n at ed th
,
en a b att e r y o f u nit s w il l b e r equi r e d A noth e r i m .

p o rt ant co ns i de ratio n i s th at O f k eep i ng th e br eed i ng s t rai n o f

d om es tic at ed ea r th w o rms fr ee fr o m m i x i ng w i th nativ e earth
w orm s Do m es ti cat ed earth w o rms h av e b een pr o d uced th rough
.

s el ecti v e f eed ing and breed i ng of nati v e earth w o rms f or cer

tain f av or abl e cha racteri sti cs f or i ntens i v e propa gati on In .
 E A RT H M A S T E R E AR TH W OR M CU LT U RE BE D 1 39
w o rm ca sti ng s . Th e m at eri al m ay b e t h or ou gh l y mi x ed w i th a

sh ov el o r f ork .

S cr eeni ng M at er i al s
Th e m o re fi nely br ok en up th e m at e ri al th e b ett e r A f eed
, .

g ri nd er m ay b e uti l iz ed fo r cutti ng up veget ab l e m att er Th e

-
.

t o ps oi l S houl d b e s cr eened th r ough a h al f i n ch m es h or fi ner to

-
, ,

rem o v e s m al l s to ne s h ard c l o ds etc How ev er good r es u l t s

, , .
,

m ay b e Ob t a i ned by mi x i ng th e m ate ri al s co ars e and al l o w i ng th e

ea rt h w o rm s to br eak it up P ro d uctio n O f potti ng m at e ri a l i s
.

great l y a ccel erat ed by br eaki ng u p th e m at eri al i n ad v anc e fo r

quick co nsum p tio n by earth w o rms I f one h as t h e ti m e it p ays
.
,

to p r ep are th e co mp o s t i n a fi nel y d ivi d ed st a t e .

We tti ng D own th e C omp os t

A ft e r filli ng th e compo s t c om p a rt m ent m at eri al S hould b e
,

t h o roughly wet d o w n and allo w ed to s ettl e Keep a dd i ng m a .

t er i al and w etti ng it d o w n u nti l t h e com p a rtm en t i s fill ed to

withi n s i x i nch es o f th e top w ith w e l l s ettl e d compost ; th en p ut
-

the s u b Su rf a c e di v i d e r i n pl a c e a s s how n i n pictur e NO 9

-
. .

Th u s you w i l l h ave a S p ace abov e th e d ivi d er about si x i nch es

d eep w ith th e l arg e m ass O f comp o s t b elo w th e divi de r to fo rm
,

th e p e rm anent b u r ro w i ng g r ou n d O f t h e b r eed ers .

P ur p os e o f th e S u b S ur f a ce D i v i d er
-

Th e s urf ac e d i v i d er is u s ed S O th at i n th e p roce ss O f
s ub - ,

f req uent egg h ar v es ti ng from th e m at eri al on to p O f th e d ivi d er

-
,

t h e p e rm anent b ur r o w i ng gro und O f th e ea rthwor ms w i l l not b e

d i s t urbed o r b rok en up .

Imp r eg na ti ng th e E ar th mas t er
Cu l tur e B ed
A ft er th e s ub s urf a ce d i v id e r i s i n p l a c e ( p hot o NO
-
th e .

s p ac e ab ov e it i s fill ed w ith es p eci ally w ell pr ep ared cultu r e com

-

pos t O f th e s am e m at er i al s as th at in th e low er ch amb er and ,

th o rough l y wet d o w n and al lo w ed to drai n and s ett l e A ft er .

s ett l i ng th e m at er i al s houl d be at l ev el f r om one to t w o i nch es

,

bel ow th e edge o f top rai ls Th e enti re be d s hould now be m oi s t

.
140 H AR NE S S I N G TH E E AR TH W OR M
th roughout b ut not s oggy wet In th e fi rs t w etti ng d o w n w at er
, .
,

i s u s ed f r eel y and allow e d to drai n Off S u bs eq u ent water mgs

—
.

“
ar e not s o g ener ou s
”
j us t w el l spri nkl ed to k eep co nt ent s m oi s t
b ut not s oggy wet Th e pr ep ared b ed i s now i mpr egnat ed
.
,
,

w ith Do m esticat ed E ar th w o rm E gg Caps u l es by b u ryi ng -

,

t h em i n th e s u r f a c e o f th e co mpo s t one to tw o i nch es d eep Di s .

t r ibut e th e cap s ul e s o v er th e entir e s u r f a ce u s i ng caps ul es and ,

m at er i al i n w hich th ey ar e p ack ed DO not t ry to s ep arat e cap

.

—
s ul es f r om p acki ng m at eri al j u s t d u mp enti re co nt ent s On s u r
f ac e O i th e co mp o s t l ight l y rak e i t o v er th e s ur f ac e o f b ed and
,

th en co v er w ith a l ay er o f fine compo s t to a d ep th O f one to tw o

i nch es. F or co n s erv i ng th e moi s t ur e and k eep i ng th e s u r f a c e
O f th e com p o s t f r o m dryi ng out too m uch a l ay er o f wet to w
,

s ack s houl d b e p l ac ed on th e s urf ac e Thi s s houl d not be r e

.

m ov ed d u r i ng th e d ev el o pm ent p erio d O f s i x ty to n i nety d ay s .

Th e w at er w ill s o ak r ight through it T h e pr i m ary and s up er

.

co v er ( p hoto s No 10 No 1 1 and NO 12 ) ar e now p ut i n pl ac e

.
, .
, . .

Ca r e of th e B ed
Co nt ent s O f b ed s hou ld not b e di s turb ed fo r f r o m s i x ty to
ni nety d ay s fr o m d at e O f pl anti ng c aps ul es ex c ep t fo r w at er ,

i ng as O ft en as i s nec ess a ry to k eep it m oi s t o r fo r occ a s io nal ,

i nsp ectio n to d et erm i ne t h e co nd itio n o f m oi s t ur e In cool .

w eath er one goo d w at er i ng each w eek i s s uffi ci ent In hot sum

, .

m er w eath er a l ight sp ri nk l i ng ev er y d ay o r t w o m ay b e a cc es
,

s a ry to k eep th e s u r f ace f r om dryi ng out w ith a goo d w at er i ng

,

o nc e a w eek E xp er i ence w il l S ho w ho w O ft en to w at er to k eep

.

co nt ent s damp Th e b ed s ho uld nev er b e all o w ed to dry out

. .

Ha tch i ng f Coa p s ul es

E ar th master Do m es ticat ed E arth w o rm E gg Caps ul es w i ll -

h atch out i n fro m fo urt een to t w enty one d ay s F ro m one to as

-
.

h i gh as t w enty w o rms per egg may d ev el o p Th ey w i ll pr ob ably

.

av erag e th r ee or f o ur w orm s per caps ul e It i s es ti m at ed th at

.

from to w orm s w i l l d ev el op fr om cap s ul es .

E arth w o r m s matur e and begin to breed i n f rom si xty to ni nety

 E ART H M A S T E R E AR TH W OR M CU LT U RE BE D 14 1
d ay s , acc ord i ng to m oi s ture and t empe rat ur e ; t h us pr o d uctio n
i s q ui ck l y es tabl is h ed Und er f av o rabl e c o nd itio ns d o m es ticat ed
.
,

ea tr h wo rms p s may c ps ule eve ry s ev en to ten d ays so

a s an -
egg a ,

th at th e i ncr ea s e i s ex t r em ely rapi d A ft er s i x ty d ay s f r o m i m .

p g
r e n a t i on t h e s ur f a,c e co mpo s t shou ld b e e x a m i ned to a d ep th
o f th r ee o r f ou r i nch e s fo r ca ps u l es I f ca p s ul es ar e fou nd th e .
,

routi ne o f h a rv es ti ng may be s t a r t ed .

H A R VE S T I N G T H E I N C R E A S E

E g g C ap s ul es
-
C as ti ng s a nd

As ea rth w o rm egg caps ul es h atch i n fourt een to t w enty one

- -

day s fro m th e ti m e th ey a r e d epo s it ed it i s evi d ent th at i f th e ,

m at er i al i n th e egg nes t i s r em ov ed or work ed ov er ev e ry t w o

-

to th r ee w eek s th e ca p s u l es w hich h av e b een d epo s it e d duri ng

,

thi s p er io d w i ll b e r ecov ered E a r th w o rms com e to th e s urf a ce .

to d ep o s it th ei r egg s and ca s ti ng s Th ey f eed m ai nl y nea r th e .

s u r f ac e e sp eci all y at night o r i f th e b ed is k ep t s h ad ed and

, ,

dark For th i s r ea son th e s ur f ac e s hou ld b e k ep t moi s t and

.
,

w ell co v er ed
-
s ack on th e s ur f ac e form s a good
co v er fo r d a W h en ( 1 by light and

v i bratio n o r i f too hot th e w o rms w il l w ith draw i nto th ei r p er

, ,

m anent burr o ws d eep er i n th e cul t ure bed .

R emovi ng Contents of E g g nes t -

B efo r e r em o v i ng th e m at er i al f ro m th e nes t it s ho uld b e ,

rak ed i nto a co ne s h aped p i l e i n th e c ent er of th e b ed ( co v ers

-

l ai d as i d e ) and al l o w ed p art l y to dry out W h en d i s t urb ed o r .

exp o s ed to l ight th e w o rms w i ll r ap i dl y w o r k d o w nw a rd to

,

es ca pe fr o m th e l ight and dryi ng In a f ew m i nut es a ft e r ex .

p o s ur e a n
, i nch o r m o r e O f th e s u r f a c e m ay b e r em o v e d f o r
s c reeni ng T w o sm all h and s c r een bo xe s s houl d b e pr o v i d ed
.
-
,

one w i th h alf i nch s c r een to r em o v e th e co ars er m at er i al w h ich

-

i s to be m i x ed w i th new co mp o s t T h e fi ner m at eri al co ntain .

,

ing th e egg s w i l l pa ss th rough th e co ars e s c r een Nex t th e ma

, .
,
 E ART H M A S T E R E A R TH W ORM CU LT U RE BE D 143

Th e E a r th master B r eed i ng U nit s ar e m a i nt a i ned as a con

t r oll ed s u ppl y o f caps ul es f r o m th e p u r e s tra i n O f d o m es ticat ed
ea r th w o rms . B ut thi s d o es not m ean th a t th e cu l tu r e b eds ar e
th e o nl y s ou r c e fo r i mpregnati ng th e ea rth For ex t en s iv e i m .

r egnati on o f g r ou nds l l hou s hold g r b g l w n clip p i ngs

p a e, a a e a , ,

l eaves pruni ng s etc s ho uld be care ful l y co mp o s t ed at s o m e w el l

, , .
,

s h ad ed locatio n and tho ro ugh ly i mpre gnat ed w ith ear th w o rm

egg ca psul es
-
A num e rou s ea r th w o rm popul atio n w ill r api d ly
.

dev elop i n th e compo s t d iges ti ng th e m at eri al quickly and tur n

,

ing it i nto th e m o s t choice to ps oil fo r potti ng and oth e r u s e s .

Thi s co mpo s t ed m at er i al can be u s ed lib eral l y w h er ev er nee d ed , ,

and ea rth w or m colo ni es w ill b e es t a blish ed w h er ev e r it is us e d .

By res erv i ng p art o f th e com p ost fo r new b eds r e seed i ng of t h e ,

comp o s t i s not nec e s s a ry S oo n a v e ry gr ea t sup p ly O f e a rth

.

w o rms w il l be dev elop ed i n th e compo s ti ng op e ratio ns Al l gar .

d en b ook s gi v e i ns t ru ctio ns O u b ui ld i ng co mp o s t w hich i s a v e ry ,

s i mpl e m att er .

For ex t ens i v e a c r eage m any to ns O f compo s t s houl d b e

,

bui l t u p and m ai nta i ned as cultur e b ed s fo r ear th w o rm s u s i ng ,

th e m at e ri al a ft er it h as b een trans fo rm e d b y th e ea rthwo rm s ,

w ith al l th at it co nt ai ns o f w orm s c ap s ul es and ca sti ngs fo r , , ,

i mpr egnati ng th e ea rth w h er ev er i t i s d es ir ed to es t abli s h an

ad eq u at e ea r th w o rm p o p u l atio n .

D O M E S T I C A T E D E A R T H W O R M S

Al l earth w o rms a r e v alu abl e as s oi l b uil d ers th ey fu nc

-
, as

tion i n th e s am e m anner Th ere ar e hu nd r eds

. o f v ar i eti es o f
nati v e ea rth w o rms w ith v a ryi ng ch ar a ct eri s tic s and h ab it s S o m e
,
.

ar e v ery pr o l i fi c S o m e m ulti pl y s low l y

. S o m e v ar i ti es f eed
.

on a v ery l i m it ed r ang e o f m at er i al O th ers co ns u m e practic all y

.

ev eryt h i ng i n th e nat ur e o f anim al and v eg et abl e w a st e S ome .

ar e a d j us t ed to a v e ry l i m i ted rang e O f s oi l a ci d ity O th e rs adapt .

144 H AR NE SS I N G THE E AR TH W OR M
th e ms el ves to a w i d e range of s oi l s T h rough sel ect i v e breed i ng
.
,

and f eedi ng d o m es tica t ed eart h w o rms a dap t ed to i nt ens i ve

, ,

pr o pagatio n and use h av e b een d ev el op ed Th ey a r e v ery p r o

,
.

li fi c ad ap t th ems elv es to a w i d e range o f s oi l aci d ity th r i v e on

, ,

practicall y al l th e b iologica l endpr od ucts o f l i f e both ani mal w as t e ,

as w ell as al l v eg et ab l e m att er and ar e m uch l ess m igr ato ry th an

,

m o s t nati v e ear th w o rms W h en a co l o ny i s es t ab l i s h ed th ey r e

'
.
,

mai n and sp r ead sl owly to th e s u rro und i ng env i ro nm ent .

In i nt ens i ve ea rth w o rm c ul t ure we c reat e a f av o rabl e eu

,

v i r onment and use d o m es tica t ed ea rth w orms w hi ch h av e th e

nec ess a ry ch ar a ct er i s tic s f o r pr o p agatio n i n h igh co nc ent ra ti ons .

An o rd i na ry l ug b o x s i x i nch es d eep and ab o ut e ight een i nch es

,

s qu are w il l a cco mm o dat e 500 to 600 breed ers Under f av or

, .

abl e breed i ng co nd itio n s i t i s es ti m at ed th at one w o rm may

,

i nc r eas e to m o re th an s i x hu nd r ed w i thi n a year s ta rti ng f r o m ,

a s i ng l e egg caps u l e-
A ft er ad eq uat e c ul ture b eds hav e b een
.

es t ab l i s h ed it i s a s i mpl e m att e r to b ui ld up th e cultures to a

,

p oi nt w h ere b io l ogical s oi l b ui ld i ng on a s ubs tanti al s ca l e i s pos

-

s i bl e A s i ngl e E ar th master Cu l t ur e B ed i mpregnat ed w i th

.
,

Do m es tica t ed E ar th w o rm E gg Caps u l es fo rms th e f ounda

-
,

ti o n fo r a f as ci nati ng ho bb y o r a pr o fi t abl e and s ati s fy ing h o m e

,

i nd us t ry .
WE S H A LL d efi ne rth w o rm ti llage as a general t e rm co v er
ea

i ng m etho ds ad opt ed to enco urage th e m ax i m um d ev el o pm ent

o f nativ e earth w or m popu l atio n i n th e l and And as a p ractical
.

“
p ar t O f earth w or m ti l l age m etho ds we s hou ld i ncl ud e i nt ens i v e
,

”
prop agatio n o f ea rth w o rms fo r s eed i ng th e l and w ith egg
caps ul es not o nly to acc el erat e th e d ev el o pm ent o f a num erou s
,

w o rm p op u l atio n i n th e s ho rt es t p o ss i bl e ti m e but al s o as a
,

m etho d for utili z i ng ev ery p o ss i b l e o rganic w a s t e m at er i al i n

b uildi ng top s oil to be u s ed as a to p dr ess i ng i n garden o r chard
-
,

and f a rm .

In ou r ch ap t er on My Grand f a th er s E a rth w o rm Farm

’
,

“
th e m etho ds d es c ri b ed w oul d b e cl ass e d as ea rth w orm ti ll ag e In
t h e ch ap t er on O rch a rd i ng w ith E arth w o rms
”
we to uch ed on
,
.

ear th w o rm till ag e m etho ds as fo l lo w ed b y M r Hi nck l ey i n h i s

.

cit ru s o r ch ard W e s hou ld say th at E dward H Fau l kner s

. .
’

bo ok P l owman s F oll y i s pr i m ari l y an abl e d i s cu ss ion o f earth

’

w o rm ti l l agef In f a ct th e r em ark abl e r es ult s r ep o r t ed i n th at

,

b ook we s hou ld attribut e to th e f au na o f th e s oi l w it h v e ry gr ea t

,

emp h as i s pl a c e d on th e ea rt h w o rm po pul atio n Ho wev er th e

.
,

”
qu es tio n i s not to p l o w o r not to pl ow ; we s h all not ent er th at
co ntro v ers i al fi eld .W e adv i s e ev ery s tu d ent of ear th w o rm cul
t ur e to r ead c a r e fu l ly P l owman s F ol l y as w el l as ev e ryth i ng
’
,

els e h e can fi nd on o r gani c m et ho ds It i s al l ins t ructio n i n

.

ea rth w o rm ti ll age and ea rth w o rm cul tu r e Onc e th e b as i c pri n

.
 E AR TH W OR M T I LLA G E 149
c i p l es ar e g ra sped a new w o rld O f po ss ibiliti e s and i ns t ru cti on
,

i s r ev eal ed fo r s tu d y and ex p eri m ent ation .

W e also r eco mm end a s po ss ibly th e mo st impo rt ant bo ok

on b a sic org anic m etho ds S i r Al b e rt How a rd s An A g r i cul tu r al
’

Tes tam ent . I f we w e r e recom m end i ng one s i ngl e book from

a l l boo ks on th e s ubj e ct for e a rth w o rm s tu d en t s we woul d s ay
“ r ead An A gr i cul tur al Tes tament ”
How ev er o nce on e h as
.
,
, ,

“
st a rt ed on a s tu d y o f organi c m ethod s as co ntras t ed with t h e
”
st r ict l y ch em ical s chool O f thought o ne fi nd s th e sou r c es of,
,

r e co rded i n form ation alm o s t end l ess w ith th e s oil it s el f as a

,

f a s ci nati ng s u b j ect fo r pr a ct ica l exp erim ent atio n and nev er

f a i l i ng i nt erest .

A s an out s t and i ng ex amp l e o f w h a t we m ean by ea rth

w o rm t il l age S how i ng th e tr em end ous i ncr ea se i n food pr od uc

,
”

tio n th at may tak e pl ac e th rough us e of s uch m ethods we r epro ,

d uc e an a rticle w hich appear ed i n th e F eb ru a ry 194 5 is s u e of

Fa r m Jour nal and F ar m er s W i f e u nd e r th e ti tl e E ar thwo rms
’
,
“ ,

,
,

to th e A cr e ”
Thi s repo rt on th e f a rm i ng m ethods and
.

r es u l t s Obt a i ned b y M r Chris toph e r Gallu p is a cor roboratio n o f

.

th e m etho ds w hich we d e s cri b e d i n t h e ch apt e r o n

“ My G r an d
”
f ath er s E a rth w o rm Farm b ut app l i ed to a m o dern f a rm with
’

m o de rn m achi nery .

I nci d ent all y we h av e b een i n co rres po nd enc e w ith M r Gal

, .

l u p w ho i s an ener getic agg ress iv e s tu d ent O f m o d e rn m etho ds

, ,

and a s ucc ess f ul f a rm e r In co nnectio n w ith th e s tory o f hi s

.

“
f a rm we q uot e a f ew l i ne s fro m a l ett er r ec eiv e d from him u nd er
d at e of A pri l 1 8 1 94 5 : W h en we us ed to get 70 b ush el b a ske t s
,

O f co rn p er a c r e t h e b o r e r s j u s t ra i s e d ca i n with it ; b ut w h en ou r
,

yi eld h ad b een s t ep p ed up to 196 b a s k et s per ac re th e bor ers ,

“
”
pract ically d ro p p ed out O f th e p ictu r e I n anoth er l ett er f r o m
.

M r G al l up u nd e r dat e O f Ju ne 3 1 94 5 h e r em ark s : S atu rd ay

.
, ,

we fini s h ed p utti ng 3 7 truck l o a ds o f h ay i nto t h e b a rn fro m two

fi elds th at pr o d uc ed onl y 2 1 t ruck l o ads l a s t y ear NO m anu r e .

”
o r f e rt i l i z er was u se d i n maki ng th e d i ff er enc e .
Left Ch r i s t o p h e r G a l l u p
,

an d , b e l o w h i s c h i e f t o o l ,
,

t h e S p r i n g -t o o t h Ha r r o w
a n d T r a c t o r w i t h wh i c h h e

f ee d s h i s E a r t h w o r m s.
 E AR TH W ORM T I LLA GE 1 51
He say s I w ent i nto our l itt l e fi elds w ith a h eav y pl ow
,

h ook ed to a 20 H P cat erp il l ar t ra cto r d et erm i ned to gi ve th at

. .
,

Ol d l and th e w o r k s I p lo w ed deep I put on l i m e and co mm e r

. .

ci al f ertili z er . I d i d ev erythi ng th e ex p e rt s ad v i s ed I fi rmly .

be l i eved w ith al l it s s to nes ou r New E ngl and s oi l was goo d s oil .

B ut th e b es t I co ul d g et was 80 bu s h el s of corn i n spit e o f a lot ,

of f ertiliz e r and h a r d w ork U ltim at ely G allup hit on h i s

.
,

an sw e r—th e S pr i ng tooth h ar ro w p lu s ear th w o rms

-
.

NO one Gallu p s ay s k no ws al l ab out ea rthwo rms Th ey

, , .

eat and d ig es t b oth d ec ayi ng v eg et atio n and s oi l it s el f Th ei r .

tu nnels ca rry ai r and w at er i nto th e grou nd E x a ctly w h at h ap .

pens i n th e gi z z ards b etw een th eir s uctio n m o uth s and t h e f er til e

cas t s i s y et to be fou nd out .

A s ci enti s t s co unt i nd i ca t es th at i n G allup s b es t fi elds a s

’ ’

m any as worm s i nh abit each a cr e A w est ern s tu d ent .

b el i ev es th e w o rm p o p u l ation on an a c r e coul d b e i ncr ea s ed to

t en ti m es th at nu m b er enough to bri ng t w o an d h a l f to n s O f
,

d iges t ed m at er i al to th e s u r f ace each tw enty four hour s Th at s -

.
’

a l ot O f pl ant foo d i n an l ngu g

y a a e .

Gal lu p figur es th at fou r y ears ar e need ed to buil d up th e

w o rm nu mb ers H arr o w i ng th e tras h i n h el ps i n th e fir s t y ear
.

to cr eat e th ei r foo d s upp ly Th e se co nd y ear th e b r eed i ng s tock

.

b egi ns to co ng regat e th e thi rd it m ulti p li es By th e fou rth th e

, .

“
w o rms ar e h eav i ng u p s u bs oi l i n qu antity
”
No w a day s h e expl ai ns we get out w ith th e tooth h arr ow
, ,
“ .

as s oon as th e fr o s t i s out Th at i s a goo d th ree w eek s earli e r

.

th an we cou ld us e a pl o w and a cou pl e O f w eek s b e fo r e th e l and

,

could b e w o rk ed w i th a d i s c h a rr o w Grass and p er enni al w eed s

.

”
can th en b e ki ll ed w ith s urpr i s i ng ea s e .

Gall up s cul t i vati ng m etho d i s to set th e t eeth o f th e h arr ow

’

at th e m o s t s h all o w notch a nd to go o v er t h e fi el d s ev er al t i m es
,
.

Th en h e spreads h i s m anu re and pr omp t ly h arro ws it i n A ft e r .

each h eavy S pr i ng r ai n h e h arr ows aga i n b oth w ay s ea ch ti m e , ,

l ow eri ng th e teeth one not ch .

F requentl y peopl e ask Wh at abo ut th e t rash ? Doesn t it

,
’
T ec hn i c al D isc uss i o n ; Fac ts , Fi gur es an d R ef er e nc es

IN T H I S book so , h ave p u rpos ely av oid ed t ech nical t e rms

f ar , we
and d i s cu ss io n W e set out to cr eat e a m ent al p ictur e O f th e
.

im po rt anc e o f th e ea rth w o rm i n natur e and to poi nt th e way to

h a rnes s i ng th e ea rth w o rm i n th e i nt en s iv e s e rvic e o f m an In .

o ur h an dli ng of th e s u b j ect we h a v e m a d e b ro ad c l a i ms fo r th e
,

val u e o f ea rth w o rm s s om e O f th e cl aim s s uppo rt ed and s om e

, ,

uns u ppo rt ed ex c ept b y ou r own exp e r i m en t a l fi nd i ng s F o r thos e

.

wh o ar e not i n form ed fu l ly o n th e su b j ect and fo r tho s e w ho

,

m ight s er iou s ly qu es tio n m uch o f th e for egoi ng we ar e gl ad to

,

repr od uce a high l y v al u abl e r epo rt r ec ent l y rel eas ed fo r pu b lic a

“
tion b y th e Co nnecticut A gri cul tu ral E xpe ri m ent S t ation In
t hi s rep o rt on Th e Ch em ica l Co mpo s itio n o f E a rthwo rm Cas ts ”
.

H A L un t and H G M J acobs o n h av e r ev eal ed i n a f ew w ell

. . . . .

wri tten p ages th e s ci entific b as i s of all th e cl aim s m ad e fo r ea rth

w orms by po p ul a r wri ters i ncl u d i ng th e author i f thi s book
,
.

Al so th e i nc l u s io n o f thi s autho r it ativ e re po rt w i ll s ati sf y th e

,

tech ni ca l and s t r i ct l y s ci entific s t ud ent s w ho m ight oth e rw i s e

ques ti on o r even th ro w as i d e thi s book as not w o rt h th ei r att en
, ,

ti on .

“
l a s t paragr aph o f th e Lu nt and J acobs o n repo rt un
In th e
d er th e h ead i ng o f Di s cu ss io n we fi nd th e s t at em ent : Wh eth er
”
,
“ ,

or not it i s pra cti ca b l e d el i be rat ely to i nc r ea s e th e w o rm p Opul a

”
t i on i s anoth er q u es t i o n and one w hich s t i ll l ack s an answ er .

W e bel i ev e t h at Har nessi ng th e E ar th wor m i s a v ery d efi ni t e

1 53
1 54 H AR NE S S I N G THE E AR TH W OR M
an s w e r to this qu estio n and i n th e affirm ativ e ; al though t h e con
,

t ent s O f this book with th e i nst anc e s and exp erim ent s cit ed ar e
, ,

O b viously not f am ili a r t o t h e w rit e r s O f T h e Ch emic al Co mp o

s i t i on O f E a rthworm Ca sts . T h e s am e comm ent appli es to t h e
co nclu d i ng st at em ent i n th e S umm a ry by Doctor s L u nt and
”

J a cobso n which r eads : Co nditio ns f avorabl e to t h e w o rm s

, ,

h ow ev e r a r e a t t h e s am e tim e f a v o rabl e to pl ant g r owth and

, ,

qu antit ativ e m ea s ur em ents u n d er fi eld c onditions O f t h e p art th e

w o rm s pl ay i n crop produ ctio n h av e no t as y et b een Obt ai ned .
”

A s a furth e r c o mm ent on thi s l a st quot atio n we m ay poi nt out

,

th at th e fi eld soil s ampl e s r eport ed on i n thi s bull eti n w er e col

l ected fr o m th e f a rm O f M r Christoph e r M G allup
. . W e con
.

sid er th at t h e exp e ri enc e O f M r G allup i n i ncr eas i ng hi s pro

.

ductio n O f corn from 80 bush els p er a cr e to an a v erage O f 196

bush els p er a cr e as at l ea st one st a rtli ng ex ampl e O f wh at can
b e a ccomplish ed through ea r t hw o rm till ag e
”
.

I n th e follo wi ng p a g e s we giv e t h e r eport of Doctors L u nt

a n d J a c obso n i n its e ntir e t y ,
with t h e v a lu abl e lis t O f r e f er ence
b ooks at t h e e nd O f th e r eport .
 TE C H N I CA L D I S CU SS I O N

f r om S ou . S a nt a

Th e Ch em i c al Compo s i ti on o f E ar t h wo r m Cas ts ’

”
H A Lunt
. . and H G M Jac o bso n
. . .

Connecti cut Ag r i cul tur al E xper i ment S ta ti on

Recei v ed f or pu bli cati on Ju y l 22 , 1 944

MA N Y y ears G i lb ert Whit e and l at er D arw i n ( 2 ) s tr ess ed

ago ,
3
,

th e v al u e O f ea r th w o rms to agricultu r e and ag r o nom i s t s and ,

fo res t ers as w ell as m any pract i cal f a rm ers and gar d eners h av e
recogni z ed th e i mprov em ent in th e p hy s i ca l co nd itio n O f th e soi l
br ought ab out by th ese i nh ab itant s L itt l e h as been d o ne ho w
ev er to ex p l oit th e id ea o r to
,
“p ut th e w o rms to wor on any
.
,

“
ex t ens iv e s c a l e u nti l r e c ent l y A num be r O f f a rm e r s h av e ado p t ed
.

w h at i s ca ll e d ea rth w o rm till age o r b i odynam ic f a rm i ng

”
,

th e t erms not be i ng exact l y s yn o nym ou s b ut r ef er ri ng to prae

tices w hich h av e s om e f ea tu re s i n com m on T h e r epo rt ed s uc .

c ess es o f th es e f arm ing m eth ods h ave pr omp t ed th e s tudy o f th e

pro pert i es O f w o rm cas t s i n comp ari s o n w ith th e s oil m ass as a
wh ol e NO eff ort was m ad e to Obt a i n qu antit ati v e m ea s ur em ent s
.

of th e am o unt o f ca s t m at eri al th r o w n u p i n a y ea r al though a ,

rough es ti m ate was m ad e O f th e q uantity pres ent on th e fi eld at

th e t i me of sa mpl ing .

r r
Cont i buti on f r om th e d epa tm ent o f so s, Connec ti cut A g i c u tur al
1 il r l
i
E x per ment S tati on, New H a en, Connec i cu v t t .

r
2 A ssoc i ate i n f o es t so i l s and assoc i ate a r onom st
g es pec ti el y i , r v .

“ l i
( 8) q uotes th e f o ow ng f om G be t W h te pub sh ed in il r r i li
3 Rus s el l
,

r
1777 : W or ms s eem to be t h e g r eat p omote s o f eg et ati on w ch woul d r v , hi
l l ri
pr oc eed but am e y wi th out th em, by bo ng pe or a ti ng and oo sening th e rf , , l
soi l ,
and rend eri ng
rvi ous to
i t pe rai ns and th e fibers
o f p l ants by d rawing ,

r l ves and twi gs i nto i t ; and mo st of al l by th wing

st a ws and st al k s o f ea . ,
ro

i fi i
up such n n te numb e s r o f lump s o f earth cal l ed wo rm casts wh i ch bei ng -
, ,

th ei r exc rement is a fi ne manure f or g rai n and

,
ea r th wi th

out wo rm s woul d soon become c ol d har d -bound and void of f er mentati on

, ,
”
and cons eq uentl y ster i l e.
 TE C H N I C A L DI S CU S S I O N 15 7
‘

S t ock l i ( 1 0) s tu di ed
ct o f earthwo rms o n th e s oi l in
th e eff e

ten d i ff e r ent pl ac es i ncludi ng g ar d en m ea d o w and fo r es t sorl s , , .

He f ou nd gr ea t v a ri atio ns i n th e ir acti v ity f ro m p l ac e to pl a c e

and fro m s ea s o n to s ea so n T emp eratur e and m oi s tur e w er e al l
.

im port ant ; geologi ca l origi n o f th e so il was of no co ns equ enc e .

In comp a riso n with t h e u n disturb ed soil t h e ca sts and th e li n i ngs ,

o f th e tu nnels h ad i n general high er p H and lo s s ou ign itio n

, ,
- -

v alu es high e r co nt ent o f h umus s olu b l e i n 3 0 per c ent H2 0 and

, 2,

high er b a ct eri al cou nt .

U si ng a no nca l ca r eous lo a my cl ay not ordi na rily occupi e d ,

by w orms with w hich w er e m i xe d 1 p a rt c alca r eous s andy s oil

,

to 9 pa rt s o f th e loamy cl ay and fi nely cut l ea ve s and s t ems o f

,

L ac tuca s a tiva P uh ( 6 ) i ntro d uc ed ea rthworm s ( P h er e ti ma buc

,
.

cul enta ) an d l e ft th em for t w o m o nths A t t h e end of this tim e .

th e ca sts cov e r ed virtu ally t h e wh o l e surf ace H er analy s es of .

th e s oil and o f t h e worm ca st s at t h e en d o f this p e riod w er e as

follo ws
W ar m

pH ( noncal careo us l oam y c l ay )

p H ( no nc al c areous l oam y l
c ay , i
w th r
c al ca eo us

pH ( cal c areous l oamy l

c ay s )

B ase i ty p e 100 gm
cap ac r . me .

E x ch ang eabl e cal ci um ( CaO ) p er 100 g m . . me . .

Av il bl e ph sphorus
a a o pp m .

A vail ab l e p t s i um o a s pp m .

A m moni a ni trog en ppm . . .

p er cen t

T o ta l r
ni t og en per cen t

r
O g ani c ma tte r per cent

L i ndqui s t ( 4 ) r ep ort s th at ea rthwo rms i nc r ea s e nitr at e p ro

d uction not o nl y by mi x i ng humu s with mi ne r al s oil and sti mu
l ati ng b act er i al acti v ity b ut also through th e d eco mpo s itio n o f
th ei r own b o d i es .
1 58 H AR NE S S I N G T H E E AR H W OR M T

A R E A S S A M P L E D

To b tai n m ore compl et e data th an hav e been publ i s h ed h ere

o

to f o re to th e knowl ed geo f th e wri ters sampl es of cas ts and o f

, ,

th e s urround ing s oi l m as s w er e c o ll ec ted i n th e f all o f 1942 fr o m

both fi el d and f orest and w ere s ub j ected to rath er compl ete ana
l y si s
.
4
Th e fi eld sampl es w er e ob tained in a fi eld o f so rgh um and
soy bean s tu bbl e and yo ung sw eet cl o ve r on E a rth w o rm T i l l a g e

Fa rms No 1 5 i n Nort h S to ni ngt on Co nnecti cut

.
, Th e ear th , .
“
”
w o rm ti ll age cons i s t s ess ent i ally i n w orki ng th e stubbl e and
o th er plant d ebr i s i nt o t h e upp e r 4 or 5 i nch es o f so i l b y m eans

o f d i s k and spr i ng toot h h arr o ws ra th er th an pl o w i ng und e r i n

-
,

th e co nv enti onal m anne r E v e rythi ng po ss i bl e i s done to s upply

.

f o od fo r th e w o rms i n o rder to i nc r ea s e th ei r number Th e fi eld .

,

o f appr o x i m at el y 4 ac r es was b ei ng p a s t ur ed b y ten s t eers and

,

two m i l k co ws T h e s o i l i s pri n ci p all y Hi nck l ey g rav ell y l o am

.
,

and th e high er p ortio n i s c l a ss ed a s b el o ngi ng to th e Gl o uc es t er

o r Plym outh s eri es S ampl es w er e co ll e ct ed at S p ace i nt erv als

.
-

al ong s i x li nes a c r o ss th e fi eld and ea c h gr ou p o f l i ne s am pl e s,

was co mpo s it ed i nto one s ampl e In each cas e th r ee ki nds o f .

m at er i al w er e t ak en ; fi rs t ea rth w o rm ca s t s ; s econd th e ad joi n

, ,

i ng s oi l m a ss to a d ep th o f 6 i nch es ; and thi rd s oi l at th e 8 16 ,

-

inch l ev el .

Th e fo res t s oi l sampl es ob t ai ned i n f our s ep arat e a rea s con

, ,

s i s t ed o f ca s t s ; A I h o ri z o n ( nearb y top to 1 i nch o f s oi l not ,

ca s t s ) ; A 3 ho ri z on ( I V; to 8 i nch lay er co ns i s ti ng o f th e r e -

maind er o f A and i n som e ca s es a p ar t o f th e B ho ri z o n) and

, ,

B h o r i z on ( 8 to 20 i nch es m o re o r l ess ) Lo ca tions and d es cr i p

, , .

ti ons o f th e a r eas ar e as f oll o ws :

I Mt Ca r mel S tate Park Hamd en Hol y ok e stony fi ne sandy
. . . .

l oam Mix ed h ar d woods p ri nci pal l y oak wi th mapl e and d og wood S am

.
,
.

4 ll
Fi el d sampl es wer e co ect ed by H G M Jacob son and E J Rubins . . . . .

r
th ose f om f or ested ar eas. by H A unt and D B Downs Most o f th e
. . L . . .

analy ses wer e mad e by Mr Rubins . .

5 P r o er t o f Ch r is t o h er M Gal l up
p y p . .
 TE C H N I C A L DI S CU S S I O N 1 59
pl es were tak en at ed g e of t i mber jus t i n th e open Cas t s were numerous .

and wel l d e ned fi

( In th e wood s casts p revail ed b ut i t woul d h ave been
.
, ,

di ffi c ul t to fi nd unwork ed ma teri al ) .

II M i dd l etown p rivate pro p erty S outh ing ton s tony fi ne sand y l o am

.
, . .

Princ ipally whi te oak , wi th b lack oak hi ck ory sugar mapl e and oth er , , ,

spec i es Cas ts were so numerous i t wa s d i ffi cul t to b e s ure o f unwork ed

.

soi l
.
( S ubseq uent anal y ses h owever s h owed a mar k ed d iff erence i n p roper
, ,

t i es o f th e cas ts as comp ared wi th th e surr ound i ng s o i l mass ) .

III Mesh omas i c S ta te Fo res t P ortl and H i ns d al e s tony fi ne s and y

.
, .

l oam .Mixed hard wood s consi sti ng p ri nci pal l y o f r ed o ak ch es tnut oak , .

whi te oak d og wood and sug ar m apl e A bunda nt ca s ts

, , . .

IV Mi dd l e fi el d p rivate p roperty S outhing ton stony fi ne sand y l o am

.
,
. .

Mix ed h ar d woo d s co ns i sti ng o f whi te r e d and ch es tnut o ak s h i ck o ry

, , ,
. ,

sug ar map l e, d og wood s as sa fras and h em l o ck

, Ca s ts were a bund ant
, . .

Qu an tit a tiv e m ea s u r em en t s o f th e n u mb e r o f c a st s p r o d uc e d
th r oughout th e y ea r o r o f th e nu mb er o f ea rthworm s w e r e not
att emp t e d nor was i d entific atio n o f t h e w orms as to sp e ci e s A .
,

rough es tim at e i nd icat ed th at at th e tim e o f s ampli ng th e ca st s , ,

i n th e fi eld numb er ed approxim at ely thr ee to th e squ a r e foot and

w eigh ed 2 ou nc es api ece which amou nt ed to about , p e r

a c r e and a w eight o f po unds .

R E S U LT S

D at a p ert ai ni ng to th e analy s es o f th e ca st s and soil f ro m

th e culti v at e d fi eld ar e gi v en i n t abl e 1 I n m o s t ca s es agr eem ent .

b etw een s am p l es f ro m s ev eral p art s of th e fi el d wa s goo d and ,

d i ff er ences b etw een horizo ns w er e co ns i d erably g reat er th an w er e

d i ff er ences b et w een s am p l es f ro m th e s am e horizo n In nearly al l .

cas es th e cast s s ho w ed hi gh er v alu es th an t h e 0 6 i nch l ay er -

,

w hich i n tu rn w er e high er th an tho s e o f th e 8 1 6 i nch d ep th - -

.

Great es t di ff e r enc es w ere fou nd i n avai l abl e phos p ho ru s and ex

ch angeabl e p ot assium and m agne s ium th e i ncr eas es i n th e ca s t s ,

o v er th e s urrou ndi ng tops oil rangi ng from thr ee fold to el ev en

f ol d E v en th e nitrogen o rganic c arbo n and tot al calciu m figur es
.
, ,

ar e o b v i ou s ly highly s ign ificant th e di ff er enc e s b e i ng 3 5 to 50 ,

p e r c en t T h e lo w.e r cl a y co n t en t o f t h e ca s t s m a y o r m ay no t
 TE C H N I CA L D I S CU S S I O N

TA B LE 2

Lo s s on i g
ni ti on . 96 ( W P) A v ai l bl
a e P ( TN ).
OK

E xc h g bl
a n ea e Ca , p p m
. . . E xc h g bl
a n ea e Mg , p pm
. . .
“? i
n Mg

95 111 328 1 09 27 26
844 1 51 200 511 1 53 24 69
2 24 51 46 3 54 69 15 12
73 8 323 325 4 80 227 105 12 7

74 7 1 55 1 71 4 18 1 40 43 59

Total Ca Tot al Mg T tal 0 0 31 Mg

21
o 1
, ( W I?
) , 70 ( W P ) 3

E xch Ca i n 96
. of t ota lC a
E m” M‘ 1 “9"°f
E xcha ngeab l e x,

s cs 29 3 217 35 35
3 35 217 1 51 19 12
02 7 24 7 1 15 43 25
1 68 59 so so

113 32 25
1 62 H AR N E S S I N G THE E AR TH W OR M
E M E E L 4 M MW M

CAS T S AI A3 RI CAS T: A1 A3 Bl

E xc h . H m , . e. pe r B ase ca p
ac i t y , m . e. per
S at ur ati on
1 00 m

67 40 18 2
5

35
2
69 11 8
$1 20 19 2
63 33 24 3

63 32 18 22

Moi s tur e eq ui v a ent , l 96

‘
WF l
v a ves ar e on a water -f r ee b as i s .

o rganic ca rbo n and ex ch ang eab l e ca lciu m i n th e ca s t s we re ev en

,

m o re p ro no unc ed h ere th an th ey w er e i n th e fi el d s oil p arti en ,

lar l y w h en th e A 3 h or 1z on 1 8 co ns i d e r ed T h e A ; and A 3 togeth er .

co r r espond r ough l y to th e 0 6 i nch l ay er of th e culti v at e d s oi l - .

O n t h e oth er h and d i ff er enc es i n av a i la bl e p ho s pho ru s and ex

ch ang eabl e pota ss ium and m agnes iu m w er e d i s ti nctly sm al l er th an

i n th e fi eld s oi l Total m agnes i um co nt ent was a ctu all y l o w er i n

.

th e ca s t s th an i n A 1 Th ere was no ess enti al d i ff er enc e i n

.

ei th er th e t ot al co ll o i ds o r t h e c l ay co nt ent o f th e cast s a s com

pa red w ith th e A : ho rizo n but b oth w ere cons i derabl y lo w er in ,

th e A3 .

co mpari so n w it h th e cul ti vat ed s oi l th e f o r es t so i l ca sts

In ,

were m uch h igh er i n nit rogen ca rbon ex ch angeabl e cal ci um and , , ,

m oi st ure equi v al ent v al ues Th e high er proportion of ex ch ange

-
.

abl e cal ci um to ex ch angeabl e m agnes i um i n th e upper h o ri z on o f

th e fi eld soi l wa s not obs e rv ed i n th e fo r es t s oil nor was th ere ,

any such r el at i on bet w een total cal ci um and total magnesi um i n

 TE C H N I CA L DI S CU S S I O N 16 3
ei th er s o il Th e p r op o rtion o f cal ciu m th at wa s i n exch angeabl e
.

f o rm was about th e s am e i n th e ca s ts as it was i n th e A ; h o ri z on

i n th e fi el d s oi l b ut i n th e fo r es t s oil th e p ro p o r tion i n th e cas ts
,

was distin ct l y high e r th an i n t h e A horizo ns Th e pr o porti on

.

of m agnesi um th at was ex ch angeab l e was d efini tely hi gh er i n

th e ca s t s i n b o th s oi ls .

I n a ll ca s e s t h e p H o f th e ca sts was high e r th an i n th e

parent s oi l Nit r at e nit rogen was not de t er m i ne d on th e fo r es t
.

s oil s L im e ap p li ed som etim e i n th e p a st to th e cultiv ate d s oil

.

h ad ra is e d th e p H tota l ca lciu m and w ith one ex c eptio n th e

, , , ,

e xch ang ea bl e ca l cium co nt ent o f a l l h o rizo n s co n s id e r a bly a bov e

th e corre s po nd i ng v alu e s fou n d i n t h e for e st soils .

D I S C U S S I O N

S oi l i n w hich ea rthw o rm s a r e ac t iv e is i nv a ri ably i n b et t e r

p hy s ica l co nd itio n th an is si m il ar soil without ea rthwo rm s .

Though i t i s th e opi ni o n of som e th at t h e w o rms ar e pr e s ent b e

caus e of th e f av orab l e soil c o nditi ons th e r e is su ffici ent evid enc e
,

( 1 3 8 1 0) to i nd icat e th at earthworms d o v e ry d efi nit ely im

, , ,
~

p ro v e so il s tru ctur e by i ncr easi ng aggr egat e co nt ent and porosity ,

thus f aci l it ati ng aeratio n w at er abso rp tio n root p ene t r atio n and
, , ,

drai nage S to ck l i ( 1 0) r eport ed th at c a sts co nt ai ned no par

.

ti cl es lar ger th an 2 mm i n di a m et e r and th a t i n s om e c as es pa r

.

ti el e s i z e was r ed uced by m ean s o f a rubbi ng a cti on i nsid e th e

d i gest i ve tr a ct o f th e w or m M ech anical analys e s o f ou r s am p l es
.

sh ow ed no ess enti al d i ff er enc e s i n th e t extu r e o f c a st s a nd to p soil .

F rom th e bio l ogical st andpoi nt c a sts h av e b een fou nd to

,

contai n a m u ch l ar g er b act e ri al p Op ul at i on th an th e u nwork ed

soi l

Th e d ata on ch em ica l pr o p ert i es h er ei n r ep o r t e d co nfi rm

th os e p u bl i s h ed b y P o w ers and Boll en ( 5 ) and b y P uh w ith
one not abl e d i ffer enc e i n P uh s w o rk S h e fou nd th e c as t s to b e
’
.

m ark edl y high er i n tot al calcium but not i n ex ch ang eabl e cal
ci um .No exp l anatio n f o r this di ff er enc e was giv en .
 TE CH N I CA L DI S CU S S I ON 16 5
l to 4 per cent Ca ; w h ereas mount in th e soi l av e rages about
th e a
and p e r ce n t r esp ect i v e l y on l y a fr a,
c t i o n o f
w hi ch i s av ai labl e to th e pl ant B oth th e mech anical m ix i ng and
.

th e acti on o f d iges ti ve s ecret i ons f av or th e d ecommsi ti on o f th e

o rgani c m att e r and o f so i l m i neral s Th e r esul tant prod uct con
.

ta i ns a l o w e r con c ent rat i o n o f pl ant f oo d th an th e p l ant r esi d u es

-

but a hi gh er co nc ent rati on th an th e so i l Th e pr oc ess may b e

.

l i kened to the consump t i on o f grass h ay and g rai ns b y cattl e

—
, ,

and th e s ubs eq u ent r et urn of th e m anu r e to t h e so i L w i th t h i s

di ff er ence h ow ev er Th e catt l e ( or th e m i l k from co ws ) ar e

, ,

sol d f rom th e f arm re s ul ti ng i n net l oss to th e so i l o f a certa i n

,

am ount o f pl ant f oo d -
Al so s om e l osses occur i n t h e m anure
.
,

be fore i t i s i ncorp o rat ed wi th th e so i l Th e earth w orm on th e .

,

ot h er h and d i es i n th e s oi l and i ts d ec ompo s ed bo dy r etu rns pl ant

,

f ood to th e s o i l w i t h out l o ss It h as been f ou nd th at th e i nc reased

.

n i t r ific a tio n th at tak es pla c e wh en ea r th w o rm s a r e i nt r od uced

i nto th e so i l i s d ue i n p a rt at l eas t to t h e d ec om pos i t ion of th ei r

, ,

o wn bo d i es ( 6 , R u ss ell ( 8 ) r ep o rt ed th e ni t rogen content o f

w orms to be to p e r c e n t o r a b o ut 1 0 m gm o f N p e r w. o r m .

Th at yi elds may be i nc r eas ed by th e pres ence o f ea rth w orm s

has been d em o ns t rat ed i n pot cul t ure stud i es ( 5 O n a fi eld
,

scal e h ow ev e r no a c cu ra t e q uant i tat i v e comp a ri s ons h av e been

, ,

mad e to th e k no wl ed ge o f th e wri t e rs I nasm uch a s any pr actic e

, .

th at f av o r s ea rt h w o rm a cti v i ty i s al so f av o r ab l e to pl ant gr owt h ,

i t i s ex t rem el y d i ffi cu l t i n th e fi eld to d et erm i ne to w h at d egr ee

th e w orms ar e r espons i bl e f o r any i nc r eas e i n yi elds o r i mprov e
m ent i n q ual i ty o f th e crop O bv i ousl y one sh ould av oi d any
.

p r a c ti c e t h a t w ou ld m a t e ri a l l y r ed u c e ea rt h w o rm a ct i v i ty .

Wh eth er or not i t i s pra ct i cabl e del i beratel y to i ncrease th e wor m

p o p u l at i on i s anoth e r q u e s ti o n a n d o n e w h i ch st i ll la ck s a n a n

swer .

S U M M A R Y

S ampl es of ear t h wor m casts and of unwor k ed soi l from sev

er a l d epth s wer e co ll ected f r om a cu lti vated fi el d and from f our
1 66 H ARNE S S I N G THE E AR TH W OR M
f ores t ed s and s ubj ect ed to ch em ical and m ech anical analy ses
ar e a .

At th e ti m e o f s ampl i ng th e fi eld so i l co nta i ned app r oxi ,

m atel y th r ee ca s t s to th e sq u are f oot a v eraging 2 ou nc es each , ,

or pou nd s to th e ac r e .

In th e fi eld s oil ca s t s co nt a i ne d l es s ex ch angeab l e h yd r og en

,

and a l ow e r cl ay co nt e nt th an th e 0 6 i nch l ay er ; but t h e ca sts

h ad high e r p H v alu es and w er e high er i n tot al an d n it rat e

ni t r og en ,organic m att e r tot al and ex ch angeab l e cal ciu m ex , ,

ch angeabl e p ot ass ium and m agnes ium av ail ab l e p hos p horu s ba s e , ,

cap a city b a s e s aturatio n and m oi s tu r e eq ui v al ent

, Tot al ma g
, .

nes i um wa s ab out equ al i n all s ampl es .

F or e s t s oi l s ampl e s s ho w ed s i m il a r but ev en m or e s t riki ng

resul t s F o r es t s oil ca s ts w er e high er i n nit r ogen organic carb on
.
, ,

and e x ch an g eabl e ca lciu m a nd h ad a high e r m oi s tu r e equi v al ent ,

t h an th e ca st s f r o m th e fi el d s oil .

T h es e ch ange s i n com p ositio n as th e r es ult o f ea rth w orm

acti v ity a r e d ue chi efly t o t h e i n tim at e mixi ng of p l ant a nd anim a l

rem ai ns w ith mi ner al soil i n th e diges tiv e tract o f th e w o rm and

to th e a ctio n o f digesti v e s ecr etio ns on th e m ixture Th at ear th .

w o rms ar e b eneficial to th e s oil h as b een e stabli s h ed beyo nd a

d ou b t Co nd itions f avo rabl e to t h e w o rms ho w e ver ar e at th e
.
, ,

s am e ti m e f avorab l e to p l ant g rowth and qu antit ativ e m eas ur e ,

m ent s unde r fi el d co nd itio ns o f th e pa rt th e w o rms p l ay i n c r o p

pro d uctio n h av e not as y et b een ob ta i ned .

R E F E R E N C E S

B LA N CK E , .
, A ND GIE S CKE , F . 1924 [ On th e i nfl uence o f ea rth w or m s

on th e p y s ca h i l and b i ol og ical p roperti es of th e soil .

] Z ts ch r .

P fi a ns ener nci h r D ti ng ung B od enk 3 (B) 198-210 ( Abstract

’ ’

. . u. . : .

in E xp . S ta R ec
. .

DA R WI N . C . 1837 Th e f o mat r i on of veg etab e l l

mou d th r o ug h th e
ac ti on o f wo m s r
Tr a ns . . Geol . S oc .
( L ond on) [ Al so i n
book f o r Co New York
m : D A pp l eton . 1882 ] and .
,
.

HE N S E N V 1882 Uber d i e Fruch tbar k ei t d es E r d bod ens i n ih rer

, .

Ab h angi gk eit v on d en L ei s tung en d e r i n d er E r d r i nd e l ebend en

W ii r m er La nd w Ja hr b
'
.
-698 . . .
 TE C H N I CA L DI S CU S S I O N 16 7
LI NDQUI ST B 1941 [ Investi gati ons O f th e i mportance O f som S can
, . e

d i n vi an earth wor m s f r th e d ecompo si ti on O f b roadl ea f l i tte

a o r

and f or th e s tructure O f m ul l ] ( In S w d i sh Ger man summ ry ) . e ,

a .

S k og svar d s f br Tid s k r 242 ( A bst r act i n B i ol

’

S vens k . . .
-
. .

A bs . D 16 , entr y

P OWE RS ,
W . L .
, A ND B OLLE N, W . B . 193 5 Th e ch emi cal and bi o
l og i cal natu e o f r ce rtai n f o est soil s r . S oi l S ci . 329
- .

P U H, P . C . 194 1 B enefici al infl uence of ea t wo m s rh r on some

ch emi ca l p rop ert i es of th e so il . S ci . S oc . Ch i na, B i ol . L ab .

Contr i b , Z . ooI . S er .
-1 55 .

ROB E RT S ON, J D 1 936 T h e f un

. c t i o n o f th e
. c a l c i f e r o us g l a n d s o f
ea rthworm s Jour E xp B i ol .
-2
97 . . . .

8
( ) R U S S E LL,
E J 1 9 10 T.h e e ff ec t o.f e a r th w o rm s o n So i l p r od ucti v eness .

J our A g r S c
. i -2
57 : . .

( )
8 S ALI S B U R Y, E J 1 9 2 4 Th e in.fl ue n c e o f .e a rt h wo r m s o n s oi l r ea c t i on

and th e s t rat i ca t ion o f und i sturbed s oil s fi J our L i nnea n S oc . .

B ot .
- 425 .

( 1 0) S TOCKLI, A S tud i en ii b er d en E i nfl uss d es R eg enwurm auf

. 1928
d ie B esch a fi enh ei t d es B od e n s L a nd w Ja h r b S c h wei z 42 : 5-12 1
. . . .
 THE NE w F RO N TI E R 1 69
we w ork , we can b ui ld
tops oi l and acco mpl i sh w ithi n a p eri od o f
m onth s or a f ew s h ort y ea rs w h at na tu re requi res de ca d es and
ev en centu ri es to ac c om pl i s h Natur e h as prov i d ed th e ex ampl e
.
,

wi th si m ple and defin i t e i ns t ru ctio ns wri tt en i nt o th e geo l ogi ca l

p g
a es O f th e ea rth i n pr oc e ss e s,w hich w e can Obs e rv e u ti l i z e , ,

and i mpr o v e up o n In th e fo rego in g ch ap t e rs O f t hi s b ook we

.

hav e di s cu ss ed th e exampl e s and le s so ns w hich natu r e h as p r o

vi d ed .

A s h as been poi nt ed out o v er and o v er to ps oil i s th e l i vi ng

surf ace o f th e ea rth upon w hi ch al l l i f e d ep ends—
,

both v eget abl e

and ani m a l l i f e Th i s l ivi ng s u r f a ce i s a v er y th i n bl ank et
.
,

st r et ch ed ov er th e ea rth t h readb ar e i n m any p l aces w ith v a s t

, ,

a rea s O f s teri l e r ock and er o d e d s lop e s s ho w i ng th r ough By f ar .

th e g reater p art O f th e ea rth s s u r f a c e i s m eas u red i n m illio ns O f

’

sq u a r e mi l es O f non a r abl e l an d—d e s e rt s

-
m ou nt ai ns s w am ps
, , ,

s team i ng t r op ica l j ungl e s T h e l i m it ed a r ea O f a rabl e l and h as

.

Th e m eani ng o f l i m it ed
”
,
“
been cl o s el y es t im ated s urv ey ed o r m ea sured
as app li e d to th e a r abl e to ps oi l
,
.

o f th e ea rth ca n be be s t i l lu s t rat e d b y a s ki ng and answ er i ng t wo

“
si mpl e q u e s t i ons i nv o lv i ng ru d i m ent a ry m ath em a tic s
,

Ques ti on : How m uch cul ti vabl e l and i s th ere i n th e w o rld ?

“
”
Answer : A ppr o x i m at el y four b i ll io n ac res ,
.

Q u es ti on : H ow m a ny p e o pl e a r e th e r e i n t h e w o rld
”
A nswer : O v er t w o b i ll ion .

T hat i s th ere ar e an av erage o f about two a c res o f a rabl e

,

l and per per son Cons i d er th e s itu ation i n w h at i s pr o b abl y th e

—
.

mos t f av ored l and i n th e w orld th e U nit ed S tat es W ith ou r .

present popul ati on we h av e appr o xi m at el y th r ee a cr es of a rabl e

,

land per person Much O f thi s l and i s so d epl et ed th at comm er

.
,

ci al l y cons i d er ed i t i s h ardl y pr ofitabl e t o f a rm i t

, O f w h at we .

w ould ca ll good f ar m l and we h av e appro x i m at el y tw o ac res per

,

person Th e peopl e of th e Unit ed S t at es b ar el y f ee d th ems elv es

. .

Wh i l e we expo rt a gr eat deal o f f ood yet in norm al ti m es our ,

impor ts of f ood pr acti call y bal ance exports W ere we to pr o vi d e .

a mi ni m um st andar d o f nut ri t i on a s out l i ned by our gov er nment,

1 70 H A R NE S S I N G THE E AR TH W OR M
e xp ert s car ef ul l y appo rt i oned to our ent i re popul ati on th ere
, ,

w ou ld b e at al l ti m es an a ctu al f oo d s h o r tage i n th e Unit ed S tat es .

O ur l end l eas e f oo d expo rt p rog ram d uri ng World W ar I I and

-
,

i mm ed i at ely fol l o w i ng th e war h as gr ap hicall y brough t to th e

,

att entio n of al l ou r p eo p l e t h e s ad f a ct th at th er e i s not enough

f oo d to go ar o und unl ess we ar e w illi ng to r educe rad ical l y our

s t andar d s O f nutrition .

F ro m th e ab ov e and f ro m ev en a ca sual s u rv ey O f f a ct s and

,

a v ail abl e figur e s we can s ee th at th e pr o b l em O f pr ovidi ng fo r

,

our own gro w i ng p o p ul atio n to say noth i ng O f th e po p u l ation

,

pre ss u r e th roughout th e b al anc e O f th e w orl d i s i mm ed i at e and ,

pr ess i ng and not s om ethi ng to b e co n s id er ed i n th e d i s tant futu re .

S oi l co ns e rv atio n is not enough

-
I n a dditio n to co ns e rv i ng and
.

i nc r eas i ng th e p ro d uctivity O f th e soil we h av e r ebui ld i ng and

“
co nd itio ni ng ou r so cal l ed w o rn out soi ls and s u b m argi nal
-
,

l ands we mu s t b ui ld m o r e soi l on f avo rably locat ed non arabl e

,
-

l and W e h av e s om e h undre ds O f m illio ns O f a c r es O f such l and s

.

on ou r new fr o nti e r .T O exploit this new fronti er it i s nec ess a ry ,

only to ap ply th e k no wle dge which w e h av e to th e av ai l ab l e m a

t er i al s w hich we h av e S O f a r a s th e k no w l ed g e i s co nc erned w e
.
,

r e f er to th e accu m ul at ed t ech nical i n fo rm atio n O f th e enti r e w o rld

O f s ci en ce F o r ou r p urpos e it i s nec es s a ry m er el y to call att en
.
,

tio n to thi s fi el d O f kno wl ed ge and we can now ad d to it th e new

,

k nowl ed ge of atomic ener gy th e p os s i b iliti es O f which h av e not

,

y e t b e en exp l or e d fo r co n s t r uctiv e u s e F o r s ourc

. e m a t er i a ls
with w hich to wo rk we br i efl y cal l att enti on to th e m ineral r e
,

sou r ces O i t h e ea rth its elf Throughout th e i ncalcul ab l e ages O f

.

th e p a s t fro m th e co ncep tio n O f p ri m o rd i al ch ao s d o w n to th e

,

p res ent worl d O f form and s ub s t anc e as we k now i t th e p ar ent ,

m i neral b as e O f to ps oil h as b een fo r m ed and d epo s it ed In th e .

s up er fici al l ay ers O f th e ea rth fr o m th e vi s i b l e s u r f ace on d ow n

,

to th e b ed rock we h av e th e i nexh au s ti bl e par ent m i neral m at er i al

,

O f to ps o i l av a i l abl e f or s oi l b ui l di ng Th e ot h er s ou r c e p a rent
- -
.

mater i al O f t ops oil i s vegetati on and ani mal l i f e b ut pr i m ari ly ,

 THE NE W FRO N TI E R 171
we
“
s hould d es ignat e i t
l ar l y t erm s ubst an c e
as ene

or
“rgy Operating th r ough w h at we p opu
”
m at e ri al i n th e my s t er i ous pr ocess es
o f li f e .

T H E G O L D M I N E I N T H E S K Y

A cc epti ng gold as a sym bol O f v al u e or w ealth the gr eat est ,

n e a e i th n —
gold m i i s loc t d n e s ky W e m ea th e sun fi gur ati v el y .

—
sp eaki ng and lit er al l y sp eaki ng th e s ourc e of al l li f e on this
pl anet ea rth An d f r o m t h e s t and p oi nt O f s oil buildi ng on th e
,
.
-

new f r o nti e r th e sun i s t h e p ri ma ry s ourc e O f top s oil and t h e

, ,

ea r th i s t h e s eco nd a ry so u r c e .

L et u s quot e from th e b ook T o H old Th i s S oi l by R us s ell

L o rd ”

Bl az i ng hot F at t h e s u r f ac e and eno rm ously hott e r

, .

withi n th e sun i s ea rth s i mm edi at e s ou r c e O f li f e

,
’
M ost s un .

po w er go es out to oth er h eav enly b o d i es or f ar Off i nto s p ac e ;

onl y ab out one two billio nth p a rt r ea ch es th e e a rth
-
E v en s o t h e .
,

del iv ered ene rgy av erages thr ee eights hors ep o w er d ay and ni ght -
, ,

on ea ch squ a r e y a rd O f l an d and sea At n oo n wh en t h e rays .

,

s t rik e p erp end icu l ar ly th e sun d eliv ers I V hors epow er to th e

, ;

s q uare yard u pw ards o f 4 % mi ll ion ho rsep o w e r to th e squ ar e

,

m i l e or
, ho rs ep o w e r to th e ac re .

W i ndmills r un b y s unpower I f th e sun d i d not h eat d i f .

f er ent p a rt s O f ea rth s s urf a c e an d d iff er ent l ay ers O f it s w at er

’
,

l ad en atm o sp h er e unev enly no w i nds w ou ld bl ow Th e sun ,

.

draws sur f ac e w at er up fo r anoth er r un d o w n th e f ac e O f th e

conti nent s It i s th e p u m pi ng h ea rt O f th e ci r cul atory w at e r s y s
.

tem th a t k eeps ea rth a li v e .

W i nds blo w c l o uds m ou nt th e w i nd rai n f alls and th e l and s

, , ,

and th e cycl e co nti nu es

“
ar e r ep l eni s h ed S t r eams and r i v ers fl a s h to th e sea c l ou ds fo rm ;
.

Al l th e r iv ers r un i nto th e sea ; y et th e

.
,

sea i s not ful l ; unt o t h e pl a c e fr o m w h enc e t h e r i v e rs com e

—E ccl es i as t es 1 :7
.

th ey r et ur n .

‘
Mi scel laneous Pub l icati on No 321 U S Depart ment .
,
. of Agr i cul tur e ,

unde r th e h ea d i ng of Cel es ti al Dyna mi cs .

 T HE NE W F RO N T IE R 1 73
come to deri ved f r om th e s uga r ma d e in th e l eav es
h is tabl e i s
o f plants — potato p l ants and o th ers A d efi ni te numbe r O f leav es .
,

wh eth er gr ow n i n th e fi elds o r i n a g las s h ous e w h et h er no ur i s h ed ,

d i rectl y by th e s o i l o r by th e i ngr ed i ents o f soi l p ur ifi ed and d i s

solv ed i n w a te r to m ak e a nut r i ent sol ut io n — a d e finit e a r ea o f ,

lea f s u rface i s nec essa ry f or th e s uppo rt o f one man for one

”
month . S O m uch f or th e pl ac e th e s un occu pi e s i n th e p ro d uc
ti on O f f oo d f or man And th e sam e n ut ri ent e l em ents which
.

man us es ar e a l so us ed b y th e p l ant w o rld i n th e gr o w th o f v ege

tati on . Th e nut ri ti on O f man and al l ani ma l l i f e i s m er ely an
i nci denta l f un c ti on O f v eg et atio n In i ts entir ety we s ee al l
.
,

vegetat i on as a p arent mat er i al O f to pso i l i n it s ev entu al br eak ,

i ng d ow n and d i s i nteg rat io n o f th e ea r th to fo rm th e vital s urf a c e

layer O f h o mogen i z ed ea rth .

Vegetati on i s bedded i n to p soi l D eep i nto th e se c ret neces .

,

sa ry da rkne ss O f th e ea rth th e r oo t s O f p l ant s r am ni f y s e l ecti ng ,

th e m i nera l el em en t s w h ich ent er i nto th e i r s t ru ctur e I nto th e .

ai r r ea ch th e b o l e and bra nch es sprea d i ng th e l ea f gr een s ur

,
-

f ace to th e sun ; and thro ugh th e a ct i o n O f s u nlight on chlo ro

,

phy ll appr o pri ati ng th e al l pe rv ad i ng nutritio nal el em ents from

,
-

th e a i r I nto th e st ructu re O f th e plant th rough th e l i f e fo r ce s

.
,
-

w o rk i ng in th e neces sa ry l igh t O f day and w o rki ng i n th e equ all y

necessa ry d a r k o f t h e night and d ark O f t h e ear th a r e co m bi ne d ,

th e nut ri tio nal e l em ent s o f l i f e i n th e ex a ct p ro po rti o ns nec e s s a ry

to r ep r oduc e th e pl ant F r o m th e p a r ent r epo s ito ry o f th e ai r
com e 9 5 % b y w eight—
.

ca rbon o xygen hy d rogen and nit rogen

, , .

F rom th e p arent repo s ito ry O f th e ea rth co m e 5 % b y w e ight

pota ss i um s i l ico n cal ciu m pho sphorus s o d ium m agnes ium s u l
, , , , , ,

ph u r ch l o ri ne i r o n w ith t rac es O f m any oth er know n el em ents

, , ,

O f t h e uni v er s e T O pr o v i d e a ch em ic al p ictu r e O f th e es ti m at ed
.

av e ra ge compos iti on o f t h e v eget atio n O f th e ea rth ex pr es s ed i n ,

pounds per t h o usand p ou nds O f d ry m att er we wil l gi ve a b r eak ,

dow n tabl e o f th e fi gu res Th e figures ar e tak en f r om S oil and

.

Ci vil is ati on b y M i l t on Wh itney Chi e f O f th e Bur ea u O f S oi ls

, ,
 1 74 H A R NE S S I N G THE E AR TH W O R M
U . D ep art m ent o f
S . A g r icult ur e, w i th rea rrangement for p ur
po s e s O f il l u s t ra tio n .

1 000 P O U N D S O F DR Y V E G E T A T I O N

P ound s A to tal of 950 Food cl as s i fi ca ti on

p o und s O f el em ent s Pr o tei n 100 pound s

d er iv ed fr om th e r h r
Ca bo y d a te s 820 p ound s
ai r . r
r ep es ent ng i Fats 30 po und s

A tota l of 50 p ound s o f t h e named m ineral el e

m ents d e rv i ed f om th e r ea rth , al l ente ri ng into

Fr om e ar th or a ss i s ti ng i n th e manu f acture of th e abov e
P ota siums ; ( K) nam ed f oo d mate i a r ls . W h i l e we h ave not nam ed
S i li con ( S i ) o th e r tr a ce e l em ent s, ron wh ich c n s uc h as Bo ,
o

i
Cal c um ( Ca ) sti tut e m i nute p a t O f th e whol
a th es e t rac e
r e,

Phosph ru ( P ) o s el em ent a e sf t remend o us i mpo r tanc e and can

r o

S od i um ( N ) a n t b e i g nored i n
o rrivi ng at final conclusi ons
a .

M g n sium ( M g )
a e . T h s figures h ve be en g iven to ill ustrate nd
e e a a

S ul ph ur ( S ) em p h s i a th p t wh i ch th e sun p l ay s i n p O
ze e ar r

l ri
Ch o ne ( Cl ) v i d i ng throug h ph tosynth es i s th e m j o r p ar t
, o ,
a

I ro n ( Fe ) b y wei gh t f p arent ma teri al f o th e bui l d i ng

O r

o f top soi l .

F ro m t h e
for egoi ng p ages we can s ee th at we w ill h av e no ,

s hort ag e O f p ar ent m at er i al s w ith w hich to work and ex pl oit th e

new and l as t fro nti er W e h ea r th e age Ol d s o ld i e r cru s ad er cry
.
- -
,

“
th e et e r nal qu estio ni ng c ry O f co nqu e ri ng m an on his upw a rd
p ath W h er e d o we gO fro m h er e
,
A s th e id ea t ak e s ho ld O f
th e co ns t r uctiv e m i nd and c reati v e im a gi natio n t h e entir e s u r f ac e ,

O f th e ea rth b ecom e s a pl ea s an t w ork grou n d Th e r e a r e no w a s te -

.

pl ac es : al l is r ight and u s e fu l to th e al l s eei ng and comp r eh end -

i ng m i nd O f m an Th e ea rth and th e fu ll nes s th e reof b eco m es

.

a new ea rth W e see th at we can spread th e sun t r ap O f l ea f

.
-

g reen i n pra ctically al l th e so cal l ed w as t e p l ac es O f th e ea rth -

,

t o catch and t ransf o rm th e i nex h au s ti bl e r es ou r c es O f th e ai r i nto

u s abl e s oil bui ld i ng m at er i al for man T h e tropical j u ngl es w ith
,
-
.
,

th e ir m y ri ad fo rms o f qui ck gro w i ng v eg et atio n i nse ct and ani

-
,
 TH E NE W F RO N TI E R 175
mal l i f e b ecom e a r egio n f or profitab l e h arv es t T h e p arent el e
, .

m ents O f to ps oi l th e par ent el em ent s O f l i fe it s el f cannot el u de

, ,

us. W e h av e ou r ea rth w ith th e root s O f v eget atio n to s ea r ch

,

out and mIne th e m i neral el em ent s fro m it ; we h av e ou r s un

t rap and th e s un to ca tc h and hol d th e el em ent s f r o m t h e ai r
,

W hil e we trans p o rt th em to th e pl a ce O f ultim at e us e A nd we .

ha v e th e ea rth w orm hol d i ng th e s ecr et O f soi l b ui ld i ng and w a it

,
-

i ng to b e co m e th e s e r v an t O f m an i n th e d ay and hou r wh en m an
needs a new s e rv ant .

A s h as b een po i nt ed out any i nd ividu al can h a r ness th e

,

ea r th w o rm to b uil d s oil S uch i nd ividu a l us e is a v ery simpl e

.

matt er Ho w ev er i n th e larger use o f earth w orm s th eir utiliz a

.
, ,

tio n b ecom es an engi nee ri ng p robl em to b e w ork ed out by en

g i ne e r s . I n t h e l a rg e r u se we ca n utiliz e st an d a rd h ea vy m a
,

chi nery s uch as tractor s bull doz er s dr edges ro a d b ui d i ng m a

, , , ,
-

ch i nery co m po s t gri nd i ng m achi nes s hr edd ers E v entu ally al l

, , .

sew age and garb age di spos al w ill b ecom e a soil buildi ng op e ra -

t i on i n it s fi nal s t ages a biological p roc ess Th e w as t e products

, .

O f t h e w o rl d w i l l f ee d th e w orl d Th e ga rb ag e o f a city w ill b e

.

t rans fo rm ed i nto eno ugh to ps oil to p ro d uc e food for th e city i n

a r e cur ri ng cycl e . It i s not ou r p u rpo s e to att em pt to go i nto
engi neer i ng d eta i ls but to i nd ica t e and p oi nt out t h e possibiliti e s
, ,

bas ed on k no wn f act s .

T h ro ugho ut th e ages O f th e p as t th e ea rthwo rm i n natur e

h as b een a m as t er b ui ld er O f to ps oi l on th e Ol d fro nti er s
-
Th e .

ear th w o rm i s d es ti ned to b eco m e a m a s t e r buil d e r O f to ps oi l on

-

th e new f r o nti er h ar ness ed and u s ed i nt ens iv ely i n t h e co ntroll ed

,

s erv ice O f man .

 CO N CL U S I O N — S U M M ARY 1 77
al l pr od u ci ng ear th w or m food al l becomi ng, i n tur n, ear th wor m
—
,

food Th e u ns een v eg eta bl e l i fe f

o the so il lg a ae, fungi
—f
. ,

moul d s or m an ad d i ti o na l gr ea t tonna g e o f mater i al tha t eventu

al l y becom es ear th wor m food . Th e l i vi ng networ k o f fi ne r o ots,

so i mpor ta nt i n h old i ng th e i n pla ce co ns ti tu tes

s oil ,
a bou t one

tenth by wei g h t of t h e total or gani c ma tter i n th e upper six

i nc h es of s oil al l ar e ev entual — ea r th wor m food I n th e good

ma tter ea r th wor m food —
.

bl ac k s oi l s th e or g a ni c — i s r epr es ente d
by fr om 1 40 to as hig h as 600 tons o f h um us per a cr e . Th e
ea r th wor m wi l l not g o h ungr y .

A bout th e fir s t qu es tio n pe o p l e ask i s W h at d o you f ee d ,

”
ea r th w o rms ? T h e a bo v e quota tio n fro m fo rm er pag es i nd ica t es
th e an s w er to thi s qu e s tio n I n a f ew com p r eh ens iv e w or d s
—
.
,

t e a sw r i s : W h at v er a s l iv d a d d i e d
h n e e h e n both v eget abl e and
ani m al — i s w h at we f ee d earthwo rms I n thi s di s cus s io n o f .

ea rthwo rm foo d we h av e t h e k ey to soi l b uildi ng -

.

In th e s u p er fici al lay er s o f ear th s s u r f a c e d o w n to th e bed

’

rock is depo s it ed th e p arent m i neral m at er i al of top soil In th e

, .

w orl d o f v egeta tion and anim al li f e w e h av e th e s e co nd g reat

par ent source m at eri al o f top s oil S t at ed anoth er way we m ight
-
.
,

say th at th e two p a r ent s ou r c e s o f top s oi l a r e : ( l ) t h e mi nera l

s urf a c e l ay e rs o f th e ea rth ; and ( 2 ) su nlight a cti ng upo n l ea f ,

g r een ( chlorophyll ) to sy nth es iz e th e gas eou s el em ent s f r om th e

ai r Th en through l i f e p roc es s e s — b act eri al action ea rth w o rm
-

—
.
, ,

a ctio n f e r m ent atio gro w th decay etc th e pa r ent m at eri als

,
n , , ,

ar e m i x e d com b i ne d and co mp ou nd ed i nto w h at we kno w a s to p

,

”
s oil ; o r w h at Ch arl es D a rw i n ca ll ed v eget abl e mould .

Natu r e w ork s sl o w ly i n th e pr o d uctio n of to ps oi l o v er pe ,

r i od s o f y ea rs centuri es o r ages In biological s oil buildi ng as

, , .
-
,

we h av e t erm ed it we t ak e t h e m ate r i als w hich natu re h as pr o

,

v i d ed w ith th e tool s and fo r c e s w hich we h av e l e a r ned to use

, ,

and speed up th e pr oc es s es o f natur e Thu s we can b uil d to ps oil .

w h en we w ant it w h ere we w ant it and i n w h at eve r qu antity

, ,

d es i red T h e r ea so n we can do thi s i s b ecaus e fo r al l p ra ctical

.
,

p u rpos e s we h av e i nexh austi bl e m ate ri als and i nexh au s tibl e

,
1 78 H AR NE S S I N G THE E AR TH W OR M
fo r c es w ith w h i ch to w o r k l i m it ed o nl y b y our vi s u ali zatio n and
,

us e o f t h e po ss i b i l i ti es .

E ar th w o rms kno w ho w to com p o u n d i nto top s oi l th e p ar ent

m at er i al s o f to ps oi l Th ey ar e l i m it ed i n numb ers only b y th e
.

am ou nt o f av a i l abl e foo d an d we h av e s ho w n th a t th er e i s f rom ,

a p ra cti ca l s t andp oi nt an u nl i m it e d s uppl y o f foo d

, W e k no w .

ho w to car ry on i nt en siv e propagatio n to produce th e necess a ry

“
mi ll io ns and b i ll ions of ea rth w o rms as th ey may b e r equir ed
”
E a ch w o rm i s a m i ni atu r e m i ll fo r th e pr o d uctio n o f to ps oi l
.

I f giv en a ch anc e each w or m w il l co ns ume and pa s s th r ough it s

,

b o dy ev e r y tw enty fou r hou rs a w eight of s oi l b ui ld i ng m at er i al

- -

equ al to it s own bo d y w eight Co nsi d e red i n unit s o f one m il l io n

.
,

th es e ti ny m i l l s p ro d uc e a t rem end ou s to nnage o f to ps oi l i n th e

cours e o f a s i ngl e y ear .

Th e ea r th w o rm i s a w a r m bl oo d ed ai r b r ea thi ng m ea t ani
-
,

m al O ne or t w o h ead o f c attl e o r a f ew hog s o r oth er dom e stic

.
,

a nim als will w eigh a ton T h e co mb i ned w eight of one m illio n

, .

m atur e dom es ticat e d ea rth w orms w ill appro xim at e a ton Th e re .

i s no esse nti al d i ff erence b et w een f eed i ng oth e r d o m es tic ani mals

to p r oduc e m eat and f eed i ng ea rth w o rms fo r i nt ens iv e produc
tio n How ev er w hil e th e m anur e of oth er ani m al s b eco m es foo d
.
,

for wo rms th e m anu r e o f w o rms ( c as ti ngs ) is topsoil w hich i n ,

tu rn nu rtu re s al l i f e —
,

,
dir ectly v eget ab l e li f e ; i nd ir ectly al l ani
, ,

“
mal li f e through co ns u m ptio n o f th e v eget abl e
An o ld t r ui sm s t at es th at A ch ai n i s as s t r o ng as it s w eak est
.

l i nk . In th e ch ai n of l i f e th e w eak e s t l i nk i n natu re h as b een

,

th e sl ow tr an sitio n o f v ege t abl e and ani m al l i f e b ack to th e s oil

for use agai n i n th e et ernal cycl e In nature th e ea r th w o rm h as .
,

b een one impo rt ant el em ent o f thi s w eak es t l i nk i n th e ch ai n o f

li f e Now b y h arness i ng avai l ab l e m at e ri al s and forces for th e
.
,

i nt ens iv e pro p agation and use o f earth w o rms we h av e dem o n ,

st r ated th at we can r ei n forc e and t rans fo rm thi s w eak est l i nk of

th e ch ai n i nto th e s t r o ng es t l i nk .

O nc e we ca t ch th e v isio n t ak e hol d of th e pri ncipl e we can

, ,

go on f r om th ere It i s j us t as ob v iou s as s u nlight It d o es not

. .
 CO N CL U S I O N — S U M M ARY 1 79
t ak e a s ci enti s t to utiliz e th e pr i nci p l es—th ey
ar e s o ex t r em ely

simple S t at ed i n a f ew w ord s th e b as ic p ri ncipl es ar e : Com

.
,

po s t soi l b uil d ing earth w o rm foo d ; ad d w at er ; ad d w o rm s or

~

ea rth w orm egg capsul e s ; k eep wet and l et natur e t ak e h er cour s e

-
.

A l l v a ri atio ns fro m th es e s imp l e b a sic p ri ncip l es a r e m ad e for

co nv en i ence and effi ci en cy regar dl es s o f wh eth er we work i n a
,

sm all w ay with a box o r ti n can or a S p ec i ally d esi gn e d culture

,

b ed ; o r w ork i n a l a rger way w ith ca r e ful l y b uilt com p o s t b eds ,

which m ay co nt ai n ev en hu nd r ed s o f to ns o f com p ost ed s ourc e

m at e ri al s In earth w orm cu l tu r e as i n oth er thi ng s r es ults will
.
,

natur a lly d epend upo n th e s kil l and c ar e u s ed i n follo w i ng th e

ba sic pri nci pl e i nvo l v ed .

W e h av e writt en a book i n an end eav o r to c r eat e a m ent al

pictur e o f th e mo s t impo rt ant anim al i n th e w orld th e ea rth—
“
”
wor m W h en t e qu es tio n i s a sk ed Can I b uil d top s oil th e
. h ,
?

ans w e r is y e s .A n d w h en t h e fi r st qu e s tio n

s e co nd qu estion How can I d o it th e ans w er i s Feed earth

,
i s
“
follo w ed b y a

worms .
 i
Co nn ect cut A g i cul tur al r E x p er i
ment S ta ti on, 1 53 , 1 55
r
C op r otati on, 73
Cul ti v at ed soi l , 16, 1 58, 1 59, 166 ,
l 69
l r
Cu tu e bed s, 62, 85 , 1 23 -147 ; con
r r
s t uct i on, 1 34 ; d ai nag e, 1 24 ; b a r
ves ti ng , 14 1 ; ma t e i al s , 1 32 ; p ans r l
f or , 128-1 30; se vi ci ng , 138 ; r
r
wate ing , 125

r i r
D a w n, Ch a l es , 8, 38-40, 52,
88, 94, 1 55, 1 56 , 166 , 1 77
Dewwor ms, 23
Dj emi l 47 .

i
Domest ca ted E a t wo ms, 14, 25, rh r
S6, 82, 84-93 , 95 ; d e ni ti on, 25 fi
Down s, D B , 1 58 . .

E ar th ma ster E a th wo m r Cul tu e r r
B ed , 139 ca e o f , 140; °
r
c onst uc ti on, 13 1 ; ha
r es ti ng , 14 1, rv
mr a
te i al s, 132, 133 , p l ans f or , 145

E a r th master Fa m 1 5 r ,

E a r t hma ster S y stem, 13 1

E ar tli wor m T il l age Far m, No I, .

1 sfs
r r
E a th wo ms, ag e, 100; al i menta y r
canal , 26-27, 3 9, 87 ; bene t s o f , fi
r
164 ; b eed i ng h abi ts, 92, 96 ; cal
ci f er ous g l and s, 29 ; cast i ng s, 22,
24, 27, 29, 30, 40, 43 46 , 48, 92 , ,

h
163 , 164 ; c emi ca act on on so i , l i l
49, 52, 53 , 164 ; cul tu e, 65. r
94, 0 , 103 7 ; di g est e sy stem,
1 2 -14 iv
26 , 3 0, 50, 101 ; di st i but on, 23 , r i
87, d omesti cati on, 14, 25,
93 eg g capsul es ,

7 1, 73 , 85, , 98, 99, 1 13 ; en

vi ro nment, 6 1 , 76 ; ex c r e
ti on o f h umus, 10, 13 , 22 f ami y , °
l
22 ; eed ng h abi ts, 28, 292 3 1
f i
164; f ood , 28. 29, 109,

[ 181
 r
1 77, h y b i d , 88 93 ; numb e , 40, r
4 1, 56 , 5 7, 6 1, 62, 72 , 84, 85 ; pOp u
l ar names, 23 , 90; p op ag at on, r i
6 1, 84, 90 94 ; ap d i ty o f nc ease,
-
r i i r
1 18, 1 19 ; sel ec ti e b eed ng and v r i
f eedi ng , 14, 56 , 57, 6 1 -64, 84 ; si z e,
23 , 24, 2 5, 90; st uctu e, 26 ; t l l r r i
g , 4 , 48 1 52, 154 , 1 55 ; we g h t,
9 1 - i
a
e

E a rth wo rm si n Ro e o f G eat B ene l r

f ac tor s o f th e um an Race,
”
by H
W A A nd e son, 48
. . r
E ar th wor ms of Oh i o, Th e, by Dr .

Hen y W O son, 96 r . l
r
E a t hwo m s, r to th e A c e, r
by W i am s Haill
y nes , 149-152

E gy p t, 14, 43 , 4 7, 53 , 57 ; f er ti ty li
o f i l
so , 46 48, 5 1
-

l
E ng and , 3 9, 40, 56 , 84, 89
r
E u ope, 25
E xper i ment S ta ti on R ecor d, 1 66

r
Fa m Fo um, W GY 4 1 r ,

F ar m J our nal a nd Far mer s W i f e,

'

149 1 50 ,

r
Fa m i ng , 2 5, 6 5, 1 55 ; g ene a , 65, rl
68, 6 9, 74
Faulk ner E d wa d H , 8 1 148, r .
,

ii r
F er t l z e s, ch emi ca , 12 , 78, 80, 82 l ,

1 5 1 ; or g ani c, 6 1 , 68, 70, 72, 82,

148, 149 ; sci ent c, 68 ifi
i r
F sh wo m s, 23 , 92, 150
Fl oo d Cont ol , 4 1 r
r
Fl o i d a A g r i cul tu al Col l eg e, 52 r
Food C op s, 20 r
r
Fo est S e i ce, Un ted S tat es De rv i
p a r tment o f A g cu tur e, 49 ri l
“r
r il
Fo est so , 4 1-42, 160, 162
i l i
Fo est S o l i n Re at on t o S i ilv
l r Pr
c u tu e ,
”
v
by of S end O Hei . .

r
Fo mati on o f S oi , by C ti s l ”
ur
hr
Fl etc e Ma but, 4 1 r
F or ma ti on of Veg etabl e M oul d
thr oug h th e A cti on of E ar th
wor ms, W i th O bs er vati ons on
Th ei r Habi ts, Th e, by Ch ar es l
r
Da wi n, 38, 74, 88

Gal up, Ch i stoph e 149 150-1 52 ; r r

l 8 é , ,

Gar bag e d sposal 6 1, 125-126 175 i , ,

182 ]
P h er e ti ma buccul enta, 1 57

P l ans , f o r C u l tu e B e d s ,
1 28 -13
0; r
f or E a r th mas t er Cu t u e B ed s, 145 l r ,

14 7 ; f o r L ug B o es, 120, 12 1 x
P i
l ow ng , 40, 7 1 72 75, 82 148, 1 5 1 , , ,

P l owma n s Fo l l y , by E d wa d
’
r H .

Faulk ne 8 1, 148 r ,

P owe s W r
L , 26 , 1 56 163 , 16 7
, . .
,

P r i nci pl es a nd r ac ti ce of Ag r i P
cul tur a l A na l y s i s , b y Dr Ha ey . rv
W W ey , 30 . il
P r od uc ti v e S oi l s : Th e Fund amental s
of S uccessf ul S oi l M anag ement
a nd P
r ofi ta bl e Cr op M anag ement,

by W l bu W a te W e i 48 r l r ir ,

P uh , P
C , 1 56, 1 57, 163 16 7
. .
,

Ra i nwor ms , 23 , 24, 90, 97

i
Res stance to p es ts and p l ant dis
eases, 55
i
R c k et t, a o d W am , 1 72 H rl illi
r
R obe t son J D , 1 56 1 57 , . .
,

Ro ck s and S oi l s : Th ei r Or i g i n, Com
posi ti on, and Ch a r a c ter i s ti cs , b y
H r
o a c e E dwa d S tock b d g e, r ri
g
r .

2
i
Rub ns E J , 1 58 , . .

l
R usse l , E J , 1 55, 16 5, 16 7 . .

li
S a sbu y E J 1 56 16 7 r , .
, ,

S ci ence S oci ety of Ch i na, B i ol og i cal

La bor a tor y Co ntr i buti on, Z ool og
i ca l S er vi ce, 16 7
lr h i
S h a e Nat an el S out g ate, 34, 3 5
, h
l r
S h effi e d Geo g e, 66 , 76 ,

S m a l -b s t edl ri l ri
ng ed wo m 23 r ,

, i
S oi l bac ter a 3 6 76 77 163 177 , , , , ,

il i
bu d ng 12 13 14 15 32, 3 3 , 3 4 , , , , , ,

3 5 3 7 42 -46 57, 62 , 64 76 , 1 70
, , , , ,

1 73 1 74 ; ch em ca el ement s, 22,
, i l
29 3 0 3 5 49, 5 1 , 52, 53 , 54 ;
fi i
, , ,

d e ni t on o f 34 ; d e st uct i on o f , ,
r
12 ; s ou c e o f p ant and a ni mal r l
i
l f e 1 3 20 3 1 3 5, 1 70; sub so l
, , , , i ,

48 49 74 164 ; ch em ca e ement s
, , , i l l
of 49 ; p ow ng 74 ; t op so , 1 3 ,
,
l i , il
22 3 2 3 5 42 48 49 50 52, 1 73 ,
, , , , , , ,

1 77-1 79 ; m a s s p r o d uc t on o f , 42, i
S7 1 75 1 77, 1 79
, ,

S oi l a nd Cul tiva ti on, by M ton il

Whi t ney 1 73 ,

S oi l S ci enc e, 1 55, 16 7
 ( C on t i nued fr o m fr on t fla p)
E h w rm n d It E n ir n m n t i n l u d i n g
ar t o a s v o e , c

th e r t h w or m i n n t u r n d i n i n t i fi
ea a e a sc e c

l i t r t ur
e a P r t II p n t T h E r t h
e . a r e se s e a

w rm U n d r C n t r l
o r
e li n g t h m t h o o , e v ea e e

o d w hi h h v
s c n bl d t h u th r t
a et ur n e a e e a o o

a b r n d
a re r t hill i d i n t l uxu ri n t p r
es e s e o a a a a

di se . Th p h t r
g p eh h r t d i r
g m o o a s, c a s, a a s,

a n d w rk i n g d r wi n g
o v l u bl i d a s ar e a a e a s .

th d ir t i n f ul t ur
e nd u ec o s or c e a se ,

o n i t h r m ll
e e l rg s l a p ifi or a e sc a e, ar e S ec c

n i
”
a nd co c se A m i n Li b .
y A i
-
er c a r ar s soc a

t i o n B o ok l i s t .

A BO UT T HE A UT HO R

T h m J B rr t t w b rn i n C ll g
o as . a e as o o e e

G ro v e, T nn i n 1 8 84
e E du t d
e ssee , t . ca e a

R u k i n U n i r i t y N r t h w t rn A d m y
s ve s , o es e ca e ,

A m ri n C ll g
e ca f O t o p t hi M d i i n
o e e o s e a c e c e

an d Su r g r y n d C hi
e g C lla g f M d ca o o e e o e :

m
,

f i n
i n
di g y
a u fi b re h
p y
er i i n e s s c a ,

p ri n t r e ,p t i
re f d i t or l d i r e n d fr e or ,
so e , a ee

l n n w p h t g r ph r i n C n d M x i
a ce e s o o a e a a a, e co,

and t h Un i t d St t
e Tr in d f
e m p a es . a e or a re

p r od u t i
c n i n
o t h fi l d h r d t hr u
e g h e e se ve o

W rl d W
o I w i t h t h 1 l l t h U n i t d St t
ar e e a es

E ngin r r t h w rm n d
so
ee s In 1 9 3 6 h b g n
il b u il d i n g r r h
-
.

t b li hi n g
“
ese a c E rt h
e

,
e

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a ea

s
o

a
a

m t r F rm C lif
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as e a R s, n xp i
osc oe , a .
, as a e er

m nt l a nt r H p n t n rl y 3 y r
e e s ea ea s as a

i t n t i n pm m l gy t
e ce . e

l b t ry
—
a or a o a ss s a o o a

C lif r n i In t i t u t
a

c on t r i
o

bu to t
a
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s
gy H i e o
nul

o M a g a z i n e D i g es t , E n c c l o
‘
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l J
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an d o t e p u lfii é a t i o n s hr .

E a r t h wor m s : T h ei r In
t e nsi v e P ro
p ag a ti o n an d Use i n B i ol og i c al
So i l B u i l d i n g ,
-
T he P r u n i ng Kn ife an d ,

ot h r i n t i fi n d p p u l r wri t i n g F
e sc e c a o a s . ea

t ur rt i l " ”
e ab ut E t hm
c es t F m a o ar as er ar s,

w i t h pi t u h c
pp r d i n m n
r es ,
y l d av e a ea e a ea

ing n w p p r e n d m g zi n
s a t hro u g h u t
e s a a a es o

th e w rl d o .
Y O UR B US I NE S S OW N by N m n E d wa d or a r s

W h y t r t y ur wn b u i n ? Fr m t h t fi r t q u t i n t hi t h o ug h
"
s a o o s ess o a s es o s ro
,

di u i n f th
sc m ll r b u i n
ss o w ill
o lv y u e s
y p r b l m a W het it t k s e ss so e o r e v er o e . a a es ,

whi h b u i n
c ( rvi d i t ri b us t i ng m n u f
e ss t u in
g)
se w h t l t i n t b bu y
c e, s , a ac r , a oc a o , or

re n h w t t ,
t u
p o y t m t r i n o l p r n b uil d g d will m t c m p e t i
se a s s e , a sa es e so s, oo , ee o

t i n— t h
o f w f t h m ny q u t i n
ese ar e n w r d
a H lp fu l t t i t i
e o e a es o s a s e e . e s a s c s,

t bla h k li t
es, c ec s s .

NAT UR AL DYE S b y S h l l i e P e a s e K i e r s t e ad

hi p r t i l g i d h l p t h w h m k h k d n d br i d d ru g n d
T s ac ca u e e
.
s o se o a e oo e a a e s, a

o th r r t i l fr m f b i t
e a hi v t h q u n t n d b u t if u l l r whi h
c es o a r c s, o ac e e e ai a ea co o s c

o n ly n t r l dy a u d t k a d d y r vi d T
es, h u t h r n
as o o se o ac a e es , o e
pp p g p . e a o , a

exp rt e xp l i n h w y u t o n b t i n t h b u t if u l ff t h r t r
e a s o o , o , ca o a e ea e ec s c a ac e

i ti
s f u g h n d d d w n fr m t h p t
c o r —
I nd p n d n t W m n Il l u t t d
s a e o o e as . e e e o a . s ra e .

B i b l i o g r aph y . I n d ex . $ 2 75 .

UDDE R D I S E AS E S O F T HE CO W b y A S Al e x a n d e r
. .

St a nd a d r t ex t f or v et e ri n ri a ans an d d airy m e n . D ea l s w i th r g i l w ll
su ca as e

as h r tr tm nt
Ot e ea e
( Q
b y f ar t he be s t r
t ea t m en t o f t he u bjs t th t w ec a e

h av e r n —O n tev e see ar i o Mi lk P ro d u c er . s h uld

o be i n t h l b ry f e i ra o

ev r y d ir y m n
e Wi a a .
- s c o n si n A g r zc u l t u r a l zs t . Il l u s t r a t ed .

A NI MAL S OF T HE S E A S HOR E b y Ho r a c e G R i c h a r d s .

i t ingui h
By a d s s e d i
sc en t s t i ,
l i
t u hf is m an u a s a se u l gui d t e o t he in rt ve e

b t f th Atl nti
r a es o e a c C o as t It i d n t i fi
. l rl y n d e es c ea a s im ply l l a t he c o m m o n ,

and m n y f th r r a o e a e, se a a nim l T h n um r u
a s . x e e o s e ce ll n t p h e o t og r ph a s an d
th n i i n t ifi d esc r i p t i n m k t hi n i n v l u b l li t t l xt b k f or
‘

e co c se sc e c o s a e s a a a e e te oo

— Tb e
.

an y o n e . A m er i c an M e r c u r y . In d ex , b i b l i o g r aph y , p f r o u se l y i l l u s t r a t ed .

G AR DE N WISE A ND O T HE R W I S E b y Jo s h u a F r e e m a n Cr o w e l l
—b i t s
—
A p o i
i f t h g rd n l
e t c e n c y c o p ed a l or e a e ov e r h r t i u l t u l i n f rm
o f o c ra o a

ti n bo t n i l f t li t t l k n w n l g n d h m ing f n i w ri t t n b y
'
o ,
a ca ac s, e o e e s, an d c ar a c es e

k ill d g r d n O r 4 00 d i ff p i i n cl u d d N g r d n l ov r
"
a s e ant e er . ve er e s e c es a r e e . o a e e

ca n f il t b d li gh t d
a
—N tu M g i n
o e e e .
”
a re a az e . Il l u s t r a t ed .

BRUC E HUM PHRIE S ,

INC . Pu b l i s h e r s