The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-03-23
FARM AMI @aroen.
The Earth Worm.

The Earth Worm.
Probably there are few boys who read the
SCIENTIFIC american who do not occasionally
indulge in the sport of angling, if not tor sport
st least for the pleasure of enjoying the fruit of
their exertions--if succcssful-when brought 70
the table. 1t is well that We put in this proviso,
for "fsherman's luck" is phrase every boy I'M
derstands No fish bait is so generally used in
angling the earth w,rm and we shall endea.
vor to give some information in regard to this
despised, but useful creature, which boys who
often handle il may not possess.
The earth worm belongs to the class called
annelds, from the Latin, ''anellus," small ring,
becs use the body of the worm appears to be
composed of series of small rings joined to-
gether like beads string. The worm has
also another name, "Lumbricus Terrestris,"
which is simply the Latin for ear III worm, 80
this Insignificant creature bears high sound
ing name. And he is worthy of it. He is re-
markable individual, belonging to the only class
of invertebrate animals which have red blood
This is distinction, one which many animals
much higher in the scale of life do not enjoy
We have said this is ussful animal. We do
not refer to its value as bait for fish, but its
fulness as a cultivator of the soil. 1t does be-
meath the surface, just what the farmer does on
TIE surface opens the soil to the action of the al.
and moisture by running galleries in every di-
worker Of fertilizers turning cyude and rank
manure to valuable compost tit for the support
Of vegetable life. If not allowed to do this in
the heap it carries ON the work after the manure
has been removed TO the field garden. But
this does not exhaust the list Of its useful quail
fcations, 1t actually turns poor and grudging
soil in some cases to valuable and generous mold.
In dry times the worm is driven by the necessi-
ties Of his nature deeper into the earth, as he
cannot live in dry soils When he returns to
the surface he brings with him the earth he has
swallowed--for he is an earth eater, but of this
presently--and yoids it upon the surface. And
this which he leaves upon the surface is of the
finest quality. Every one has seen these worm
castings heaped about the mouth Of their holes.
Thus the manures added TO the soil by man
and the constituents Of the soil, themselves,
thoroughly mingled by this interchangeable culti-
vator. and these castings in time accumulate on
the surface, SO that instances have been known
where several inches Of vegetable mold have
been added by this means to the surface of
field. In this manner the earth worm proves
himself u be one Of the farmers best friends and
assistants.
Now let us see whether he like some Of the
feathered tribe, has some bad qualities which
offset his usefulness. He certainly does not des-
troy living vegetation, either roots, stems or
leaves for even those who DENY that he is a
ulTb t1ttI tio ~
plants. They merely assert that ne eats dead
and decays vegetation. \ correspondent in
our issue of Feb. 9Th, gave well written des-
cription Of what he had seen him do: eating de-
cayed leaves, and infinitely described his pro-
of feeding The worst that can be said of
him is that he defaces our nicely kept walks by
his nocturnal deposits Of exuvia.
What does the earth worm eat This Is dis
futed question, but we incline to the opinion
& 4. IL go
on THE Earth Worm and tie Common House
Az" Jean Mace, in his History of Mouthful
OF Bread .ippletons Eyclopedia, art. Earth
Worm and Annelids: Chambers Educational
Course art. Zoology, and Prof. Seeley i'll No 2
current volume SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, that the
earth worm does eat dirt, as much the Otto
macs those South American Indians described
in 'Odd People by Capt Mayne Reid. Most
boy anglers will also agree with these authori-
ties that the earth worm is dirt eater, with the
exception, prehaps, of the boy who while fishing
was asked BY acquaintance passing what he
had in his mouth, and replied: Nv ums fur bait
A few other peculiarities Of this animal and
We will release him and our readers. The
swelled protuberances enveloping the body of
worm. at some seasons, must have been noticed
by all who have seen them. These appear like
the results of disease accident, but are SIMPLY
the envelopes of the oya for the production of
the animal. he mead OI inc WoTuh is ucstituV
! of eyes and ears, 1t is furnished with mouth
alone, which may be easily perceived by the aid
of small lens microscope. Take worm on
your hand and let him crawl across the palm
and YOU will feel a rough sensation Your skin.
Or attempt to pull worm out Of hole IN the
earth and very likely you will break his body in
two Why Simply because the worm has
legs, or at least. substitutes for them These
substitutes are hair hooks, easily seen through
a common magnifying glass and they are retrac-
tile at the will of the worm. This will explain
the tanicity with which he adheres to the walls
of his home when force is used TO pull him out.
If this brief account OF some OF the pecullari-
ties of this reptile of interest and prompt a
wish for more, we refer out juvenile readers to
Messrs Samuelson and Hicks book or the inter
esting volume of Mons Mace before alluded to-
and also to close observation of the habits OF
the "Lumbricus Terrestris" Scientific Ameri-
can
Amount OfSced for Potatoes.