Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-01-04
From Nature
EtVIa t'HNaE's
Curious Facts About worms.
low The FERTILITY or THE GROUND
CREASED IL THEM.

HOW HE FERTILITY or The TLoUSD Is ~
CREASED EY THEM.
From observation extending over num-
Der of Years, NJ. Hensen is led to the couclu-
sion that infertile undersOil is rendered
valuable by the action OF worms in two ways
viz, by the opening OF passages for the
roots into the deeper parts, and by the lin
ingzof these passages with humus. This will
be more fully understood from the following
facts regarding the ife-habits of the worm
(L,uHIric,te teITeshiS) given in NJ Hensens
paper in the 'Zeitschrift fur wissenschaft-
liche geologic"
1t is known that the adult animals in wet
weather come up to the surface BY night, and
with their hinder end in their tube, search the
the ground round about They then draw
whatever vegetable material they can find
into their tubes fallen stems and leaves and
small branches. In the morning one then
finds little heaps ofpllntfragments projecting
at various parts of the surface, and each OF
them penetrating the tube OF worm. On
closer examination IL is found that the leaves
have each been rolled together 10y the worm,
and then drawn into the tube in such way
that the leaf-stalk projects the portion Of
the leaf in the tube Is moist and softened.
and only in this state, are plants consumed
by the worm. There are distinct Indications
that the worm gnaws them, and after some
drawn deeper down into the ground. In dig
ging the ground at various seasons it was
only very rarely that plant remains were
found in the subsoil, and probably they got
there by accident.
With reference to the structure OF the worm
tubes some interesting facts were establish
I'd in these researches In humus their char
acter Is difficult to make out owing to the
loOseness of the mass. In sand they proceed
IL 1. Il.
even STA feet, whereupon they often extend
some distance horizontally more frequently
however. they terminate without bending Az
the end of the tube the worm is found with
his head upwards while round about him the
tubes is lined with small stones ON the
sandy wall of the tube one observes more or
less numerous black protubcrlnces which
make the sand fertile. These are the secre-
tions OF the worm, which, after beng re-
moved out of tenanted tube. are found
next morning replaced by fresh matter.
They are observed, after few days, when
worm is put in vessel with clean sand and
allowed to makea tube for itself Older
abandoned tubes are pretty regularly lined
with the earth formed by the worm, and
some passages are densely filled with black
earth. The black substance appears to ditfuse
somewhat into the sand
In about half of the tubes, not quite new
ly made. NJ Hensen found roots OF the plants
growing ut the surface, in the most vigorous
development, running 10 the end ofthe tube
and giving of fine root-hairs to the walls,
Leautiful in the case of lelfy vege-
tables and corn. Indeed such tubes must be
very favorable to the growth Of the roots.
Once rOOt-tibre has reached such tube It
can, following the direction OF gravity, grow
on in the moist air OF the passage without
meeting with the least resistance, and Ii finds
moist, loose fertile earth in abundance.
The question whether all roots found in
the undersol have originally grown in the
tubes of worms cannot hr answered with
certainty. 1t is certain that the roots OF
some plants penetrate themselves IN the
sand. hut not to great depths. NJ. Henson
IS OF the opinion that the tap-roots, md in
general such Ioot-tOrmS rs grow with thick
point can force path for themselves while
he fine and flexible suctiou-rcutS have diff
'ulty in obtaining path into the depths
'ther than what has been previously made
or them. Roots of one YEAR, growth eSpeci-
lily can penetrate deep into the subSoil only
where there are earth worms.
\ microScopical comparison Of the earth de-
,osited by the worms show that it Is like the
wo-year leaf mould prepared by gardeners
or the filling OF flower pots. Most Of the
liant cells destroyed still there ure
resent some cells and slrsls of tissue
rowned and frinble, mixed with many sand
rains and brown organic fragments. The
henical composition Of IL. worm earth
hows much similarity to that OF fertile
umus ground. Its fertility therefore. can
lot be doubled, though direct experiments
nth 1t are wanting.
With regard to the numerical value Of tins
ction Of the earth-worm, the following oh
ervationS 10y VI Henson afford some inform
ton
Two worms Wers put INTO a glass pot a foot
diameter, which was hIled WITH sand 10 the
eisht oil loot aad the surface covered with
layer OF ialith leaves lhe worms
ere quickly al WORK aud after month
any leaNes were Gown > inches deep INTO
,e tuneS the surface was completely cover
with humus en- IN height. and in the
mo were numerous Worm-tubeS partly with
minus wall nm. thick, partly quite
led with humns.
counting Whcn an opportunity ofefSi