The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1888-05-31
ANIMALS AND SOIL.
he Wonderful and Useful Work
Done by Ants.
hat Il Accomplished by Crayfish, Field
|Hice, Bugs, Etc.-But the Ants, in Many
Districts, Are the Most Impor-
tant Agents.
The admirable studies of Mr.. Darwin

o The admirable studies of Mr.. Darwin
y the influences of the earth-worms
70 bon the soil has made it clear that
= hese animals exercise most impor-
II Int effect in its preparation for the use
Y splants. Mr.. Darwin's luminous es-
= ~ has served to call attention to the
4 lhct of organic life on the develop
Y bent Of the soil-coating. In the fol-
! bFing pages propose to submit the
nsults Of some studies of a general ma
an, which serve to show that num-
NJ Of other animals have a consider
s Die influence on the preparation of
:. als.
. Our soils, as is weA known, depend
= porfh variety of actions which serve
J. b break up the rocky matter of the
: nth and to commingle that matter
]. Nth organic materials more rapidly
han the erosive agents can remove the
airitus from the point at or near
shch it decays. For the formation of
Ne soil two actions at least are essen
al First the bedrock must be broken
hio fragments sufficiently separated
ham each other to permit the passage
roots between them; second, the
Amk fragments must be still further
nmmnuted and commingled with
Rganic waste to make the combination
organic and inorganic matter on
mich the utility of the soil absolutely
dpends. Although the earth-worms
Nc undoubtedly very important agents
aoverturning and breaking up of soil,
fappears to me that they are most eff
isctive in the titled fields or in the natu-
nl and artificial grass-lands. So far
81 have been able to observe, these
features are rarely found in our ordi-
nary forests where thick layer of
leai-mold, commingled with branches,
aes upon the earth. The character of
ials deposit is such that the creatures
ae not competent to make their way
'arongh it. and they therefore in the
main avoid such situations. Moreover,
Wherever the soil is of very sandy
nature, earth-worms are scantly found
a'hey are present at all. These worms
ae practically limited to the soils of a
somewhat clayey character, which
nave no coating of decayed vegetation
upon them.
stne greater portion of the existing
,0ll has been produced in forest regions,
snail flrst examine the action of vari-
ss animals upon the soils of wooAed
sountrles. The mammals are, of all our
'erteorates, the most effective in their
N'ion upon the soil of forests. Twenty
slecies, or more, of our American man.
uals are burrowers in the forest bed.
laeY either make their habitations be-
aea1n the ground or resort to it in the
pursuit OF food. Of these our burrow-
y rodents are perhaps the most effect
w out a large number of other small
lammals resort to the earth and make
"nsiaerable excavations. In forming
Ie'r burrows, or in the pursuit of other
a'oWlng animals. these creatures
A'en penetrate through the whole or
neater portion of the soil-covering.
.ae material which is withdrawn from
ae ourrow Is accumulated about its
I'usn. The result is the overturning
considerable amount of the earth
saa consequent commingling of the
Sa'eflai with vegetable matter. When
aousnt to the surface and left exposed
!" "'ae action of frost the breaking up of
~ - material is greatly favored, and
ated.
considerable as is the effect of bur-
s1ng mammals. the principal over
s1h'ng OF the earth in our primeval
S'ss's IS accomplished by the inverte-
vac animals. Where the woods are
very dense, and particularly where
9 s0u is somewhat sandy, our largest
Yscles Of ants are very effective agents
Working over the soil. Their bur-
,sss extend to the depth of some fest
WV the surface, and each hill brings