Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-05-03

part of the rending which is accom-
plished in the soil layer. they do not
bring about much commingling of the
soil. The thrusts which they apply to
it shear the materials about, and so to
a certain extent mix them, but by far
the larger part of the commingling is
effected by the animal life which dwells
beneath the forest bed.
Where the woods arc wet and favor
the development Of the crayiish the
effect of this group of animals on the
Overturning of the soil is extremely
great. 1t probably exceeds that which
is accomplished in our ordinary fields
By the action of the earth worms. A
single crayfish will often bring in the
course Of 4 single seasons activity not
less than half cubic foot of earthly
matter to the surface. In certain dis
tricts where these animals abound there
, appear to be not less than 4 thousand
TO each acre of surface. If such be
their number, it is evident that not less
/ than five hundred cubic feet of matter
is brought to the surface from con-
siderable depth in the course of year.
As this matter is generally of rather
fine nature and easily dissolved in water,
it rapidly washes away and forms a thin
sheet on the surface. | am inclined to
believe that large areas of our wet
woods and the open border lands along
our streams are completely overturned
to the depth Of two feet or more
in the course of half q century
| by the actions of these animals.
1t is not impossible, indeed. that
the very fine division of the soil
which characterizes the regions inhab-
tied by these creatures may be in good
part due to their action. In this man
ner the creatures may have in part
worked to bring about the very condi-
tions which best serve their needs. '.ln
open grounds. in natural prairies or
grass-plains, the smaller species of ants
are extremely effective agents in over
turning the spoils. Wherever the
ground remains for some time I'M
plowed, it becomes occupied by those
creatures. In the sandy soils of East
ern Massachusetts, the overturning ac-
complished by these creatures assumes
geological Importance. For many years
have been puzzled by the fact that the
glacial terraces and plains of this re-
gion were extensively covered to the
depth of a foot or more by coating
of fine sand and very small pebbles,
while below the depth of foot pebbles
of larger size are very numerous and
the spaces between them but imper-
fectly occupied with any material. 1t
is obviously impossible to explain these
conditions through the action of earth
worms, for the reason that :hese crea-
lures are rarely found in soils of this
description. From much observation l
have become convinced that this coat
ing of sandy material is to great eN-
tent to be explained by the action of
various species of ants. in the forest
condition by the work of the larger
black ants, and in the condition of open
plains by that of the smaller species.
The amount Of material which these
creatures bring to the surface in n
single season is surprising. At several |
points in Eastern Massachusetts l have |
found the surface to contain ut least |
one ant-hill to each square foot of area,
or about forty thousand hills to the |
acre. This is probably an exceptionally |
great number; it will perhaps be safer
to estimate the number at twenty thou |
sand to the acre. The incoherent heaps |
OF eXcavated matters which these crea- !
lures form are quickly washed away by |
the rain, or in many cases are blown |
away by strong winds, and so seat
tered over the surface. As soon as de- |
they are, in most cases, re- |
builded, the result being that 4 single |
hill is reconstructed at least half n
dozen times during the season. l have
estimated that the amount of material |
brought to the surface often exceeds |
three cubic inches to each square foot
Of surface in single year, or about 4
fiftieth of an inch of the whole area
each year. Thus, in the term of fifty
years, the accumulation of material on
the surface would amount to rs much
as an inch and, reckoning the soil as
having an average depth of one foot, n
total overturning would be accom-
plished in less than one thousand years.
1t is likely that in some cases, over con-
siderable areas, a tolerably complete
is brought about in less
than 4 quarter of this time.
The effect of this action of ants on
the soil material is peculiar The ten
iency is like that noted by DR.. Darwin
in the case OF earth-worms to bring the
liner particles to the surface. am in
rlined to think the ants accomplished
his part of their work even more
than the carth-worms, for
he reason that they penetrate more
leeply between the stones than their
ess active associates. Like the earth
worms, but in larger measure. the ants
convey considerable amounts Of organic
matter into the soil. Their winter store
Of food is deeply buried. and much of it
unconsumed in the neither
earth. There is thus constant in
of vegetable matter beneath
he materials which they bring to the
surface.
Although the burrowing vertebrates
operate most vigorously in the forest
covered regions, they also exercise a
.ertain influence on the omen country.