Telegram-herald., 1888-04-21
ANIMALS MAKE SOIL
TwENTf as0s TssAT susaow
the "ssdsFtal aaek Dess by Aats--
zsrsA@.srsas has L4essi fBseets
Aaeaaz stiaa Aetisfsy 81 tha CrAs-
nsa ia "a Gfs1aa.

hsh IA "st ofsaaa-
Athourh he eaflh serfrs are antieabsed'y
yefY lslpeff4at aeeais in oVsrflf4i4s anA .
bfs4si1s ~ of sat it anFesfs O. als fhs1
t1eg are ul1H sffsctsse is the tilted fritts CT
a. i5e a.t.ilral 4a4 arti1.'iai grass lkaeis -
Tar ~ I ave beca zbls - sbsefes, these
creatures are rarely f1ua3 ia oar ordinary
fofests ~h1re tllck aver ~ leal mgid.
cuHsnLs4 I'D ~itl branches. LES upon tEs
EARTH TIE ehsfarfsr q ths isposit s slch
that che efeaf4res are not eonpelent O. make
their n4y throasA 6. sna they. thersfsfs. n
tie main 4Vlai sueh situations Moreoser.
rhersvsr the sod Is ef ssry sasfy nature
ssrtA -orIas aEe acaatlly fouBi II they are
pF-ssst az all fhess .srsas az practically
Enitei - fhe soils sf Q saaaswsas clsvsy
ctarsrter, NhieA ave "a esstla.. II esaGyed
vegetation gpoa thesn.
As Tia greater pcrtist - tGs exis.ting soil
kss been pfslilf,sl "A for-=f ~ ms. / shall
Grst exaall1a the 4et.oa ol various animals
nUou faa soils ~ voosiei collfsies- Ihs
uanlrt4,s ARE q az oar vcfte5ratss the f.ass
effective 10 their setion upon the sca og
forests Iu~ufy species or more 81 cur
An.rican mammals are blrrose1s an the
forss. bed TAsY eitAer maks their hahita-
gioas teneath tie ground or resort - .t ia
lDrsuis ~ a10d. o. These our baTroH-ing
rsienfs ars PERHAPS tie most effective, but
large nasaler 81 ether sslaA mammals resort
O. tas earth ard maks considerable excava-
ti1ns la forming their burrows or III tbs
pursuit of other bufrowing animals these
creatures often penetrate through the Whois
or greater portion II the SOL covering. The
mafara Al which, Is withdrawn from the bur
row is aecumuiat.sd about its mouth. The
result Is che overturnlng Of a considerable
amoUnt ~ the earth and consequent COM
m.nglng q the material with vegetabls.
natter WLea brought 60 the surface and
I,ft exposed 90 che action of frost the break
iug ap OK the material is greatly favored, and
tA1s The formation oi the soil IS faciAtated
Cousleraaie as IS the effoct OF burrowing
mammals, the principal oyerturning OF the
earth IN oCr priIneval forests IS accomplished
b. tho iayertebrate animals. Whore ths
woods ara not very dense, and particularly
where the soil Is somewhat sandy, our largest
species Ok ants are very effective agents in
working over tae soil Their burrows extend
q The depth of soms feet below the surface.
and each bill brings 10 the air several cubic
feet OF excavated matter, which, As slight in-
spection shows. Is much commingled with
vegetable matter. Wherever these ant hills
A-r-tAH"N-
os a score or more on each acre, and the oc-
cupants q each hill, ia many cases, bring as
much as cubic foot OF matter 10 the surface
IN the course OF single year. The action OF
+ rain constantly operates TO diffnse this ma
T trial on every side Of the hill. We may often
observe a thin layer Of sediment extending
K for acousileralis distance from the elevation
As is well known 20 all those who have in
I srected tho soil vlthin virgin forests, the
I earth Is occupied ID host OF laryal insects,
principally belonging 70 the group Of beetles,
I but including also many orthopterous insects
/ These creatures in the course OF their life IN
| dcrground dsplace a good deal of soii por-
tion Il which Is thrown upon the surface, tie
/ greater part, however, being merely dislodgcd
I beneath tns surface. The effect, however, Is
to corsIaiaSlo and 20 break up the soil, and
thus favor its continuation. Although the
roots Of trees do by far the larger part of the
rending which is accomplished in the soil
layer, they 90 not bring about much COM
minghng of tao soiL
Where tire woods are we. md favor the de-
velopment OF the crayAsh the effect of this
! group Of animals on the oveTturning Of the
/ soil is extrsuisly great 1t probably exceeds
| that which Is accomplished in our ordinary
fields by the action % the earthworm. A
single craytish VIII often bring in the course
Of a single seasons activity not less than half
a cubic foot Of eartky matter to the surface.
! In certain dixfricts whsre these animals
! abound there appear 70 be not less than ,oOo
e. each acre II surface. II such be thor
number il Is evident that not less than 800
cubic feet of matter is brought 70 the surface
| from a considerable depth in the course Of
ysar. AS this matter Is generally Of a rather
fue nature and easily dissolved ia water il
rapidly washes away and forms a thin sheet
o. The surfaca am inclined 20 believe that
| large areas of our wet woods and the open
border ianl.s along our streams are completely
overturned % The depth Of two feet Or more
In The course of half = century By the actions
Of ehess animals.
In cpea grounds, IN natural prsirios or
crass plains, the smaller species Of ants ara
extremely effective agents IN overturning
the soils Wherever the ground remains for
! some time uNFiowed 10 becones occupied By
| taese creatures. Ia the sandy soils Of east
er0 Msssscnusetts tks oyerturuing accom-
pisbed by these creatures assumes a geologi-
cal importance Fer many years l have
hem putrled By the fact that the glacial
terraces and plains OF tsis region were sx-
tsssiveiT covered to the depth of foot OF
uore ~ a coating of fine sand and very
small pebbles. waile below tue osQth ot a
foet pebbles Of larger SIC are very runner
or. and tha spsces between them but inl-
rerrcctly occupied WITH any material. IL Is
sbviosrsly impossible % explain these condi-
Tons tbr0u-h the action of earth worms, for
the rpsson that these creatures arc rarely
found la soils q thls description From
mach observation have become convinced
that this coaang q sandy material Is % n
greet sxtans o. - explained by tire action II
various species cf ants. ia the forest conai
ton by ths WORK ef ths larger black aats
snd 10 the condition O. epsu plains by taas
of thsslusI'er spacisS --frofesser y. 3. SEA
isr IN Popular Scisnos Monthly.