Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-05-03
ANIMALS AND SOIL.
The Wonderful and Useful Work
Done by Ants.
What Is Accomplished 10y CrayEsh, Field
Mice, Bugs, tc-But the Ants, in Many
Districts, Are the Most Impor-
tant Agents.

tant Agents.
The admirable studies Of Mr. Darwin
on the influences CT the ear,h-worms
upon the soil has made it clear that
these animals exercise n most impOr-
tant effect in its preparation for the use
Of plants. Mr.. Darwin's luminous es-
say has served to call attention to the
effect of organic life on the develop
ment of the soil-coating. In the fol-
lowing pages propose TO submit the
results of some studies of a general ma
ture, which serve to show that num-
Der of other animals have consider
able influence on the preparation of
soils.
Our soils, as is we'll known, depend
upon variety of actions which serve
to break up the rocky matter of the
earth and to commingle that matter
with organic materials more rapidly
than the erOsive agents can remove the
deiritus from the point at or near
which it decays. For the formation of
tiaL First. the bedrock must be broken
into fragments sufficiently separated
from each other to permit the passage
of roots between them; second, the
rock fragments must be still further
comminuted and commingled with
organic waste TO make the combination
of organic and Inorganic matter Oh
which the utility of the soil absolutely
depends. Although the earth-worms
are undoubtedly very important agents
in overtIrning and breaking up of soil,
it appears to me that they are most eff
fcctive in the titled fields or in the natu-
raj and artificial grass-lands. So far
as | have been able to observe, these
creatures are rarely found in our ordi-
nary forests where a thick layer OF
leaf-mold, commingied with branches,
lies upon the earth. The character of
this deposit is such that the creatures
are not competent to make their way
through it. and they therefore in the
main avoid such situations. Moreover
wherever the soil is of a very sandy
nature. earth-worms are scantly found
if they are present ut all. These worms
are practically limited to the soils of
somewhat clayey character. which
have no coating Of decayed vegetation
upon them.
As the greater portion of the existing
soil has been produced in forest regions,
| shall first examine the action of vari-
Gus animals upon the soils of wooded
countries. The mammals are, of all our
vertebrates, the most effective in their
action upon the soil of forests. Twenty
species, or more, of our American man.
mails are borrowers in the forest bed.
They either make their habitations be-
meath the ground or resort to it in the
pursuit of food. OF these our burrow-
ing rodents are perhaps the most effect
i've, but large number of other small
mammals resort 10 the earth and make
considerable excavations. In forming
their burrows. or in the pursuit of other
burrowing animals, these creatures
often penetrate through the whole or
greater portion of the soil-covering.
The material which is Withdrawn from
the burrow is accumulated about its
mouth. The result is the overturning
of considerable amount of the earth |
and consequent commingling of the |
material with vegetable matter. When |
brought to the surface and left exposed |
to the action of frost the breaking up of |
the material is greatly favored. and |
thus the formation of the soil is facili- !
tated.
Considerable rs is the effect of bur- |
rowing mammals, the principal over
turning of tho earth in our primeval |
forests is accomplished BY The inverte-
brate animals. Where the woods are
not very dense. and particularly where |
the soil is somewhat sandy. our larges;
species of ants are very effective agents
in working over the soil. Their bur-
rows extend to the depth of some feet
below the surface, and each hill brings
to the air several cubic feet of excayated
matter, which, as slight inspection
shows, is much commin@led with vege-
table matter. Wherever these ant-hills
abound they commonly exist to the
number of 4 score or more on each
acre, and the occupants of each hill, in
many cases, bring rs much rs a cubic
foot of matter to the surface in the
course of single year. The action of
rain constantly operates to diffuse this
material on every side of the hill. We
may often observe thin layer of sedi-
ment extending for considerable dis
lance from the elevation.
As is well known TO all those who
have inspected the soil within virgin
forests, the earth is occupied by host
of larval insects. principally belonging
to the group of beetles. but including
also many orthopterous insects. These
creatures in the course of their life I'M
foreground displace good deal of soil.
pol tion of which is thrown upon the