Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-10
WORMS WILL TURN,
And the MicrOscOpists Are Told and
Shown the Good They Do.
PROF. JACKMAN'S SCIENTIFIC TALE
Of How the Anglers Enrich the Soil and
Undermine Its Stones.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE GREAT SOIREE

Ifa tyro had dropped into the rooms Of
the Iron City .Microscopical Society last
evening and had gazed upon the drawings
that ornamented the walls, he would GER
tainly have thought that some artist suffer
ing from a severe attack of delirium tremens
had succeeded in portraying a few of his
geological visions; on every side were queer,
fantastic drawings that seemingly could
have emanated from nothing but bad at
tack of the Snakes"
Such, however, was not the case, the
drawings were illustrations used by Prof. w.
S. Jackman, of the High School, in his lee
ture on the earth Worm" On tables
nearby were microscopes showing other de-
tails of structure not shown by the draw
| ings. The lecture was technical but in
many points was interesting to one un-
versed in science.
Said the Professor, after describing the
structure, physiological action, etc., of the
worm.
"While repulsive in appearance and ap-
parently loathsome to the touch, it is of un-
usual interest to the student, as its habits
are so easily studied, and its scene of opera
tions so accessible. 1t is of infinite value to
the farmers, as it constantly
WORKS OYER THE SOIL
passing it through its body; it is estimated
that on an average, the soil thus worked
over in one year by each worm is % Of an
inch. By actual observation it has been found
that bed of lime has thus been worked below
the surface in the course of few years. Oar
win found this out by series of experiments
extending over period of 27 years, probably
the longest experiment of the kind ever made.
"a peculiar habit of the earth worm is that
of filling mp its burrows in the ground with leaf
stems, straws, etc. 1t is also fact that 60 per
cent of the stems are placed leaf end in the
ground, seemingly indicating intelligence on
the part of the worm. In my garden last fall
noticed that, very soon after some grape leaves
fell to the ground, they disappeared. Upon in
vestigation l found that the leaves had been
carried few inches down into the ground by
the worms. In this way they certainly aid US
by fertilizing the soil.
by similar plan stones and even ruins of
buildings, disappear into the ground. 1t is a
common belief among farmers that IL stones
are left in pasture and meadow land, they will
sink down into the ground in the course OF
few years. This is due to their being under
mined gradually by earth worms"
VIEWING THE LITTLE THINGS.
After the lecture an opportunity was given
to the members to examine the slides.
The other exhibits of the evening were:
Various polariscopic objects by Mr.. G. G. Mel
lor; sections of Eastwood by Mr.. w. ]. Prem
tice; cheese-mites and sugar-mites, by Prof.
Gornon Ogden, of Pittsburg Female College:
beautiful bunch of animalcules, vorticella,
from pond in Allegheny Cemetery, by Mr..
Herbert Walker.
The society is making arrangements for its
annual soiree, to be held next Friday evening
in Old City Hall. This entertainment will con-
sst of an exhibition of about 30 microscopes,
each showing several objects. explained by the
exhibitor; a series of microscopic articles,
shown by the oxy-hydrogen lantern; number
of Rev. W. ]. Holland and arious apparatus
astronomic and spectroscopic, made by Prof
Brashear. Alarge attendance is expected and
the society expects to surpass all its previous
efforts