The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-11-04
THEHUMBEEEARTHwORM.
oRHAruane WHrcH PLAY AN IN
PoRTANTP Part IN NATURE.
How rhe1 Mako the Earth fruitful
Their Carioss Hsbits-b3. TT Of
Them to an Aero OF Garden.

Them team Acre OF Garden.
MIL DR.. Charles Darwin made
his study Of earth worms no
acqpaintapcs was had by
c-..-. ...-. :. y ,su tnc work Of these
humble creatures that play 90 important
part in the world, all the sol: Of which
has been rendered fruitful by beng
passed through their bodies.
Earth worms are distributed through.
out the entire world, being found even
on the most remote islands. Although
land animals they are Ia o sense semi.
acquatic. Whereas exposure to dry
air for few hours Is fatal TO them, they
have been kept alive in water for several
months. They are nocturnal 10 their
habits, and at night may be seen crawl.
ing about IN large numbers, usually with
their tails inserted in their burrows.
Their bodies are armed with short bris-
ties, by means of which they cling to
their holes, SO that il is difficult to drag
them out.
The body OF large earth worm con.
sists of from 100 to 300 rings or seq
ments, eoch furnished with minute
bristles. BY meaus OF well-developed
muscular system the animal can crawl
backward as we'll as forward, and,
whe.-its tsit 10 & &ed in the mouth OF It's
hole, IL eau rctJest into tho latter with
extraordinary rapidity. 1t has a mouth
and throas as we'll as gizzard, which
grinds the food swallowed. Tho giz-
zard generally contains small stones,
which are supposed to be taken in for
the purpose of assisting digestion. Earth
worms breathe through their skin, pos
sessing no special organs Of respiration;
they have no eyes, and the two sexes are
united in the same individual.
Although they are entirely blind they
are sensitive enough to light to be aolc
to distinguish between day and night.
Thus they escape man, dangers which
would threaten them from diurnal ami
mails that pray upon them. They do not
possess any sense Of hearing. DIR. Dir-
win found that they took not the least
notice of the shrill notes from metal
whistle and they we're indifferent to
shouts" Their sense of smell is very
feeble, but they perceive very we'll by
touch. Although their nervou, system
is we'll developed 1t il doubted whether
they suffer as much pain when injured
as they sccm to express by their coutor-
tions.
Earth worms are omnivorous. They
swallow quantities OF earth continually,
out of which they extract any digestible
matter which it may contain. They also
consume half decayei leaves OF all
kinds, except few which have an ua-
pleasant taste or are too tough. From
such leaves they chiefly obtain their sus-
teuance. They pass the winter season
either singly or rolled up with Others
into ball ut the bottom Of their bur
rows, which during that time of year
are closed at the top. They devote
much of their attention to gathering
leaves, dccayod twigs and small refuse OF
all sorts for the purpose Of plugging up
their holes and to line tho upper parts of
the latter.
There is plenty of organic matter in
ordinary mold for the support of Garth
worms, Including many eggs and larvW
of insects, as we'll as small living aud
dead creatures. There arc certain spe.
cies found in damp places in the tropics
which possess trap like bladders, teau,
tifully constructed for catching minute
subtcrranean animals. Earth worms
eagerly devOur raw meat and dead
worms. Although they usually live near
the surface of the ground, yet they bur
row to considerable depth during long
continued dry weather and severe cold.
They have been discovered as far down
as eight feet. The burrows run perpeu-
dicularly or little obiquely, and arc
lined with thin layer of fine, dark col
orcd earth voided by the worms.
The lining thus formed is worry COM
pact and smooth, closely fitting the
worms body. 1t strengthens the walls
Of the burrow, which may be likened to
tunuel lined with cement, and saves
the occupants skin from being scratched.
Often the hole terminates in small en-
largcmcnt or chamber, where one or
more worms pass the winter. These
chambers are lined with little stones and
teeds, to prevent contact with the sur.
rounding cold soil. After swallowing
earth, whether for making its burrow
or for food, the worm comes to the sur
face to empty it's body, thus forming
what arc called Castings" In the case
OIL certain giant carth worms OF lndRt
aud Ccylon, such castings arc sometimes
four inches or more in height and seem
to be constructed with considerable
skill.
The earth thus voided by worms, if
spread out uniformly. would form iii
most places in the course of a year a
layer one-fifth of an inch in thickness.
Inasmuch as the process is carried on
increasingly, the mold from below being
continually brought to the surface, it is
matter of ready calculation how long
it will take for the entire layer of super
fetal soil to be passed through the
worms body. 1t is estimated that on an
average acre of arabic land more than
ten tons of earth are annually swallowed
by worms and brought to the surface.
The importance of the work accom-
plished by them in this fashion cannot
be overcstimated. They periodically
exposed the mold to the air. Iningling
it like gardner who prepares fine soil
for his choicest plants, and sitting it 80
Inat no stones digger than the par ticles
they can sw, How are left in it,
Il. J. ~