The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-02-11
OVERCOMING EARrWoRNs
They Have No Eyes, Food ot Night, and Die in Soil Without Moisture.
 lFrom Knowledge)

Die in Soil Without Moisture
 lFrom Knowledge)
 The common earthworm, despised by man and heedlessly trodden under foot, fulhlls a part in nature that would seem incredible but for the facts revealed by the patient and long-continued re- searches of Darwin Worms" says Dar- win, "have played more important part in the history of the world than most persons would at first suppose" Let us follow Darwin and see how this apparently insignificant creature has changed the face of nature. We will first consider the habits and mode of life of the earthworm. As every one knows, the worms live in burrows in the super ficial layer of the ground. They can live anywhere in a layer of earth, provided 1t retains moisture, dry air being fatal to them. They can, on the other hand exist submerged in water for several months. They live chiefly ill the super ficial mold less than a foot below the weather and in very cold seasons they may burrow to a depth of eight feet. The burrows are lined by thin layer of earth, voided by the worms, and end in small chambers in which they can turn round.
 The burrows are formed partly by the earth being swallowed. Large quantities of earth are swallowed by the worms for the sake of the decom- posing vegetable matter contained in it. on which they feed. The earth thus swallowed is voided in spiral heaps, forming the worm castings. In this case the worm obtains food and at the same time excavates its burrows.
 In addition to the food thus obtained, half-decayed leaves are dragged into the burrows, mainly for food, but also to plug the mouths of the burrows for the sake of. protection. Worms are also fond of meat, especially fat; they will also eat the dead bodies of their rela- tives. They are nocturnal in habit, re- maining as d rule, in. the burrows dur ing the day and coming out to feed at night. q at
 The earthworm has no eyes, but is affected by strong light, if exposed to it for some time. It has no sense of hear ing, but is sensitive to the vibrations of sound. The whole body is sensitive to touch. There appears to be some sense of smell but this is limited to cer- tain articles of food, which are dis cov- cred by the worm when buried in earth, i'll preference to other bodies not relish ed. The worm appears to have some degree of intelligence from the way in which it draws the leaves into it's bur- rows, always judging which is the best end to draw them in by. This is re- markable in so lowly organized an anil nal, being a degree of intelligence not possessed by many animals of more complex organization. For instance, the ant can often be seen dragging ob- jects along traversely, instead of taking them the easiest way.
 As We have seen, vast quantities of earth are continually being passed through the bodies of worms and voided on the surface as castings. When it is stated that the number of worms in an acre of ordinary land suitable for them to live in is 5000, we can imagine the great effect which they must have on the soil. They are, in fact, contin- ually blowing the land. At one part of the alimentary canal of the worm is a gizzard, or hard muscular organ, ca pablo of grinding food into fine parti- cles; it Is this giZzard which is the main factor in triturating the soil, and it is aided by small stones swallowed with the earth, which act as mill stones.
 In consequence of the immense amount of earth continually being brought to the surface by worms it is not difficult to understand how objects such as stones, rocks, etc., lying on the surface, will in course of time become gradually buried in the ground. Ow- ing to the burial of stones and other ob- jects by the action of Roman villas and other objects of antiquity have been preserved. These have been gradually buried by the worms, and so preserved from the destructive effect of rain and wind. Many Roman remains were studied by Darwin, and traces of the action of worms found, to which action their preservation was mainly due The sinking of the foundations of old build- ings is due to the action of worms. and no building is safefrom this unless the foundations are laid lower than the lev el at eight feet below the surface.
 Another useful effect produced by worms is the preparation of the soil for the growth of seedlings. By their agen- cy the soil is periodically sifted and ex- posed to the air. and in this way is able to retain moisture and absorb soluble substances of use for the nutrition of