AERATION OF THE SOIL BY EARTHWORMS 401 



soluble condition, presumably in one which can be directly 

 absorbed by the plant roots. 



This opens up another sphere of usefulness in which the 

 humble worm does great service and one to which, so far as I 

 am aware, no one has hitherto drawn attention. I wish there- 

 fore to thank my colleague, Mr. R. H. Sargent, for suggesting 

 its possibility to me. 



From the above considerations it is obvious that worms have 

 a very important ministry to perform in the soil and it is hoped 

 that naturalists and others may be stimulated to extend their 

 observations into this practically untrodden field, so that the 

 next decade may witness a rapid increase in our knowledge of 

 the soil and its inhabitants. 



26 



