126 Tratisactions. — Zoohcjy, 



the Eangitata, there is some excellent land, where worms exist 

 plentifully, and at all seasons, when the weather is favourable, 

 throw up large quantities of castings. The soil, excepting in 

 the swampy parts, is slightly sandy, and probably has been 

 blown on to it from the river-bed by the strong wind. I have 

 no doubt that the gi-eat depth of rich mould along the sea-board 

 of Canterbury has been added to considerably by the storms of 

 fine mould blown by the " nor'-westers " from' the hiils and 

 western portions of the Plains. Some of the stony parts that 

 have been ploughed within the last eight years, and sown down 

 in grass, show signs of worms increasing, by the greater number 

 of castings thrown up annually. When cutting the crops of 

 grain, farmers put little value on the straw, and set the knives of 

 the reapers to clear the stones on the surface. When the grain 

 is threshed out, the straw is sometmies left to rot in large heaps. 

 When trodden down by cattle or sheep, the ground around the 

 mass soon becomes inhabited by Endrilus levis. 



Agriculture is favourable to the increase of worms. It is 

 due to the land being loosened by the plough and sweetened by 

 the atmosphere. Worms are the natural fertihzers of the soil, 

 and in favourable weather are constantly replenishing it by the 

 addition of fresh castings. The enormous area of land in New 

 Zealand at present sown down in Enghsh grass, will be greatly 

 enriched in a few years for future cropping, through the action 

 of worms. In mild weather, and at all seasons, worms eject 

 more castings on bare patches free from grass, sheep tracks, or 

 well-beaten paths across fields, than on ordinary pasture land, 

 even when many years in grass, but no more than on old lawns 

 that are kept well-mown and rolled. I think this can be ex- 

 plained by the paths and lawns being firm and compact, and 

 having no interstices where they can eject their castings. If 

 burrowing afresh in sohd ground, they are compelled to void 

 all the mould they swallow on the surface. 



During heavy rains, pools of water are sometimes formed on 

 bare paths ; as the weather becomes fine, and the water drains 

 away, a fine sediment or " film of mud " settles on the surface ; 

 worms are then very active, and in a few days almost cover the 

 site of the pool with dark mould. As the worms work vigour- 

 ously, and appear especially to relish the mould, it is probable 

 that many nutritious particles accumulate in the pools, and 

 smk into the earth with the water as it drains away. 



Worms throw up castings abundantly in corn-fields, between 

 the stalks of grain, but not for some time after the land settles 

 down; heavy rain settles the ground in a few days. While it 

 remains loose, the worms eject their castings in any crevice. 

 They dehght in moist but not wet land, and in dull mild days 

 throw up castings as well as during the night. I first observed 

 this by castings appearing on a tennis lawn through the day, 



