49 



THE ACTION OF ENCHYTRAEID WORMS 



By the Rev. HILDERIC FRIEND, F.R.M.S. 



The following paper is based on the Report which was presented 

 to the Board of Agriculture as the result of experiments carried out 

 in 1914-15 under the direction of Professor Gamble, F.R.S., at the 

 Birmingham University. 



The main objects were twofold: 



1. To determine the question of the injurious action of Enchytraeid 

 worms on living plants, 



A long series of experiments was conducted at the Edgbaston 

 Botanic Gardens with Asters, Antirrhinums and other plants, with a 

 view to ascertaining what effect, if any, was produced upon the living 

 plants by the presence of these worms, which had frequently been 

 charged with causing decay and death. Control plants were used, 

 and infections were made with various species of worms under a great 

 variety of conditions. The results showed conclusively that so long 

 as the plants are healthy and vigorous Enchytraeids do not attack them. 

 On the other hand, when living plants begin to decline from any cause 

 it is the usual thing for white worms to take up the work of destruction 

 and play the part of scavengers. 



While the experiments were in progress visits were paid to Droitwich, 

 Kenilworth, Shrewsbury, Edgbaston and other places in which gardens 

 were reported to be suffering from injurious Enchytraeid attacks. 

 In no instance was the evidence sufficient to justify the opinion that 

 white worms were the original aggressors, though in several instances 

 they were busily engaged in clearing away the decaying plants. The 

 initial injury was due to a variety of causes, such as fungi, bacteria, 

 Julus and other pests. 



2. To determine the role of the red-blooded Enchytraeids. 

 During the year advantage was taken of many opportunities to 



study both in the field and in the experiment house, the role of that 

 group of minute worms belonging to the Enchytraeids which are charac- 

 terized by red blood. They are found in moist places among vegetable 

 debris, in sewage works, ponds, ditches, farmyards and especially by 

 the seaside, and are found to be invariably engaged as beneficent 

 scavengers. Though not infrequently met with in tap water their 



