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worms can be had in 3 months, and the worms mature m 

 6 months. A tub 2 feet in diameter and 10 inches deep, 

 fully utilized, should produce several thousand bait- 

 size worms a year. 



The different species of earthworms vary in size 

 when full grown. The common earthworm or night crawler 

 reaches a length of 10 inches; the small red species 

 found in manure piles grows only to 3i inches. The 

 earthworm reared should be of a size suited to the 

 fishing needs of the region. 



A suitable soil is prepared by mixing manure, 

 screened top soil, andpeat moss into a fine loam. The 

 peat moss may be replaced by other forms of organic 

 matter such as leaves and hay. Another soil formula 

 calls for dry coffee grounds and loam mi-jted 50-50. The 

 loam should be well moistened but not soaking wet. 



Almost any type of box is suitable for the culture 

 of earthworms, but small boxes that can be handled 

 easily are to be preferred. The lug boxes in which 

 fruit is sold are excellent. An old tub or a metal 

 drum cut lengthwise is also good. If wooden lugs are 

 used, they should be placed on bricks or blocks to 

 prevent the worms from escaping into the ground. Lugs 

 can be stacked if separated by blocks. 



When preparing the culture box, it is advisable to 

 place a pi ece of burlap on the bottom, fill the box with 

 prepared loam to a depth of 8 inches, smooth over the 

 surface, and spread the breeder worms on top. After 

 the worms have burrowed into the soil, the surface 

 should be covered with burlap and moistened. The box 

 will require water at frequent intervals to keep the 

 soil moist. 



The worms can be fed chicken mash or a mixture of 

 coffee grounds, dried cracked wheat, and bread crumbs. 

 Feed should be given daily. Another feeding formula 

 is 1 pound of lard mixed with 2 pounds of corn meal. 

 This should last a month. Ground garbage spread over 

 the surface of the soil makes a good inexpensive food. 

 Care should be taken that the food is in a thin layer 

 or it may heat and destroy the worms. 



The worms can be harvested by emptying the box 

 and sorting out those ofsuitable size. The loam should 

 be saved and transferred to a fresh box, as it contains 

 the egg capsules which will start a new colony. The 

 unused worms should be returned to the old box as 

 breeders. Egg capsules for starting new boxes can be 

 best obtained by covering the surface of the soil of a 

 breeder box with a mulch of finely crushed dead leaves. 



