136 A TREATISE ON THE CONNECTION OF 



a large proportion of vegetable or animal matters. 

 Worms of this kind feed only on rich earths; and as 

 they are never found on sterile ground, their nourish- 

 ment must necessarily depend on the before-mentioned 

 subtances contained in the soil. 



The excrements of these worms appear on the sur- 

 face in great abundance ; particularly in moist weather, 

 succeeding to a long drought ; or at the season of the 

 year when the dews fall heavily. On these occasions the 

 worms rise to the surface, for the purposes of engendering, 

 supplying themselves with moisture, and of voiding their 

 excrements. These excrements, from the astonishing 

 number of worms contained in rich ground, cannot but 

 promote vegetation ; though a temporary inconveni- 

 ence may sometimes be incurred, by preventing the cattle 

 from freely depasturing, when the surface is too much 

 covered therewith. 



All insects or worms in the ground, as well those 



C? ' 



which apparently are of no disservice, as those that are 

 known to be noxious and destructive to the roots, stems, 



and 



