344 THE EARTHWORM. 



without the agency of worms ; but that the pas- 

 sages which they make expedite it, which, in 

 situations where the operation would be subjected 

 to delay from the position of the ground, or the 

 under stratum, is of infinite advantage. Thus the 

 soil is not only rendered firm, allowing the admis- 

 sion of cattle, but the good herbage, which the 

 long residence of water would vitiate or destroy, is 

 saved from injury, and the aquatic and useless 

 plants starved or checked in their growth ; but after 

 great gluts of rain, when the supply of water is 

 greater than can be speedily carried off, it becomes 

 stagnant, and those worms, which cannot burrow 

 beyond its influence, soon perish, and we lose the 

 benefit of these very beneficial creatures. Drainage 

 is therefore one of the most important operations in 

 our agricultural concerns. As by irrigation we 

 turn a quantity of nutritive water over our lands, 

 or by reason of its higher temperature foster the 

 growth of grasses ; so, by draining cold and super- 

 fluous moisture off, we promote the growth of 

 valuable vegetation. I would advocate the cause 

 of all creatures, had I the privilege of knowing the 

 excellency of them ; not willingly assigning vague 

 and fanciful claims to excite wonder, or manifest a 

 base pride by any vaunt of superior observation ; 

 but when we see, blind as we are, that all things are 

 formed in justice, mercy, truth, I would tell my 



