1 66 CHILDREN'S GARDENS 



water over them, and afterward keep the earth damp. 

 By having more worms to a given quantity of earth 

 than would be found under ordinary conditions, the 

 work they do is emphasized. It is well, in experi- 

 ments, to make the results a little more apparent, 

 because the untrained observer does not see them well, 

 unless they are emphasized. 



The white pebbles on top are to show how earth- 

 worms bury stones with the earth they bring to the 

 surface. A few weeks will suffice to nearly cover half 

 .an inch of pebbles, if there are as many worms in the 

 box as can be well kept alive. Suitable food, like 

 grass, leaves, manure, meat, onion or cabbage, can be 

 placed in very small pieces on the surface, and the 

 worms will come out at night, and carry this food 

 down into the earth to be eaten at their convenience. 



All this is possible in the ordinary class-room, so 

 that when the children go into the garden in the spring, 

 they will be prepared to watch with more interest 

 the earthworms that they turn up in their spading. 

 In May and June, and sometimes again in the fall, 

 earthworm eggs may be found in the soil, and with a 

 little care, the eggs may be hatched under the observa- 

 tion of the children. 



Earthworms are omnivorous and cannibals, that is, 

 they eat everything they come to, within their ca- 

 pacity, and are especially fond of earth, manure and 

 other decaying materials, and in eating all of these 

 things, they thoroughly mix them in their bodies. 

 The greater part of what they eat passes on through 



