CHILDREN'S GARDENS 167 



their bodies, and is deposited at or near the surface 

 in the familiar worm casts. 



In making their burrows, they eat a great deal of 

 earth, and of course, they cannot swallow any stones 

 larger than their mouths, so that all the earth that 

 is brought to the surface by worms has been passed 

 through a wonderful active sieve, which has brought 

 the fine earth, thoroughly mixed with organic matter, 

 up to the surface. 



Probably many of the seeds dropped by wild plants 

 are covered by earthworms in this way, and with 

 just about the right amount of earth. The many 

 holes and burrows, which they leave in the ground, 

 are a great help in ventilating the soil, and their most 

 active work is in the soil near the surface, where 

 most of the plant roots will feed. If we study their 

 habits, and what they accomplish, we may be able to 

 improve our methods. In fact, one important thing 

 which they teach us, is to have all of the manure or 

 leaves or fertilizer ground up as fine as we can be- 

 fore mixing it with the soil, and then to mix it very 

 thoroughly. 



At the close of the earthworm study, the earth can 

 be allowed to dry for about two weeks, the box upset 

 and contents taken out whole, like taking a cake out of 

 the pan. The worm burrows at the bottom can then be 

 seen. Place a board over the top before upsetting, to 

 keep from breaking up earth. 



