112 HARNESSING THE EARTHWORM 



for earthworm food. The parent materials of topsoil used in 

 earthworm culture are the identical materials which should be 

 added to the soil anyway to rebuild and maintain fertile and 

 productive land. The utilization of earthworms in transform- 

 ing the culture material is the most rapid and efficient method 

 and also produces better soil than any other method. 



Loading Culture Boxes with Earthworms 



A layer of alfalfa hay about one inch deep should be placed 

 in bottom of the culture box ; or two or three thicknesses of old 

 potato sack material (or other gunny sacking) can be used in- 

 stead of the hay. The hay or burlap improves drainage, pre- 

 vents compost from adhering to bottom of box, and is favored 

 by the earthworms as food. Then fill box about two-thirds full 

 of the prepared compost. Five hundred breeder earthworms 

 should be placed on top of the compost. If the worms have 

 been received in a shipping container, they will be mixed with 

 prepared earthworm food. The entire contents of the container 

 can be dumped into the prepared box, raked lightly over the 

 surface of the compost, and may be covered with a few addi- 

 tional handfuls of compost. While the compost should not be 

 packed, it is well to smooth and "firm" the surface before adding 

 the worms. A handy tool for this purpose is a plasterer's metal 

 trowel, or a cement finisher's wooden float. A triangular block 

 of wood will answer the purpose. The worms will quickly work 

 down into the compost, making their own burrows. After the 

 worms are added, cover the surface with one or two thicknesses 

 of burlap, which should be well soaked before using. We have 

 already discussed the uses of burlap. We usually cut an old 

 gunny sack into four to eight pieces^ approximately the size of 

 the top of box. If the sacking is larger than the box, the edges 

 may be folded over inside the box. This burlap cover does not 

 need to be disturbed until the culture is ready for servicing. 

 The cultures are sprinkled from time to time through this cover- 



