EARTHWORM CULTURE 117 



worms will quit producing capsules. They tend to limit their 

 population to correspond to the available food present. We have 

 found that we can secure the maximum number of capsules from 

 boxes of between five hundred and six hundred worms each. On 

 the other hand, while the capsules are hatching out and develop- 

 ing, it is all right to have from one thousand to two thousand 

 worms to the box. As they reach the reproductive stage, they 

 can be separated and breeding cultures of the correct number 

 set up. In marking boxes, we have found it convenient to tack 

 a small square of white cardboard to the end of the box, leaving 

 the head of the carpet tack not quite down. Numbers can be 

 typed on card before attaching to box, or can be marked with 

 lead pencil or waterproof pencil after they are tacked in. New 

 cards can be provided as the old cards become ragged. By leav- 

 ing the head of the carpet tack slightly protruding, we can 

 readily pry it out for attaching new cards from time to time. 



Building Large Compost Beds 



Once an adequate number of lug-box cultures of mature 

 breeders have been established, all harvested material can be used 

 for impregnating large compost beds for soil-building and for 

 rapid propagation of vast numbers of earthworms. Or the in- 

 crease can be used directly for impregnating potted plants, flower 

 beds, lawns, gardens, shrubs, trees, or orchards. For instance, 

 in orcharding, a setup of a hundred lug boxes of five hundred 

 breeders each, properly handled, would produce enough increase 

 to impregnate from one hundred to three hundred trees per 

 month. In impregnating orchards, or other trees or shrubs, the 

 harvested, capsule-bearing material is buried around the trees, 

 well back from the bole, with a cover of prepared compost as a 

 mulch, to conserve moisture and furnish an abundance of avail- 

 able food for the developing worms. Once earthworms are 

 established in the soil, they will take care of themselves. Where- 

 ever there is sufficient moisture to maintain good vegetation, th** 

 earthworms can survive. 



