EARTHWORM CULTURE 119 



Report No. 2: From Kansas City, Missouri. From a long 

 letter, giving many details of his work in earthworm culture, 

 this Missouri man concludes with this summary: "I closed my 

 year October 1. From June 4, 1943, starting with 1000 capsules, 

 till September 30, 1944, I have produced 55,000 capsules . . . 

 H. A. H." This man has used his increase in establishing ex- 

 tensive soil-building compost beds and states that he now has 

 vast quantities of the soil-builders at work in these beds, mul- 

 tiplying into almost astronomical numbers, while at the same 

 time breaking down the material into highly fertile top-dressing 

 for his garden acreage. 



We have on file many reports similar to the above, fully 

 verifying our own findings over a period of several years' ex- 

 perimental research in practical earthworm culture and soil- 

 building. 



Shade, Temperature, Darkness, Moisture 



For intensive capsule production in box cultures, tempera- 

 tures ranging from sixty to eighty degrees will be found most 

 favorable. Drying out quickly affects worms and will inhibit 

 or stop reproduction. Boxes should be kept fairly dark, as 

 earthworms work in darkness. We usually provide covers for 

 the tiers of boxes, made of old gunny sacks, or other cheap ma- 

 terial. Worms prefer to work near the surface Therefore we 

 keep the surface of the culture covered with damp burlap as 

 previously outlined, to conserve moisture and provide darkness 

 on surface of compost. Worms were originally water animals. 

 For intensive production, they still require plenty of water. Cul- 

 tures should always be moist through and through, though not 

 soggy wet. This point cannot be too strongly emphasized. Boxes 

 should not be flooded. Good drainage should be maintained in 

 bottom of box, so that surplus water will quickly drain out. If 

 cultures are maintained in outdoor shade, the tiers should be 

 protected from flooding rains. Sheds, outhouses, basements, 



