EARTHMASTER EARTHWORM CULTURE BED 135 



aeration and to allow for swelling of the wet wood. A one- 

 inch space is allowed between the upright members of the end 

 panels and the corner posts to allow for nailing of top side- 

 rails on inside of posts (see photos No. 8-9 for this detail). 



Photo No. 6 



Side view, showing compost compartment completely as- 

 sembled. See photos No. 8-9 for details of inside. 



Photo No. 7 



View showing sub-surface divider, 33" x 30". Space be- 

 tween lath is about the width of a lath. When divider is in 

 place (see photo No. 9), the compost compartment is divided 

 into large lower chamber for permanent earthworm burrows, 

 with a shallow upper space, six inches deep, which forms the 

 feeding ground and egg-capsule "nest." 



Photo No. 8 



View looking down into compost compartment. Note the J4" 

 spacing between all members. Note removable side members, 

 with lower ends resting against the lath strips on bottom, the 

 top ends resting against side-rails six inches below top edge. 

 When the compost compartment is filled, pressure of the ma- 

 terial holds side-walls firmly in place. By inserting a "pry" on 

 outside of the compost compartment, between the side- wall and 

 top rail, it is a simple matter to pry a member up and release 

 the bottom end, removing the members one at a time. Thus two 

 or three, or all, of the side-wall members may be removed, allow- 

 ing the material in the compost compartment to be conveniently 

 removed from below. The permanent breeding compost is 

 changed two or three times a year and replaced by fresh ma- 

 terial. The "egg-nest" material above the sub-surface divider 

 (see photo No. 9) is worked over frequently in harvesting cap- 

 sules and castings. 



Photo No. 9 



View showing sub-surface divider in place, six inches below 



