EARTH MASTER EARTHWORM CULTURE BED 137 



other material, to protect contents of bed against flooding rains. 

 The supercover should be made light so that it can be readily 

 lifted off for servicing of bed. 



Photo No. 12 



View showing supercover, with side-walls lowered. Worms 

 work best and multiply rapidly when kept moderately warm. 

 An even temperature approaching summer heat is best. In extra 

 hot weather, the supercover as illustrated acts as a "desert cooler," 

 when sprayed with water occasionally. In the advancing coolness 

 of fall weather, the cover acts as a wind-break and protects the 

 bed from excessive chill. As pointed out above, where other 

 shade is available, such as a shed, lath house, garage, barn, base- 

 ment or even the north side of a tree the superstructure may 

 be dispensed with. However, if the culture bed is maintained 

 in the open, a rain-cover should always be provided to protect 

 the bed from flooding. It should always be borne in mind that 

 earthworms work best in the dark and that plenty of shade is 

 essential to best results in intensive propagation. 



IMPORTANCE OF CONTROLLED 

 PRODUCTION 



In the intensive propagation and use of domesticated earth- 

 worms, it is essential that egg-capsule production be maintained 

 under perfect control, so that an adequate score of capsules be 

 available at all times. Therefore, at least one unit of breeders 

 should be maintained under perfect control, depending on how 

 much land is to be impregnated. If large acreage is to be im- 

 pregnated, then a battery of units will be required. Another im- 

 portant consideration is that of keeping the breeding strain of 

 domesticated earthworms free from mixing with native earth- 

 worms. Domesticated earthworms have been produced through 

 selective feeding and breeding of native earthworms for cer- 

 tain favorable characteristics for intensive propagation. In 



