144 HARNESSING THE EARTHWORM 



themselves to a wide range of soils. Through selective breeding 

 and feeding, domesticated earthworms, adapted to intensive 

 propagation and use, have been developed. They are very pro- 

 lific, adapt themselves to a wide range of soil acidity, thrive on 

 practically all the biological endproducts of life, both animal waste 

 as well as all vegetable matter, and are much less migratory than 

 most native earthworms. When a colony is established, they re- 

 main and spread* slowly to the surrounding environment. 



In intensive earthworm culture, we create a favorable en- 

 vironment and use domesticated earthworms which have the 

 necessary characteristics for propagation in high concentrations. 

 An ordinary lug box, six inches deep and about eighteen inches 

 square, will accommodate 500 to 600 breeders. Under favor- 

 able breeding conditions, it is estimated that one worm may 

 increase to more than six hundred within a year, starting from 

 a single egg-capsule. After adequate culture beds have been 

 established, it is a simple matter to build up the cultures to a 

 point where biological soil-building on a substantial scale is pos- 

 sible. A single Earthmaster Culture Bed, impregnated with 

 3,000 Domesticated Earthworm Egg-Capsules, forms the founda- 

 tion for a fascinating hobby, or a profitable and satisfying home 

 industry. 



