NATURAL HISTORY 
LETTER XXXV. 
TO THE SAME. 
DEAR SIR, Seleorne, May 20, 1777. 
Lands that are fubjecl to frequent inundations are always poor^ 
and probably the reafon may be becaufe the worms are drowned. 
The mofl infignificant infeds and reptiles are of much more con- 
fequence, and have much more influence in the oeconomy of Na- 
ture, than the incurious are aware of; and are mighty in their effeft, 
from their minutenefs, which renders them lefs an objeft of atten- 
tion ; and from their numbers and fecundity. Earth-worms^ though 
in appearance a fmall and defpicable link in the chain ofNature, yet, 
if loft, would make a lamentable chafm. For, to fay nothing of half 
the birds, and fome quadrupeds which are almoft entirely fupport- 
ed by them, worms feem to be the great promoters of vegetation, 
which would proceed but lamely without them, by boring, per- 
forating, and loofening the foil, and rendering it pervious to rains 
and the fibres of plants, by drawing ftraws and ftalks of leaves 
and twigs into it ; and, moft of all, by throwing up fuch infinite 
numbers of lumps of earth called worm-cafts, which, being their 
excrement, is a fine manure for grain and gxafs. Worms proba- 
bly provide new foil for hills and Hopes where the rain waflies the 
earth away; and they afled flopes, probably to avoid being flood- 
ed. Gardeners and farmers exprefs their deteftation of worms; the 
former becaufe they render their walks unfightly, and make them 
much work ; and the latter becaufe, as they think, worms eat their 
green 
