i88 3 J 
Fresh News on Earthworms . 
9i 
the supposition that the watery vapour constantly rising up 
from the lower strata became condensed as it approached 
the frozen upper layer, the immediate subsoil being thus 
kept constantly moist. In the worm-holes the roots thus 
constantly enjoyed a moist atmosphere. Prof. Muller, in- 
deed, found them frequently covered with drops of water, 
and is thus led to suppose that there is in these tubes a 
practically incessant formation of dew. The condensed 
water coming in contact with the sides of the tubes will 
dissolve both saline and gaseous matters which are then 
absorbed and assimilated by the roots, which are thus 
supplied with nourishment as well in drought as in moist 
weather. 
We generally find nothing in Nature which is altogether 
hurtful or altogether beneficial. The old and profoundly 
wise proverb “ It is an ill wind which blows no one any 
good ” might well have its converse, since the most bene- 
ficent and necessary agencies have their evil phase. Seeing, 
therefore, what an amount of benefit we receive from worms, 
we may well ask to see the other side of the account. 
Singularly enough this other side is almost wanting. It is 
sometimes asserted that worms feed upon the roots of living 
plants. This is, however, an error; they consume the roots 
of dead and decaying vegetation only. We may, indeed, 
find the earthworm active amongst rotting bulbs and tubers, 
but in such cases he is not the cause of the mischief. He 
must not, as sometimes happens, suffer for the sins of the 
wireworm, of the larva of the cockchaffer, and of other 
depredators, whether inseCts or cryptogamous plants. 
Earthworms may sometimes cause annoyance by boring 
their way in or out of the soil among young seedlings, and 
displacing them. But neither this sin nor that of slightly 
disfiguring lawns with their casts can be brought into com- 
parison with the great good which they unquestionably occa- 
sion to the farmer and the gardener. 
The only really serious charge against worms is that of 
bringing infectious matter to the surface of the soil. But 
this danger we may easily avoid by treating animal matter 
before burial with some of the many chemicals which worms 
avoid. 
It has been even proposed to introduce worms in localities 
where they are deficient, in order to ameliorate the soil. 
For this purpose a hole is dug out, perhaps a yard in depth 
and as much in diameter. If the bottom of the soil is of a 
very compact and retentive nature, it is somewhat broken 
up with a pickaxe or a crowbar. The hole is then filled up 
