L E T T E R X X X V .
TO T H E S A M E .
D E A R SIR» Sel bo r n e , May so, i n f .
L a n d s that are fubjeft to frequent inundations are always poorJ
and probably the reafon may be becaufe the worms are drowned.
\ / The molt infignificant infects and reptiles are of much Tnore con-
fequence, and have much more influence in the oeconomy of Nature,
than the incurious are aware of; and are'mighty in their effedt,
from their minutenefs, which renders them lefs an objedt of attention;
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 Supported
by them, worms feem to be the great promoters of vegetation,
which would proceed but lamely without them, by boring, perforating,
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 i t ; 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 grafs. Worms probably
provide new foil for hills and Hopes where the rain walhes the
earth away; and they affedt Hopes, probably to avoid being flooded.
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
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green corn. But thefe men would find that the earth without
worms would foon become cold, hard-bound, and void of fermentation
; and confequently fteril: and befides, in favour of worms,
it Ihould be hinted that green corn, plants, and flowers, are not lb
much injured by them as by many fpecies of cokoptera (fcarabs), and
tipuhe (long-legs) in their larva, or grub-ftate; and by unnoticed
myriads of fmall Ihell-lefs fnails, called Hugs, which filently and
imperceptibly make amazing havoc in the field and gardens-
Thefe hints we think proper to throw out in order to fet the in-
quifitive and difcerning to work.
A good monography of worms would afford much entertainment
and information at the fame time, and would open a large and new:
field in natural hiftory. Worms work moft in the fpring; but by
no means lie torpid in the dead months ; are out every mild night
in the winter, as any perfon may be convinced that will take the
pains to examine his grafs-plots with a candle; are hermaphrodites,
and much addicted to venery, and confequently very prolific.
I am, &c.
9 Farmer Young, o f Norton-farm, fays that this fpring (1777) about four acres o f his
^heat in one field was entirely deflroyed byJlugs, which fwarmed on the blades o f corn,
.and devoured it as fall as it fprang.
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F f L E T T E R